Is it ok to vaccinate small dogs every year?

Question

Some people say vaccinate every year, others say it's not good for the dogs to be over-medicated. Just looking for opinions & what other people do with their dogs.

Answer 1

Rabies is the only vaccination that is given every 2-3 years. All others are yearly boosters. I give my dogs their boosters every year and they have not had any problems.

Answer 2

Vaccinate your dog on your vet's schedule. Most vets will send out reminder cards when your dog is due for another vaccine. Its very important b/c sometimes they need boosters to keep your dog protected. Its just like having a child. They need shots on a schedule to prevent against deadly diseases. Go with your vets recommendations. Reactions to shots are rare and if your dog has had some already, then he should be fine for the rest.

Answer 3

At my clinic, we do the rabies and distempers as a one year for the first year, and then every 3 years after that. There have been several studies done on this and it is found that after so many years the dogs have built up enough the of the vaccine. You can have your dog tested with a titre to check and see when they get to be older and then you don't have to give the distemper anymore. We continue to do the rabies, because by law, you have to. Bordatella, we do every year.

Answer 4

The distemper vaccine and the rabies vaccine are three year vaccines (some clinics still do distemper vaccines every year, but the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) want them all to switch to three years). The others are every year vaccines.

I suggest keeping current...I see far too many parvo and lepto cases each week in the clinic I work at.

Answer 5

Any dog, any size, vaccinate every year or as recommended by veterinarian and local laws. The benefits outweigh the risks.

Answer 6

I vaccinated my dogs until they got old-- at that point- only rabies--because the serums can be toxic in older animals who may be developing illnesses.........I had a cocker die 6 months to the day that he got "booster" shots- he got sick the very next day after the shot and never recovered.......so that is my justification NOT to vaccinate after the age of 5

Answer 7

No need to vaccinate any more than is called for. The vet can tell you how often.

Answer 8

The best person to ask this would be your veterinarian. And yes, there are antibody (titre) tests available through them, but they are WAY more costly than the vaccinations themselves and sometimes its better safe than sorry.

Answer 9

There are tests that your vet can perform to see which vaccinations your dog needs. I personally am not into over-vaccinating, (including for my children and myself), I ithink it's unneccesary

Answer 10

i do exactly what my vet says. some vaccinations are scheduled for every year.