After recent discussions with other 'doggy' people, what do fellow DH folk think about innoculations, do we need to have them every year or don't we?
Some are saying it isn't needed and some are saying it is harmfull???

There seems to be a lot of conjecture in the dog world about this.
We have spoken to several vets and some won't comment other than to tow the official line, but one or two have said that they feel that every year is over the top and that every 3 years is more than enough. I would say for a working dog or one that is exposed to rivers/canals where there is the danger of Lepto, it's probably a good idea to have that particular one every year.
What I don't understand is if they an make a 10 year jab for tetanus for humans, why can't they do the same for doggy viruses.

Many insurance policies require that you have the dog given at least the basic booster vaccination every year. I did ask a vet that I trusted once and he agreed that many vaccinations were unnecessary but did feel that at least the basic annual booster was a good idea on balance.

I too have read all the bumph on innoculations and I am still undecided. Common sense tells me that humans don't have annual innoculation so why do dogs but the other part of me is too scared NOT to have mine done yearly in case something happens to them. The bit that does scare me more though is the side effects of innoculation that damages the dog for life.

I have considered the homeopathic noduoles (SP) but I do not think that some insurance companies/kennels accept that.

Each side of the debate has it's own merits and is it a daunting decision to make.
I did read that if you give your dogs(S) top quality food, lots of exercise and are careful where you take them then the risk of them contracting lepto ect is low. Sometimes I feel that it is vets out to make money from us but then I wouldn't forgive myself if any of mine caught anything. I am usually a very desisive person but this is one area where I am anything but.....

I personally do not vaccinate that often anymore - keep regularly only rabies up , which we have to do every 3 yeras in Bc/Canada where I live . The puppies get 2 shots + later the rabies shot and then again 1 year later . After that only rabies for the rest of their lifes .

It might be more interesting for you to hear about the new " official " vaccination protocoll in the USa , as far as I know , this is , what is taught now at their universities . It basically gives some advice for puppies and then comes to the conlusion , that vaccinating very 3 years , after the 1 year boostershots are done , is by far good enough - any more will not do the dogs any good , also not improve their immunity - once the immunity is achieved , it will last forever . If anyone wants to go into more detail into this , please do google Dr Jean Dodds and perhaps "vaccination protocoll " or so - Dr Dodds , who runs a big animal cinic where she also works with hundreds of retired track greyhounds , is the one , who worked this new protocoll out.

When we had our Lurchers, Terrier and Greyhounds, they had their first lot, then again th following year, but after that we didn't do it, my husband has always been against it, but they were his dogs then as I had babies. The Greyhounds had them whilst they were racing, but once their track career was over, he never bothered getting them their annual boosters. They lived to about 11/12 until they died of cancer. The lurchers were working dogs, taking on anything and everything in the good old days when it was legal and they never came to any harm.
If the terrier had a fox and had got bitten, he gave him human antibiotics (smaller doses). Our dogs never went to the vet for anything, until they became ill with the cancer, but by the time the Greyhound had started to show signs, which having another hound have cancer, I just knew. I took the greyhound to the vet and he said he had a good idea the tumour was in her brain, rather than prolong it, I asked him to put her to sleep there and then, although it broke my heart, it saved her from being prodded and poked about and suffering, she was 12 and had had a great life.
My Border Terrier is due for his now, my vet is charging £44 and another is charging £33, big difference. The only reason I am with the local vet is because of Murphy's travel sickness as a puppy, so I may shop around. It's not just the money, but there is so much hoo ha now about it and what a waste of time and money it is, that is why I wanted to ask what others thought of it. My husband is saying he doesn't need it.

Just found this Document on a Hunting Website. I've not had chance to read it all, but there seems to be some useful information. But at the end of it all, the conclusion effectively says make up your own mind - which is what we all have to do according to our consciences.


www.thehuntinglife.com/fo...st&id=17886

It is a hard decision to make that's for sure

As already mentioned, Dr. Jean Dodds has a great website. I've followed her recomd's for years. She has done many studies and continues to do so..as well as bloat. Anyone int'd should look on line. also : www.doglogic.com/vaccination.htm ...look for Jean Dodds Vaccine Protocol

Forgot to add, another option..have the dog(s) titer tested. This will tell you where the immune system is and if they require a shot or not.

I have talked to my Vet about it and the problem in Australia is that we don't have seperated vaccine components. Also if you were considering boarding your dogs they must have had a vaccination within the 12 months. I do vaccinate evry year but that is only because we regularly go the shows and there always seems to be outbreaks of Parvo and Kennel Cough.
Something else the vet said was that Parvo mutates alot like our flu so without the update it might make the dogs vulnerable. I don't know if he is speaking from the pocket or for the dogs but at this stage we still do it annually.

In the UK it's getting more common now to only vaccinate every year for Leptospirosis with the other vaccinations e.g. canine distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and parainfluenza once every three years.

Thanks for the doglogic link and US protocol info - very useful.

The lepto jab should be every year but we tend to be a bit lax with this. All others can be every three years and the manufacturer of the vaccine that we use (not sure if i can name them ?)have clearly stated that with their product, this is more than adequate to provide protection. We are aware that many vets recomend vaccines produced by others who, surprisingly, recomend an annual booster!! In part agreement with lurch, its questionable if jabs later in a dogs life are benificial if its had its full quota in its first few years.

Here in Canada, there are some choices - such as live vaccine or modified live. I prefer modified live. Certainly has a much smaller reaction, if there will be one.
Cassandra