This Is Why Annual Vacs Are Not Needed

[agilegsds]

Starine's distemper/parvo titer results are back and the doc described her levels as perfect.

She hasn't had a distemper/parvo vaccine for 6 years!

[BowWowMeow]

That header should read: this is why tri-yearly vaccs are not needed.

Someone told me that there is now a move in several states to get rabies vaccines mandated to every 7 years.

For other vaccines I give 2 puppy shots, the year booster and that's it. I don't even do titers. My Chama is living proof that dogs are protected--she hasn't been vaccinated in 7 years for anything other than rabies (and quit that 5 years ago) and she has not caught anything, despite being around tons of other dogs.

[agilegsds]

Originally Posted By: BowWowMeowThat header should read: this is why tri-yearly vaccs are not needed.

Yep, I worded it wrong.

Quote: Someone told me that there is now a move in several states to get rabies vaccines mandated to every 7 years.

The Rabies Challenge Study has started at the University of Wisconsin with the goal of extending the interval for rabies to 7 years. http://www.rabieschallengefund.org/

[Amaruq]

How is she doing??

[BowWowMeow]

Thanks for posting that. And this should be a sticky!

Reactions that have been documented include:

* Behavior changes such as aggression and separation anxiety
* Obsessive behavior,self-mutilation, tail chewing
* Pica - eating wood, stones, earth, stool
* Destructive behavior, shredding bedding
* Seizures, epilepsy
* Fibrosarcomas at injection site
* Autoimmune diseases such as those affecting bone marrow and blood cells, joints, eyes, skin, kidney, liver, bowel, and central nervous system.
* Muscular weakness and or atrophy
* Chronic digestive problems

[Branca's Mom]

Branca is 11 years old. 8 years with no vaccines. Titers good.

Urro got puppy shots only. 4 years old now. Titers good

[Spiritsmam]

And here's the flip side. I titer my dogs every year. In summer 2004 I was exposed to a dog with distemper at work and had gone home to my pups before we knew. It was recommended that I give them all a booster, which I did. Six months later, Bram (GSD/Lab mix) was due for his yearly exam and bloodwork. To keep everything on track I ran titers again, and lo and behold he was VERY low and needed yet another booster. My other pups of course were fine.

My routine is to vaccinate when adopted, boost at 1 year, then titer. I thankfully live in a 3 year rabies vaccine state, but doubt that there will be a move to a 7 year vaccine any time soon.

[CookieTN]

Hmm, I get Cookie's done every 3 years.

[TANDB]

Originally Posted By: SpiritsmamSix months later, Bram (GSD/Lab mix) was due for his yearly exam and bloodwork. To keep everything on track I ran titers again, and lo and behold he was VERY low and needed yet another booster.

I was under the impression that titers do not measure immunity per se but indicate whether there was recent exposure. Do I have it backwards?

[scannergirl]

The key I think is that as a part of being a responsible pet owner we get preventative care for our dogs. Titers will tell if there is immunity- but they can fade. So IF your dog is exposed and then the titer shows he's no longer immune to the disease he was a year ago..............
I was immune to German Measles, proven by titer, in my first pregnancy. That is one disease you do not want to get when pregnant. It is required that you be tested, so I went for mine in my second pregnancy and guess what????????????
My titer had dropped off to the point I was no longer immune, but I could not have the immunization because I was pregnant.
Luckily there were no cases of German Measles in my county that year but I was more than a bit scared to go anywhere.
My baby was safe because there are mandatory immunization laws in place. The fact that everyone was required to immunize their kids made my fetus safe.