Is it necessary to have your dog vaccinated every year?

Question

for example the booster shots.

thanks for all your answers, my dog gets all the shots so i was curious. Its not that I don't want to pay for the shots (not a problem) or anything.

Answer 1

You've asked a question that is VERY controversial right now. The AVMA (Am Vet Med Assoc) has actually changed it's vaccine recomendations to every three years. Check their website for more info. However, that doesn't mean your vet is willing to be up to date, or even knows about the changes. I have shown my vets all the info and they are unwilling to change. It is a big income generator for them. But--researchers are now beginning to cite overvaccination for the massive rise in cancer and allergies/ immune system disorders in our pets.

Also, Dr Jean Dodds DVM is currently doing rabies challenge studies to see if rabies vacs are needed as often as we give them. Her website: http://www.hemopet.com/ links to her study. She also has a more minimal vaccine protocol plan she has developed. If you search her name and "vaccines" on the web, you will find a ton of info (including her direct contact info... I've emailed her for help and advice. She is very knowledgeable and quite willing to help!)

Even if you choose not to vaccinate yearly, it is still important to go for a yearly "wellness" check-up. Just be prepared for lots of pressure to "get those yearlies updated".

Unfortunately, others on here are right... if you want to board your dog, travel by plane, or attend some training classes you will be required to have the "yearly" bit. I also discovered another potential difficulty... a child adoption homestudy. You might want to look into receiving a magazine called Whole Dog Journal... it discusses this issue, plus health, nutrition and training, and other readers have advice on how to deal with the issue, and what to do if vaccines make your dog sick and getting them is too much of a health risk.

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

No, vaccinating every year increases the risk of cancer and immune disorders.

After your dog has received puppy shots and one booster stop vaccinating yearly. Instead have your vet do titer testing. This is a blood test that checks your dog immunity to diseases they vaccinate for. If the titers are good no need to vaccinate, if they are low then go ahead and vaccinate the dog.

Just like people vaccines in dogs last far more than one year.


Rabies should be the same way but due to laws regarding rabies vaccination you can't do that with rabies. Instead go with the maximum time possible before having your dog vaccinated for rabies again.

Answer 4

It depends on your dogs lifestyle, actually - not every dog needs every vaccination every year. Some vaccinations do need to be given every year, but not all of them. Rabies vaccinations are available in 1 year and 3 year, depending on what your state allows. Certain vaccinations need to be given only every three years. Talk to your vet and work out a plan for your pet.

FYI - an 8 week old puppy that has had "all its shots" has NOT had all of its shots... just the ones it needs up to the age of 8 weeks. It is VERY important that a series of distemper/parvo vaccinations be given as a puppy - otherwise your puppy is still at risk of getting a virus (especially Parvo, which is very bad this year, and can kill puppies). We typically do a series of 4 puppy vaccines - they need to receive the last one at about 4 months of age. We have seen many puppies that have "had all their shots" come down with Parvo because they are not adequately protected.

Answer 5

rabies is a must every year. its the law. its also a "zoonotic" disease (humans can become infected). rabies in humans is almost 100% deadly. as distemper (DHPP), usually if your dog isn't around ANY dogs, you may be ok. but something to think about, distemper can be deadly. bordetella is usually just given if you dog is boarding somewhere. its basically a cold that is very contagious from dog to dog, it can be treated with anti-biotic.
me personally, i have a 9 year old dog, he only gets rabies because of his age. i've also got a two year old dog, if i didnt work @ a vet clinic, i would only give him distemper and rabies, no bordetella.
now you said boosters, do you mean the puppy vaccines? if so, yes, get ALL the puppy boosters. until the last set which is at 13 weeks of ago. this is a MUST. we just had a 13 week old puppy (coming in to finish up booster vaccines) and come to find out, the puppy was around other dogs that werent vaccined, well, the puppy picked up distemper, we had to euthanize a 13 week old puppy. so please, thats horrible to think about, but please vaccinate your puppy, no matter what age.

if you have anymore questions, just email me. God Bless

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Answer 6

Especially the rabies vaccine...and it's law. Get caught without one and you get a good fine. Most dogs that have had all their puppy shots and the boosters that go with it don't need these every single year, but the rabies is a must. Talk with your vet and he can tell you what shots you need to have.

Answer 7

depends if your dog is an outside go to the park kinda a dog then yes!! otherwise if its a stay at home never leaves the house then my opinion would be no.. as long as its had its initial 4 sets of shots + rabies..

Answer 8

My chihuahuas are indoor & healthy I just get them rabies shot every year bcuz thats all i can afford until I find a job.

Answer 9

No, it is not. Many vets are beginning to stop pressuring their clients into giving the shots each year.

Think of it this way: do we vaccinate our children every single year? Of course not.

Having said that, if you board or show your dog, you will be required to get the booster for kennel cough every year.

Answer 10

my dog was up to date on shots when we got her from the breeder and we had her vaccinated the year after that, but thats it and we got her at 8 weeks old and she is now 5 as of halloween. She has never been sick a day in her life, she's a border collie and the same goes for my beagle who is three.

(I know that ALL of the shorts aren't givin to 8 week old puppies. I meant all the ones they do give them. And that is why we took her to get all of her shots the next you as well.)