Is it necessary to vaccinate your dogs yearly?

Question

I have a co-worker who says that annual "booster" shots are unnecessary. I did some further research and have found that some vaccinations can actually weaken your dogs immune system and if given too much can make your dog sick. Is this true?

Answer 1

Distemper vaccines generally last a good 2-4 years (maybe longer), after a full series of puppyhood vaccines are given.

We've been seeing more parvovirus disease, however, in dogs whose owners wait 3 years after the first year before getting the next booster. The other components of the vaccine probably don't last that long, either.

Keep in mind that 3 years for a young dog is equivalent to around 25-35 years for a human. (For older dogs, it's around 4 per 1.)
Humans get tetanus boosters every 10 years. Other diseases, we are immune to for life after vaccination. Flu/pneumonia vaccines must be given every year to humans, because of mutated strains. Mutated strains of viruses happen with animal diseases, too.

Due to having autoimmune syndrome myself (an overactive immune system that attacks my body's own tissues), I am especially sensitive to whether or not we are possibly over-vaccinating our pets and inadvertently causing more of them to develop immune system disorders. (Due to an OVER-active immune system.....NOT a 'weakened' one.)

For the life-threatening diseases, the best thing to do is to run annual antibody titers for each virus to see what each pet's level of protection actually is. If it's higher than a protective level, then the dog doesn't need a booster that year. If it has fallen below the protective level, he does.

Three problems with that:
1. The blood tests are more expensive than just giving the boosters, so that's what most owners ask us to do.
2. A dog might have a protective level on the test one year, but it might fall below the critical level sometime BEFORE the next year. That dog is now susceptible to that virus, and will get sick if exposed to it. By giving the boosters every year, that is avoided....since we know they last for a year in most dogs.
3. Many owners want to get it all over in one visit per year. They don't want to have to drag their smelly, muddy dog back for a booster vaccine when the test comes back a few days later saying he needs one.

Rabies vaccination has been shown to provide sustained protection for 3 years. Most states accept that now....but if the state law mandates yearly boosters, they have to have yearly boosters or you'll face a steep fine. (Only 2-3 states fall into that category now, thankfully.)

Erica, I'd ask where the criterion for '3 years' comes from. (Except for rabies, which has undergone extensive testing to verify protection that remains durable for that time frame.) But where did "every 3 years" for all of the other vaccines come from? Is it a number that was just arbitrarily plucked out of the air??? Are there studies to support that interval? Vaccines convey immunity for different viruses for different lengths of time, depending upon many factors. Like I said, we've been seeing more and more adults whose owners follow that protocol coming in WITH PARVO (in particular.) Rather than just picking a random number (3) out of the air, don't you think it's better to TEST your dog to see exactly where he/she stands? And if that can't be done, to err on the side of caution and give the boosters earlier?

Answer 2

That is a common debate both in and out of the veterinary field. My answer is I guess its a personal decision. Is the risk of contracting a fatal illness not as big a deal to you as spending the money yearly? You could choose to do yearly blood titers to show the amount of antibodies the dog has, but considering you'd have to do for 5-7 different diseases, and that would cost you several hundred dollars, I say its better safe than sorry. Dont forget, vaccines are not the only reason your pet should be at the vet at least yearly. Its important for the doctor to do a good physical exam and other blood work to make sure there is no underlying problems. You dont know how many times I have seen a pet come in very ill, with kidney or heart failure, and the owner will say "I dont understand, hes been fine till now", and when I ask whens the last time he saw a vet, they'll say "4 yrs ago" or "when he was a puppy". All that time could have been use to prevent this from happening, if only we had been aware that his kidneys were on the verge of failure, or he's developed a heart murmur

Answer 3

Annual booster shots are very important. We have 3 dogs and have spent a good amount of time at the vets. The rabies shot is obvoiusly the most important, but the others that the vet recommends are also important. They protect the dogs against diseases outside and if they come in contact with other animals. The shots may weaken their immune system temporarily, but in the end keeps them stronger and more able to fight off sickness.

Answer 4

It depends. You'll have to check your local laws regarding vaccination. Where I live rabies vaccines are required for all dogs every year. Most other vaccines are not required every year. Vets are moving away from annual vaccination for a lot of vaccines. Your vet may draw titers (labwork that shows how much immunity your dog has to a disease) to see if the vaccine is needed that year. Some vets do many of the vaccines every three years instead of every year. Some vaccines, such as for kennel cough, are not necessary if your dog does not travel much and is not exposed to a lot of dogs. This movement to less frequent vaccination is indeed, based on the fact that vets are realizing that yearly vaccines are unnecessary in many cases and can even cause bad reactions in dogs. I would encourage you to talk to your vet about your dog's needs.

Answer 5

I have done a lot of research on this subject and my opinion after all of that is this..
I think that their initial puppy series SHOULD be done.. I believe that you should get their year boosters after that.. then I believe vaccs should be given every THREE years. Most rabies vaccines that vets give are already a 3 yr vaccine they just give it to them every year.
Another concern of the vets is that people wont bring their pets in for their yearly check ups if they don't have to get vaccines so they just require it every year.
I don't want to over vaccinate my animals so I follow the every 3 yr routine. They are actually finding out that some of these vaccines might last a lifetime.

Answer 6

I hardly can remember a time I didn't have a dog. I always took them in yearly for their shots. All of my dogs have lived full productive lives and have been healthy, living to their life expectancy and beyond. However, a good friend of mine is a vet and he told me one time that the rabies vaccine is good for about three years, but most states require yearly vaccinations, for safety sake. I continue to take my dogs in yearly, mainly to insure they are in good health.

Answer 7

I'm curious to the question as well...my dog developed an immune disease where his immune system got so strong, it started destroying his own blood cells....5 blood transfusions later and now on medication to weaken his immune system, I was told to stop getting his shots (maybe for the rest of his life). Now I'm afraid he's going to pick up some disease.

Answer 8

i know some vets offer the rabies shots once every 3 years and some vets offer all shots once every three years while other vets will give the same shots but less amounts once every year. i believe that if your dog will be kennelled or around other dogs alot like dog parks or something that the kennel cough is needed every year..as for the others it depends on your vet. some are 3 year shots, some are every year..it all depends on the vet so call around and ask how they do them.

Answer 9

All my dogs get yearly shots and rabies every 3 years. They've never gotten sick and I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Answer 10

we get our dogs shots once a year and they are nice and healthy.