What vaccinations do your dogs get on a regular basis...and which do you (and your vet) view as unnecessary?

Question

Which do you get on a regular basis and when (once a year, once every three years, etc?)

Do you ever get some on occassion (such as bordatella) only when the dog will be kenneled/around other dogs?

Which ones do you find unnecessary?

Do you use flea control products year round? At all?

I recently had a discussion with my vet about her views on these topics. I liked what she had to say, but I also want to compare what other people's vets have told them. Thanks!

Answer 1

The vaccine protocol is going to depend on where you live, and your dog's risk of certain diseases. At the clinic where I work it is recommended that dogs get a Leptospirosis and Para influenza vaccine once a year. They get Distemper Parvo, and Adenovirus every three years (often a combination vaccine called a DAP, usually just referred to as a Distemper Vaccine). And a rabies, vaccine every three years. We only recommend a Bordatella vaccine if the dog gets groomed regularly, or is going to get boarded. If the dog is at high risk for Lyme disease, we recommend a Lyme Vaccine once a year. And if a dog is at high risk for Giardia, we recommend a Giardia vaccine once a year.

We also recommend heartworm prevention year round because of our area, mosquitos are out almost all year round. I personally keep my dog on flea prevention year round because she does come into contact with other dogs who might have fleas.

*SadieJane, that is why we only recommend a Giardia vaccine if the dog is at HIGH RISK. Which means, a dog who has been infected with Giardia. No vaccine is 100% and this vaccine is meant to reduce the severety of Giardia..

Answer 2

My dogs do not get yearly vaccinations. I have done TONS of research on this and I'm glad to see that many vets are seeing the damage caused by yearly vaccinations and are beginning to change their protocol.

My dogs get all their puppy shots (all 3 sets) and then they get a one year booster, and that's it. I know some people are now going with every 3 yrs, but so far with the tests and research that has been done, some shots have been found to have a duration of a minimum of 7 yrs and some have been found to last as long as 14 (which is the lifetime of most dogs). Yes, if I were to send my dogs to a kennel (which I never have) then I would probably give them a bordatella shot

We don't have a flea problem up here in the winter time, so I only keep my dogs on the flea preventative from Spring - Fall

Answer 3

Have you ever seen a puppy with distemper? Or Parvo? I've never had any problems with any vaccine - I would rather vaccinate than not. Experience with dogs helps but if you don't know what an emergency is vs something that is minor and will be fine then I guess most people caution on the safe side and go to the vet. My dogs are around other dogs...all the time. Very active - I vaccinate and microchip. I'm not sure what the peer pressure you are talking about. Do you take a flu shot each year? Is this over reacting?

Answer 4

I did the puppy shot series and have been running titers every year. He's now three and his immunity is still good.
We do keep UTD with the bordatella shots since we do occasionally board them and we take them to the groomers.
He's had the Leptosporesis shot, but we're not UTD on that one. He doesn't have much access to standing water.
We're on the 3-year Rabies shot. So this coming year we'll be due for another one.
We've used flea prevention in the past, but since we've been going to the groomers regularly we haven't had a problem with fleas. He has severe allergies to flea bites, so if he had them we'd know.
Heartworm medicine I try to keep UTD on. If we still lived in MN I'd definitely keep up on it, but we don't have the mesquito problem here so in the spring we'll start up again.
These are my views. Most of the patients at my vets office get yearly vaccines because that's what they do. They only run titers if you request it instead of the vaccines.

Answer 5

I prefer the 3-yr rabies. It's required by law, no way around that one.
There are so many opinions about frequency of these, but regardless, I insist on distemper-adenovirus-parvo on a regular basis. I add leptospirosis as well, because we live in a rural area.
I do not see any need for coronavirus or lyme disease unless either of those are very prevalent in your area. We see bordatella occasionally in our clinic, so giving that vaccine isn't a bad idea, but it depends on if you board or show your dog.
I do use heartworm preventative and flea/tick control year-round. I may skip a month or two of flea/tick control in freezing weather.

Answer 6

I believe it depends on where you live. We have a lot more natural areas with wild animals in our area, so our vaccinations are going to be different from those who live in a more urban setting, because they're exposed to different things. The vaccines we get for our dogs each year are:

Rabies
Parvo
Distemper
Lyme disease

We do heartworm prevention every month, because it is warm here in the South about 9 months out of the year, and we have lots of mosquitoes. Our vet recommends a heartworm test once per year, to make sure they have not somehow contracted heartworms despite the prevention medicine. We also have to use flea and tick prevention monthly. The dogs are also checked for parasites once per year as well (tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms)

Answer 7

My dogs got all their puppy shots. Now they are titered every year and I will do boosters only when they show low or no immunity to a dog disease (which has never happened). I do keep them legal with the 3 yr. rabies shots, although this year my vet refused to give my younger dog a rabies shot saying that he'd never vaccinate a sick dog, she has airborne allergies, and got a waiver from the County Animal Control. I use the flea/tick meds and Heartgard every six weeks (yes, every six weeks as per the vet).

Answer 8

Yearly vaccinations are

Distemper
adenovieus 2
parainfluenza
Parvovirus
leptospira
bordatella
Rabies

Thats whats on my dogs health record.

What my vet gives is necessary...There usually all in one shot so you basically have to get it. I dont really use frontline during the winter...Its too cold for any flea to live. I really dont think frontline works with all the complaints i seen. Its more of a help you be calmer when in a environment with fleas. Not really a flea protecter..But there arent any fleas in the city. So w/e

Answer 9

My dog always gets her rabies vacination as well as distemper. She doesn't get bordatella as she's never confined with strange dogs. She had it one time and she was very ill from it. My dog has never had fleas, ever and she's never had any kind of flea product. My dogs rabies vaccine is every three years.

Answer 10

my dogs are on 3 yr rabies.

they have not had DHLPP for two years & will never get them again, but they had had at least 4 as adults & since they were both shelter dogs may have had more.

they get yearly bordatella & lyme. advantage & heartgard year round

as for getting bordatella only IF needed - if takes at least 2 weeks to be effective so I prefer to be prepared.


stark - your boss should do some research on the giardia VX. it offers no protection against it - it is only to be used once the dog HAS it.