Are annual shots overkill!!!

[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?

[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.

[Roxyluvsme13]

On the whole you must have a Vet to give vaccines, I know it's not true here. My mom was suggesting a few years ago that she was going to do our Doxie's shots at home.