Over Vaccination Issues, and Titers

[Freedom]

At this point, my cats are only getting the required 3 year rabies. They are indoor only, so they really aren't exposed to much. I stopped doing cat rescue several years back.

The dogs are as well. But for them, I keep tabs as they are out and about for walks, and 2 are in classes, so I may get them a booster.

Jessika, I also think it is so important for people to know about issues with their breed. Bichons should never have the Lepto vaccine, they have an extremely high reaction rate.

Someone on the bichon forum just brought home a puppy, age 12 weeks, through a rescue group. She was looking through the vaccination paperwork, and this wee baby has already had DHLPP THREE TIMES!!! She needs to work with her vet and give this baby's immune system a break for as long as possible.

[Jessika]

Someone on the bichon forum just brought home a puppy, age 12 weeks, through a rescue group. She was looking through the vaccination paperwork, and this wee baby has already had DHLPP THREE TIMES!!! She needs to work with her vet and give this baby's immune system a break for as long as possible.

If they are going to have a reaction to a vaccine, though, they will get one within a few hours of administration. So if her Bichon has not has a reaction to lepto, chances are likely she won't in the future, either.

[Freedom]

That is not the point, Jessika. With so many vaccines (and doubled up, at that!) she is now high risk for thyroidism, allergies and wide range of issues.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Thanks for posting this info. I know that used to overvaccinate my cats because the vet's that I went to required yearly vaccines. It wasn't until I went to my current vet that she told me to stop giving Storm vacccines because he was over 10 years old. I had stopped giving them to Sky because he had bad reactions which then made him sick. She also does the 3 years shots and I really don't need to give them rabies shots because I live in a city that doesn't require them for cats. All of my cats are indoor only too. Ziggy and Pearl did receive another FVRCP shot this past year because Alani & Blaze had been very sick and they hadn't been vaccinated in a while. I'm one of those people that will still bring in their pets for annual exams only with no shots. My vet knows this so doesn't try to push me to get shots unless they are really needed. I still feel that my RB Starr's Colitis/IBD may have been caused by overvaccinating him.

[Jessika]

That is not the point, Jessika. With so many vaccines (and doubled up, at that!) she is now high risk for thyroidism, allergies and wide range of issues.

I did misunderstand since the sentence prior you were mentioning how Bichons have a higher reaction rate to lepto...

As puppies, it is very important to vaccinate a series of times to catch when the maternal antibodies wear off (since there is no exact "date" of when this happens). I hope the poor thing wasn't given lepto with the distemper three times as two is all that's necessary for lepto (at least, that's protocol at my clinic...). She should be getting the third one at 12 weeks; if she had three vaccines prior to 12 weeks that's a bit much (and wasted... some breeders vaccinate their puppies at 3 or 4 weeks!!!!!).

[KYS]

Very good topic.
I am curious what the vet techs on this board will post.

THe new protocal I thought was not to give yearly shots?
I think depending on the county/state some vets still follow the old school way of thinking.

[Freedom]

Jessika is a vet tech.

The new protocol goes to 3 years. And as you say, not all vets are switching.

[Sharon_FL]

So I am taking my dog for her yearly check up soon and she shouldn't get her yearly vaccinations? It should be every 3 yrs instead? Is that what I am understanding? Except for rabies? I think my vet is going to disagree with me, but I surely want to do what is best for my dog. I am sort of confused with what harm over vaccinating can do versus the harm under vaccinating might do...??
Like I said, I just want to do what is best for my dog.
Thanks, Sharon