Other Threads You May Find Helpful The Forum RecommendsVaccination Safety And Side Effects What's everyone's thoughts on vaccinations? When Stanley was little we got a trainer out who spoke to us about them and said he believed that dogs shouldn't be vaccinated as it does more harm than good. To be honest, I took it with a pinch of salt because at the time I was more concerned about bititng and crying than vaccinations and just wanted to get on with training. But I've just seen this on Facebook and thought it would be interesting to get your thoughts on vaccinations. We'll still get Stanley done when he's due. Do you all get your dogs done? Edited to remove attachment with reference to anti-vaccination pressure groups. The attachment refers to the issues regarding concerns over vaccination reactions and over-vaccination
I vaccinate on the schedule recommended by my vet (for some things this is annual, for others 3 yearly) as I want to keep my dog safe from potentiality fatal diseases. It's also a social responsibility to contribute to a high rate of coverage of vaccination in the doggie community. This keeps the incidence of these diseases low in the dog population, which is protection needed by tiny pups that are to young to be vaccinated. I'd never say no to modern and safe medical treatments that protect my dog and that save lives. Edit: as I'm sure everyone knows, but just to note anyway, vaccination schedules differ in different countries as disease prevalence differs. Eg., in Australia we are free of rabies so we don't need to vaccinate for that. Your local vet will know what's needed where you live
My Vet has, for a couple of years, recommended core vaccines every three years , I`m quite happy to go with this . I did tell our insurers that I was not having annual boosters , they were fine with this and said that cover would still be provided , as long as a dog didn't contract one of the diseases not covered annually . We don't put ours in kennels either , so it isn't an issue for us .
The up to date advice is most definitely not core vaccines every year, and I'd walk away from any vet who said that was the case. My adult dogs have 3 yearly core vaccines, and lepto and kennel cough annually (although they have both had kennel cough this year anyway but super mild cases, so hope that was because they were vaccinated). http://www.wsava.org/sites/default/files/WSAVA Vaccination Guidelines 2015 Full Version.pdf I want to do the best for my dogs, and what I wanted was that they were protected. After reading various articles about over vaccination, I asked my vet to do a titre test on Charlie when his 3 year vaccinations were due. And I'm very glad I did. Not because it showed that he didn't need vaccinations, but it showed that he did - or at least (according to the guidelines) he should be revaccinated. This cost me a great deal more than the re-vaccination cost. And then I had him retested, more than quadrupling the cost altogether. I was happy to pay it, and will probably do the same next time - but for anyone who doesn't want to incur this cost, then I'd say 3 yearly vaccinations are probably sensible. Based on my experience at least.
Ronald Shultz is a vet and academic in the US who has done a lot of research on immunity and vaccination. His articles and recommendations are very useful (I think) to anyone concerned about this topic.
I have no choice; by law we have to do the core vaccinations every year. When I presented Luna's vaccination card to my vet in Andorra, he was shocked that the rabies vaccination said it wasn't due for three years. Most dogs in the UK wouldn't have rabies jabs, so it's not surprising he hadn't seen one, but he said, "Isn't the UK really paranoid about rabies?". Well, yes (and really rather OTT), but there are many more reasons not to have the vaccination yearly. Still, where we reside, there is no option. The core vaccines every year, or you risk having your dog destroyed. It's not what I would do, given the choice, but that's because I question things now. Growing up, our animals were routinely vaccinated every year and I didn't even hesitate to think if it was the right thing to do. So, with knowledge comes either power, or the understanding that you are powerless.
But, to answer the original question, I think it is utterly irresponsible to not vaccinate your dog/child/hamster against those things that could affect the rest of the population. Herd immunity is a powerful thing, and tampering with it because you don't "like" the idea of vaccinating should qualify you for a Darwin award IMHO
The only vaccination required by law here is Rabies. I only vaccinated it instead of titreing because there is a bad neighbour and another person on our street had a bite incident. Titre will not be accepted by some health units (mine) and then the only way to tell if a dog who has bitten has rabies is to euthanize it. Because of Oban's illness I had a medical exemption on the Rabies. After first puppy shots and required by manufacturer first booster I have titred ever since on all other vaccinations and all have been at protective levels till this spring he was low on Distemper. I have to decide what to do about that. When more and more research shows harm from vaccinations and that the first ones last a lot longer than we are told I think anyone looking out for the health of their dog and the community can do both by titreing those not required by law. Some are very controversial, Leptospirosis for one, and Lymes too, and may be more likely to cause disease than prevent it. I don't do those and stopped doing Bordatella too. At training and at trials no one ever asked for them but I would be scuffered if I had to board. LOL, I worked for Big Pharma. I do believe in vaccinations but only the minimum necessary. Sometimes it's hard to know what that is.
We have to vaccinate yearly (or provide a yearly titre test) to remain a member of our dog club. We vaccinate yearly.
We vaccinate our cats annually and Harley has had everything recommended and will continue to have her vaccinations. And our cats are indoor cats so we know the risk is low but we just are the vaccinating type. We do anti-tetanus for ourselves when due, especially for me because I work in a public hospital and I get Hep B too because of work.
Guide Dogs vaccinate and give a yearly booster to their 1,400 puppies and 4,800 Guide dogs. I'm know they would rethink if there were problems. "All our puppies require early and complete protection against five potentially fatal diseases to enable us to start their socialisation at an early age. The diseases we routinely vaccinate against include distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus and para-influenza. Our puppies are given their first vaccine at six weeks of age. They then require two further vaccinations at twelve and sixteen weeks of age, followed by an annual booster vaccine. To offer the best level of protection against Kennel Cough we also request puppies receive a separate vaccine against this at approximately seven months of age." .
Because....this quote is not in line with the WSAVA guidelines, and much as I think Guide Dogs is a great organisation it's not necessarily one that has perfect up to date policies, or even keeps its website perfectly up to date, and I won't be following this advice over the WSAVA.....
