Vaccine questions for those who do minimal vaccines.

[elisabeth_00117]

Curious what those who follow Dr. Dodds would do in this situation.

The vet called to remind me about flea/tick season and also that heart worm season would be soon upon us.

I know Stark is due for his rabies this year and was going to do Zefra's as well just so they were on the same schedule.

But...

In regards to the distemper and parvo vaccine... I just found out that my "cheap place to do titers" is now $450.00 PER DOG. There is NO WAY I can justify paying $900.00 for titers for this. That is insane. It's the cheapest place around here too - trust me, I have checked within the 1.5hour radius to my home.

So, I was thinking of doing the parvo/distemper vaccine on both dogs and then not doing them EVER again...

Stark hasn't had any vaccines except rabies every 3 years since he was a puppy.

I did a titer test when he was 1 year old and he was still good, so I opted not to re-vaccinate. I checked again at 2 and he was still good so i didn't re-do it then either. I didn't bother checking last year because I knew he would need a rabie vaccine the following year and planned on doing it then. The test was about $200 then.

Zefra was vaccinated as a puppy and I had planned on titer testing her this year (at 2) for her parvo/distemper and I knew I was going to give a rabies vaccine at this time as well (1 year "early") to get her on the same schedule as Stark.

So, what would you recommend?

Do the vaccine or leave it alone and just vaccinate with rabies?

My vet is pro-vaccine and it took a long time to find a vet in this area that I was comfortable with, so I don't want to change again. The holistic vet around our area is just too far for me to drive.

[Jax08]

Read the AAHA guidelines. Parvo/Distemper are good for 5-7 years.

So, Jax had her puppy shots, her 1 year booster. At 4 years, I titered. Her levels are still so high she should never have to be vac'd for these again.

It's a shame you couldn't take a trip to upstate NY and get the titers done for $75 each dog for both diseases. Even with a hotel room you would save a ton of money on them.

[GatorBytes]

I know a rabies titer is around 200, but I think the rest are basic blood test.

Are you willing to travel an hr., I can PM you a holistic vet that won't gouge you for doing the right thing, in fact she will probably tell you the titers aren't needed either.

Here is a thought - don't vax. rabies either, nobody will likely come after you...AC only cares about $$$ for license wher I am anyhow

If your dog bites someone and is vaccinated, it is still quaranteened for 10 days AND you still have to do/pay for a titer.

[Jax08]

Her dogs do Schutzhund. I'm pretty sure she won't have a choice but to vac for Rabies for trials and the club.

[angelas]

Originally Posted by elisabeth_00117

In regards to the distemper and parvo vaccine... I just found out that my "cheap place to do titers" is now $450.00 PER DOG. There is NO WAY I can justify paying $900.00 for titers for this. That is insane. It's the cheapest place around here too - trust me, I have checked within the 1.5hour radius to my home.

So, I was thinking of doing the parvo/distemper vaccine on both dogs and then not doing them EVER again...

The last vet I had had charged $500 per test. So for me to test distemper and parvo it would have cost me $1000. No way was I going to pay that much. Since Shania had a full set of puppy shots starting at 5 months and a booster 1 year later I was fairly confident that she was protected from parvo/distemper. I only do the legally required rabies every 2 years (don't ask me why the city wants it every two years).

She went over 11 years without a vax for any but rabies and never had a problem. Was it because she had protection from the vax or because she didn't go to high risk places like vet clinics or reserves frequently? I don't know.

[onyx'girl]

Originally Posted by Jax08

Her dogs do Schutzhund. I'm pretty sure she won't have a choice but to vac for Rabies for trials and the club.

IPO clubs or trials never ask for vetting information. At least that is my experience. Though rabies vax is the law in my state so is a given. Any other training club will ask for up to date vax(the main reason I pay to train privately)

If the dog is healthy, and has gone thru the puppy shot series, immune system strong, I only do the rabies vax and heartworm prevention. Though my dogs aren't in public area's with possible exposure to parvo, distemper and other diseases.

[Verivus]

While DAPP can last at least 5-7 years, most vets won't extend the vaccine for more then 3 years. Honestly, I don't think getting the DAPP every 3 years is going to cause much of a problem and would be a lot cheaper then doing titers every year. Titers here run a few hundred bucks! I can't be spending that kind of money every year for two dogs.

I personally would do the DAPP series as a puppy, then get the 3 year vaccine the next year, with another 3 year after that. I may or may not do it again in 3 years. Doing that would clear my dogs of any vaccine requirements instituted by training facilities and the like up until age 7 or 10. After 10 years I definitely wouldn't ever vaccinate again for anything. Not even rabies if I can titer for it.

Another possibility is to get the 3 year vaccine and then after it 'expires' you can titer for a few years then vaccinate again.

[JakodaCD OA]

I can't believe the price of those titers! HOLEY COW! I pay 75$ for dis/parvo titering..

What I have been doing,,my aussies haven't had vacs in years, can't even remember the last time..I titered every other year,,stopped doing it a couple years ago, they are now 12 & 13, still very active, and only get a rabies which I think they both got a couple years ago, most likely will not rabies them again.

Masi will be 5 in April (I CAN"T BELIEVE IT!),,she had puppy shots, a booster at a year old, (rabies also of course it's state law / 3 yr)...I titered her last year, she was fine, my vet suggests not even bothering to titer this year, skip a year, no vacs other than rabies when due.

With that, what I would do in your situation, the rabies because you probably have to.

If your comfortable, I'd probably just do a dis/parvo on him, NOT at the same time the rabies is given, space them out atleast a month apart. Or if you opt not to, heck I wouldn't pay that for a titer.


Zefra, same thing, do the rabies because you probably have to, If me, I would probably do the parvo/dis on her since she's just 2, again, not at the same time..then I'd stop,,probably I'd titer her in a couple years, but not at that price! I'd cross the border !!

[onyx'girl]

Titers aren't cheap across the border(if you compare them to the cost of vaccinating instead) That is why many just choose to give the jabs instead of running titers.
If I lived in a highly populated dog city or took my dog to dog parks or daycare, I would give the core vax's~ spread out of course.
Especially when the dog down the hall is pooping blood.

[Piper'sgrl]

Why dont you just stick with 3 yr rabies instead of wasting money on titer testing? If you don't mind me asking which vet do you go to elisabeth?