Are annual shots overkill!!!

[frawri]

I as just discussing this with a friend last week. Back years ago, I'm 60, you had a family dog and I don't every remember going to the vets. My grandfather had a dog on his farm that lived to almost 20 or so and he never laid eyes on a vet. I know that the rabies shots are necessary, but I question all of this twice a year visits, etc. I consider myself a responsible pet owner, all are neutered and they do get their shots each year.
Has America's extravagance with their pets caused the increase in vet bills?
Any opinions?
Labmomma

I think America is too interested in their pets and not enough in their own children. It is a sad day when a child has no restraint and no training. And the family pet has all the obedience classes and vet visits in the world. Why is that? Don't get me wrong, I love my animals, and they get taken care of very well. But kids in my mind come first then the family pet. Sorry had to let it out there. LOL

[julie ficenec]

vax's are not dangerous, yes some animals can have a reaction but 95% of them are just fine. i was a vet tech for 14yrs and i never saw 1 die!!!!!!!!!!!

[cali]

I am ani-vaccs as well, after Happy nearly died from regular vaccines and her went through a complete personality warp after her rabies vaccine which she is still recovering from at 5 years old we no longer risk it. at 16 weeks we do Parvo and thats it for life. when we go to a breeder we ask them not to vaccinate our pup when they take all the pups in. I go to a holistic vet who is actually both a holistic vet AND holistic human doctor, she is extremly nice and pulls strings to get titre prices down for us.

[wolfsoul]

What is a Titer?

A titer is a simple blood test that checks the levels of immunity the dog has to certain diseases. Unfortunatly unless the dog has either had the shot or had the disease, the titer will just tell you that the dog is unprotected for the disease -- it won't tell you if the dog can get it or not. For instance, when I titre Visa, the results come back that Visa can not have parvo (as she's already had it) and is unprotected for distemper. Titers have helped to prove that one shot can last a dog it's entire life.

[My Peanuts]

Here's my two cents.
Harley hunts EVERYTHING. Possums, squirrels, skunks. He NEEDS his rabies shot. He and my whole pack get rabies and distemper shots only. Plus there are bats flying around at night here and bats are big carriers of rabies. I might have a different opinion if one of my dogs was directly affected, but in all the years I’ve had dogs (my whole life) nothing bad has happened from shots.
Sylvia, the only one we had as a puppy, got more for her puppy shots and the foster mom gave Morty all his puppy shots too.
RB Angie developed IMHA blood disease and died within 3 days. I don't think it had anything to do with her shots because we were late that year and she didn't get them yet. At the time we thought she got IMHA because we didn't vaccinate her, but now I'm glad we were late because now I would think the shots did it.

[My Peanuts]

I just schduled Morty's rabies and distemper shots and now you all have me worried.

[Jessika]

If shots are good for life, if you get a titer, they will show up, correct?

[IRescue452]

Our dogs have never had a problem with vaccinations and I think this whole thing about vaccines being bad is as publicly misunderstood as the greenies thing. Autumn gets her rabies shot every 3 years and there have been many confirmed cases of rabies in our area. She's getting the lyme disease vaccination this year because ticks are everywhere and there have been 6 confirmed cases of lyme disease this spring in our area.

[Queen of Poop]

I honestly believe shots should be given, but only if there are no side effects. My ferret, Sebastian, had an allergic reaction and almost died from his rabies shot 3 years ago. It cost $300 to bring him back. He still lives today, but does not get any shots. My dog Sasha has had no reactions at all and continues to recive all of her shots regularly as prescribed by our vet, whom I completely trust, who has looked after my animals for 14 years now. Sebastian could contract distemper from Sasha if she did not have her shots and somehow managed to pick it up. I can't take the chance on losing either of them so I do what I believe is best for them, with my vet's blessing.

There is no right answer to this question. It is a matter of personal choice.

[shihtzulover850]

A titer is a simple blood test that checks the levels of immunity the dog has to certain diseases. Unfortunatly unless the dog has either had the shot or had the disease, the titer will just tell you that the dog is unprotected for the disease -- it won't tell you if the dog can get it or not. For instance, when I titre Visa, the results come back that Visa can not have parvo (as she's already had it) and is unprotected for distemper. Titers have helped to prove that one shot can last a dog it's entire life.

Are they expensive?

[Roxyluvsme13]

Roxy's due up for her shots soon, and she only gets rabies. The other ones, my grandpa insists she doesn't need, and honestly, the ONLY common thing around here I've heard of is Bordatella..so..
And, Lily has had all her shots.

[dogzr#1]

My dogs get all their shots, including rabies. They haven't shown any signs of a reaction to anyshots. Nor have any of my other dogs. so i think I will just stick with them getting shots.

[Spiritwind]

I am not exactly sure what you mean, but since you quoted my comment about Florida not needing a vet to administer it, here are the states that do not require a veterinarian to administer the vaccine:

COLORADO
DELAWARE
FLORIDA
IOWA
KENTUCKY
MASSACHUSETTS
MICHIGAN
MISSISSIPPI
NEW HAMPSHIRE
OHIO
OKLAHOMA
PENNSYLVANIA
SOUTH DAKOTA
VIRGINIA
WISCONSIN

Being from Ohio and worked at a vet clinic for 7yrs (though I just moved to NC) yes, you can order online and give your animals rabies shots yourself, however IF your animal bites someone, and you do not have a rabies certificate signed by a vet, your animal will be treated like it has not be vaccinated.

When in Ohio, I lived in SE part of the state, mostly rural wooded areas... lots of wild animals, LOTS coyotes, racoons, skunks etc... my dogs and cats had rabies vaccs every 3yrs. I am in NC now, basicly in the same time of area.. very rural.... they will continue to get rabies vaccs.

I have had Collies for 11yrs... and I have never had one dog have a reaction to any kind of vaccination (though I still don't think DHLPPC are needed yearly).... but since I do take my dogs all over the place, and to shows, I am rather afriad to not vaccinate for parvo/distemper...

Jana

[.sarah]

I have been delt bad information!! Florida does require a vet to give the vaccine as does most of those other states that I posted. My mom found the law online tonight and we read through it, and I was upset to say the least!

Though after a lot of searching, I have found another way to get around it I'll do anything to keep that stuff out of my dogs!

[wolfsoul]

Are they expensive?

I can't find Visa's titer records so I'm not sure how much it costs here. But I believe her last appointment was around $150, that included a regular examination and a titre testing two viruses.

If shots are good for life, if you get a titer, they will show up, correct?

Yep, Visa is only titered for parvo and distemper, and the titer always says that Visa has antibodies that will not let her get parvo, and that she doesn't have any antibodies to protect her from distemper (as she's never had a distemper shot) but that she doesn't have it.