Vaccination opinions?

[Kyleigh]

Ky has had the rabies, parvo and distemper vaccines ... each done individually a month apart, then the second set, and that's it. I will titer before I ever vaccinate again.

I lost my last dog Abby to the rabies vaccine, and it will be over MY dead body before I lose another dog to a vaccine.

If you can titer, I would do that (after you've done the initial vaccines) instead of vaccinating yearly or even every three years.

Humans don't get vaccinated every year or even every three years, so why should our dogs?

[Verivus]

NOT vaccinating for rabies is beyond foolish. Sorry your boy had such a bad reaction, but most dogs do not. I would find out who the manufacturer was and if it was MLV or a killed vaccine for future reference. I would prefer they extend the 3 year rabies to a 7 year, but at least we have a 3 year. It is required by law (at least in the U.S., I can't speak for other countries), so it doesn't really matter what we think. Some counties will waive a rabies vaccine in lieu of a titer.

If you're scared of the DHPP and only plan on doing it once for the lifetime of the dog you should be doing it at 12 weeks then 16 weeks. Doing it at 7 weeks will provide absolutely NO immunity because mama's antibodies are still protecting the little one. Again, very few dogs have reactions.

[llombardo]

You can contact the Dept of Agriculture and they will tell you if a titer for rabies is acceptable or not...it isn't in Illinois(I tried that one). Besides the puppy shots, my dogs will have 2 adult distemper shots in their lives and rabies every three years..wouldn't even do that if it wasn't the law. I think that the parvo is more likely to happen then rabies, but it is what it is.

[readaboutdogs]

Our dogs get the DHPP yearly and the rabies every 3 years now that they changed that. What do you think about the kennel cough vac? They said now they allow once a year instead of within every 6 months. We usually only get when we're going to board them, which we are pretty soon. Clipper will be 12 years old the 18th of this month, kind of wondered about another vac. He had his DHPP in July. The kennel requires it.

[llombardo]

Originally Posted by readaboutdogs

Our dogs get the DHPP yearly and the rabies every 3 years now that they changed that. What do you think about the kennel cough vac? They said now they allow once a year instead of within every 6 months. We usually only get when we're going to board them, which we are pretty soon. Clipper will be 12 years old the 18th of this month, kind of wondered about another vac. He had his DHPP in July. The kennel requires it.

Do they offer a 3 year distemper by you?

[Lauri & The Gang]

Originally Posted by Carriesue

Unfortunately in California rabies is required by law by four months of age(though I'm going to wait till 6 months) ...

Well, they have to CATCH you first, don't they?

We have a kennel license that allows us to have the pack of dogs we have (actually allows up to 12). Every year in January we have to apply for the license. Part of that is showing that everyone is current on Rabies.

So far I've managed to get my puppies to at LEAST 9 months of age before having to get their Rabies shot.

So - personally, I would wait until you HAVE to get the shot.

[msvette2u]

Originally Posted by Verivus

NOT vaccinating for rabies is beyond foolish.

This.

Humans don't get vaccinated every year or even every three years, so why should our dogs?

Because they are animals and we are humans?
Because their life expectancy is around 12-14yrs. (for GSDs, it seems 11-13) and ours is around 80?
That's just off the top of my head.

[sparra]

Originally Posted by msvette2u

This.



Because they are animals and we are humans?
Because their life expectancy is around 12-14yrs. (for GSDs, it seems 11-13) and ours is around 80?
That's just off the top of my head.

Haha......and we don't go around sniffing each others butts and sticking our noses in poop......

[msvette2u]

Originally Posted by sparra

Haha......and we don't go around sniffing each others butts and sticking our noses in poop......

There ya go...! LOL

Seriously though, parvo is transmitted because dogs sniff each other's poo so much!

[Carriesue]

I am making him an appt tomorrow for his third parvo + distemper and am definitely getting his rabies(though won't lie I will have a total knot in my stomach that day until I know he won't have a reaction, can't help it he's my baby ). I am going to wait at least a month after this last vacc to get it(rabies) though. All of my other dogs do and are licensed so he won't be any different.

Whether I do yearly vaccs or titer for him is still something I'm ruminating over but I appreciate all the advice/thoughts!