Are annual shots overkill!!!

**BC_MoM** · 07-06-2006, 04:41 AM

IMHO, this worldwide vaccine issue is being blown out of perportion.

I will vaccinate my dogs yearly.

Dogs have been vaccinated for CENTURIES yearly.

**.sarah** · 07-06-2006, 08:32 AM

Originally Posted by BC_MoM

Dogs have been vaccinated for CENTURIES yearly.

Huh? Dogs have been vaccinated yearly for 2-3 decades, not centuries.

And just because it's been done that long doesn't mean it's safe.

**Roxyluvsme13** · 07-06-2006, 11:24 AM

I don't really know my whole opinion on the situation. Roxy only gets a yearly rabies vaccine, which will be a 3 year one next year, but it's only because my grandpa says she has to have them.
Lily's had all her puppy shots, and I don't think my cat's been vaccinated? (is it the same for cats?) Anyways, I don't know my whole opinion on the situation..:/

**dab_20** · 07-06-2006, 12:01 PM

Originally Posted by Roxyluvsme13

I don't really know my whole opinion on the situation.

Same with me. My dog's get their yearly shots and rabies vaccine every other year. I really don't see much of a problem with it, though.

**BC_MoM** · 07-06-2006, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by Roxyluvsme13

I don't really know my whole opinion on the situation. Roxy only gets a yearly rabies vaccine, which will be a 3 year one next year, but it's only because my grandpa says she has to have them.
Lily's had all her puppy shots, and I don't think my cat's been vaccinated? (is it the same for cats?) Anyways, I don't know my whole opinion on the situation..:/

Well that doesn't count, because your pet's aren't not vaccinated because of these issues.

Ok, Sarah, people have vaccinated for decades with a low percentage of people having problems with their pets. It's not of concern to me.

**lv4dogs** · 07-06-2006, 12:04 PM

I personally think that some shots are good but too many can be harmful.

My dogs get their series of puppy shots and their first yearly vaccines. After that they only get vaccinated every 3-5 years (depending on the dogs health, age, activity levels, how frequently they travel, their tier results, etc..). EXCEPT for rabies, they get that every 3 years (well if they are young, their first rabies vacc. is due in one year, after that it's every 3 years) only because (A) it is state law and (B) I am an avid camper & travel frequently and rabies certificates are often needed for many different events.

**bckrazy** · 07-06-2006, 07:28 PM

Sorry Sarah, if I came off that way. It's definitely just "my opinion", and I wouldn't want to force it on anyone or make anyone feel bad because of it. The fact is that you are protecting your puppy, shots or not.

I agree, that the "well, they've been over-vaccinating for decades" thing is not a valid excuse. There are plenty of dogs who have had reactions & plenty of dogs who get the shot yearly and still contract the disease, the thing is that most vets have their own excuses that they force on owners, I've heard many. That reasoning, to me, is on the same level as "well, dogs have been fed kibble for decades..."

**.sarah** · 07-07-2006, 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by bckrazy

Sorry Sarah, if I came off that way.

Bah, don't worry about it. Like I said, I wasn't in a great mood yesterday.

I agree, that the "well, they've been over-vaccinating for decades" thing is not a valid excuse. There are plenty of dogs who have had reactions & plenty of dogs who get the shot yearly and still contract the disease, the thing is that most vets have their own excuses that they force on owners, I've heard many. That reasoning, to me, is on the same level as "well, dogs have been fed kibble for decades..."

Yeah, I feel the same way!

**dragondawg** · 07-07-2006, 12:13 PM

There is always a chance that a vaccine may cause a severe allergic reaction such as anaphylactic shock, or as this thread started out with hemolytic anemia. There could also be localized skin reactions. Some dogs react to any vaccine as their immune systems are hyper active, while most dogs will never have a reaction.

Rabies vaccinations are required in most of the states in the U.S. If you wish to disobey the law, endanger your dog's health, and open yourself up to lawsuits if your dog becomes infected and bites someone, then that is your choice. But it is an irresponsible choice.

A rabies vaccine is a killed virus preparation and as such has absolutely no ability to infect the dog's brain or cause neurological side effects.

Parvo due to its lethality in puppies presents a confused picture. If you do not vaccinate your puppy, then you are trusting that it will never encounter an adult dog which is shedding the virus during that first critical first year. Even a puppy just over a year can get a severe and possible fatal infection from Parvo. On the other hand if you vaccinate too early then maternal antibodies received through the milk will neutralize the virus before an immune response can be mounted. That is why there are usually multiple vaccinations for Parvo to make sure the immune response occured. What happens if you vaccinate a puppy just after it has been exposed to Parvo, or just before it is exposed to Parvo? It will get Parvo as it takes at least a week to 10 days for immunity to build up from the vaccination. There are many occurances where the owner vaccinated and a few days later the puppy got sick. The puppy did not get sick from the vaccine. It got sick because it had been exposed to Parvo before being vaccinated or just after.

(due to thread length end of Part 1)

**dragondawg** · 07-07-2006, 12:39 PM

Distemper. If you want neurological problems and/or organ failure problems in later life then skip the distemper shot for your puppy. Why would you want to?

The vaccine schedule I'm following on my current two dogs (now age 3) are:

1. They recieved their "puppy shots" for parvo-distemper, bordetella, and of course rabies.

2. At year 1 and 2 they recieved booster shots for the parvo-distemper.

3. From here on out they will receive a booster once every 2-3 years. The rabies re-vaccination once every 3 yrs.

In addition since my female enjoys wallowing in one particular mud hole in the woods, I'm researching the prevalence of Leptospirosis in my area. Doubtful they will ever get lyme vaccinations, as the disease is easy enough to treat, and has not been a problem here for dogs. In another words some vaccination decisions are a matter of common sense.

The choice for puppies is clear. Vaccinate or take the risk of death or life long serious complications. Once the dog is an adult, give the one booster shot to ensure Parvo-distemper immunity. Then you can decide whether to vaccinate once every 2-3 years, or possibly longer. There are some studies suggesting life long immunity.

Per rabies - vaccinate. Note there are studies to indicate that even dogs undergoing Chemotherapy for cancer, can mount an immune response that is protective to a rabies vaccination. If your dog had an allergic reaction to a rabies vaccine (e.g. hives, breathing problems), then pre-loading with Benedryl is a way around the problem.