Help With Dog Vaccinations?

Question

I'd really like some advice on what dog vaccinations are necessary and most important. i know vets have this information but they also tend to suggestion every medicine out there because that means more $$ spent. i know a rabies shot is important. but do dogs really need all those other shots like distemper, parainfluenza, parvovirus, bordetella, and lyme?? my dog is mostly an indoor dog so is it necessary for her to get all those shots? thanks!

p.s i got a sample of advantage multi from the vet. it is a topical medicine that protects against heartworms, fleas, worms, mites, and mange. so would that, combined with a rabies shot, be ok for my pomeranian?

Answer 1

Its all in one shot now except rabies. so get them all and don't forget your Heartworm preventative.

Answer 2

This is a lot more common than most people realize, and one of the reasons I suggest people vaccinate only the minimum amount to keep their dogs safe. Vaccination with modified live virus vaccines probably is protective for life, and adult dogs do not need booster shots (no annual shots!)... a dog is either immune or it is not... re-vaccination will not make it more immune. I don't know how many animals were vaccinated at your club, but this sounds like more dogs than I would expect to have reactions. I would have serious questions about which vaccines were purchased, how they were stored, etc. The neurological reactions make me wonder if the distemper component was improperly active, and I would find this very scary... dogs can develop encephalitis from vaccinations gone wrong. I would document EVERYTHING, and I would report it to whoever it is which keeps data on adverse vaccine reactions (I suspect you are not in the U.S., yes?). It is also probably that the vaccine manufacturer can be held liable for any resultant medical care that is required. I would not use vaccines from this manufacturer again. If you wanted to share information about which vaccine was used, some might find that helpful.

Answer 3

I agree with Great Dane Lady.

The newest Vet protocol especially on smaller dogs like a Pom is to get the first set of puppy shots and then the one year booster. After that get a blood test to check the levels of vaccine still in your dogs system to determine if the vaccines are necessary. The blood test can cost almost as much as the vaccinations but it is far better for your dog.

I own two 8-10# poms that are inside dogs as well and I give them their boosters every three years with their required rabies shots. This way they are vaccinated but not over vaccinated.

Also check for the type of vaccines that may not be necessary for your dog. I live in an area that remains too cool year round for heart worm mosquito's to fully develop so as long as I do not take my dogs out of our area it is not necessary to have heart worm meds. On the other hand Deer ticks are common so a Lyme's vaccine is necessary.

Hope this helps

Answer 4

Actually, if vets really wanted to make as many $$ as possible we would tell you to never get any vaccinations - think of all the money we'd make on all the diagnoses and treatment for all the parvo and distemper!!

Your vet is the best to advise you on what shots he thinks are necessary for an indoor dog, as it really depends on what area you live in as to what diseases are endemic there. Remember many diseases do not require dog-to-dog contact - they can be picked up from the environment, and you can bring them in from the outside on your clothing.

What breed is your dog? Is there a particular reason the dog doesn't go outside?

Rabies, flea and worming would be an absolute minimum for an indoor dog. If she's ever going to come into contact with ANY other dogs then I also recommend the kennel cough vaccine (bordatella, vaccinated against with nasal drops). Remember the reason a lot of these diseases are less prevalent today is because people have become better at vaccinating their animals!

Chalice

Answer 5

It depends on how old your dog is. When they're puppies, they need a series of shots spread out over their first few months of life. The shots include a Parvo board Bordetella and the dog will have to get the shot again in Adult Form one year from the date of its last round of puppy shots. Those are preventive vaccinations and are required to make sure the dog grows up healthy and also does not infect other dogs with something.

Rabies is important, for obvious reasons, but I think lyme is seasonal and regional. My vet hasn't mentioned it to me yet (I live in los Angeles)

Getting your dog vaccinated is a lot cheaper than skipping the shots and having your dog contract a possibly fatal disease: the vet visits and medications and sometimes hospitalization for that is VERY expensive and horrible for the animal.

Answer 6

Distemper, Parvovirus and Rabies are the MOST important. If you ever plan on boarding the dog, Bordetella should be done, as well.

Indoors dog or not, you probably take your dog to the pet store, or for a walk. This is why Parvovirus & Distemper are important, as your dog might interact with another dog, or their fecal matter, and these can be contracted through that.

Answer 7

Depending of the area where you live some shots could not be necessary (like Lyme's), but it's always safer to be protected against all. That way you don't have to worry in case you travel, or if your dog ever makes it to the pound (you never know when he/she can runaway). What you can do is to go to the local shelter. Most of the shelters offer low cost immunizations at least once a month. You don't have to do all the shots at once, you can do one or two at a time depending of your budget.
I'm in short budget too, but I definitely got all the immunizations for my dog. I asked about the cost of hospitalizations, IV's, meds, and I don't think I could afford that.
Remember, preventing is cheaper than getting your dog sick.

Answer 8

Personally I think and know that dogs (puppies) should have a set of shots like the parvo and I do believe 2 more ets of rabie shots. All the others I believe like u do. My dogs are inside dogs and I try to keep them inside their own perimeter, but I do know that dogs can catch certain diseases from other dogs if u walk ur dog inside of parks or anywhere other dogs go to the restroom. Diseses can be carried like that. So u decide on the factors. ALso they have the microchip now which I believe that the dogs have got to have, one problem is what if u should move and the dog still has the old address, it is up to u to make sure u make a change of address.

Answer 9

You need the rabies. Personally, if it's a puppy, I would recommend the parvo, as parvo can be fatal if caught. Bordatella is important if there are other dogs in the area. Look around for a non-profit clinic in your area for less expensive options. I went to a clinic in my area called Pet-Luv. They did a shot clinic, and I was able to get my dog all of the recommended vaccines for under $40.

Answer 10

Those shots are absolutely necessary. You never know if a dog has had parvo previously on your property. That illness gets into the soil, and unless you bleach your yard thoroughly, killing everything on it, that disease will never go away. Unless the dog is vaccinated, it could get it. Same thing with all those other diseases. Ticks carry lyme disease. Yeah, your dog's inside, but raccoons and other wild animals walk around the city all the time, bringin their ticks with them. One could bite your dog, giving it lyme disease. Someone else's dog could have one of those problems and transfer it to your dog. You just never know.

The best thing to do is go to a local feed store. They sell the multi-shots, covering all the basic puppy vaccinations except for rabies, and you can administer the shots yourself (lift the fur between the shoulders, insert needle, inject avoiding muscle, rub in with hands, rub with rubbing alcohol). Absolutely make sure to get your puppy its shots. Disastrous things happen when you figure 'Oh, that'll never happen to MY dog...'

Answer 11

Take a look at what the Universities are doing. They are on a 3 yr protocol for vaccinations. The American Animal Hospital Association has put that protocol on their website.
http://www.aahanet.org
Dr Scultz of Wisconsin University did a duration of immunity on vaccinations and published his findings in 1999. Vaccinations are good for many, many years and do not have to be repeated. http://svmweb.vetmed.wisc.edu/articles/68/5/39
And after you read all that, go to Dr. Roger's website. He's a real vet in Texas and has a lot of links to you to read. Over vaccinating can be very harmful to our pets.
http://www.critteradvocacy.org