Are We Over Vaccinating Our Dogs?

 This subject would have never been of interest to me if  we had not adopted Ty ♥  3 years ago.  Those who own a dog (or any animal) think of them as an extended part of our family. Here is some information I researched over the past few years and hope this may be of some help in your decision making.  

 

Dr. Ronald Schultz PhD (a very well respected and author of numerous articles) published, “What Everyone Needs to Know About Canine Vaccines and Vaccination Programs“.

He states, “Annual vaccination has been and remains the single most important reason why most pet owners bring their pets for an annual or more often “wellness visit.” That is why the Vets put emphasis on vaccinations, so we as dog owners make sure we schedule a visit. It is imperative to make a yearly annual checkup for our dogs even if they are/are not administered vaccines.  

 

 Think of when we were children, were we vaccinated yearly? Of course not, as we know vaccines give us the immunity for most of our adult lives. The average adult lifespan is 70 years vs. the average lifespan of dogs being 10-17 yrs (depending on the breed).  Does it make sense to vaccinate our dogs on a yearly basis?

 

Vaccines Which Are Required By Law

Rabies, period. Legally you could only follow your state’s rabies requirement and give no other vaccine, and still be in compliance with the law. If your vet tells you that you are “required” to give other vaccines,  that is not true.

Now, it is possible that if you go to a boarding kennel, they may require that your dog be vaccinated within the year, but that is primarily due to the ‘high risk’ environment of a kennel (lots of dogs in close proximity).

 

Annual vs. 3 yr Vaccines 

There are very few vaccines which need to be even considered on an annual basis. Most vaccines are proven to have a duration of 3 years immunity and that’s only because they haven’t been formally challenged to be tested for a longer period of time.

Most vaccines do protect your dog for a lot longer than the labeled time (provided they’ve been given properly). The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) released a new edition of its vaccine guidelines for dogs in 2006. AAHA recommend that most vaccines, including Rabies and DHPP, be given every three years to adult dogs. If your vet is insisting on vaccinating annually, I would show them the PDF “guideline” document and ask them why they are choosing to ignore its guidance.

 

Titers vs. Vaccination

What is titer testing? A titer test (pronounced TIGHT er) is a laboratory test measuring the existence and level of antibodies in blood. Antibodies are produced when a foreign substance like a virus or bacteria provokes an immune response. Responses can come from natural exposure or vaccination. 

Titers are very controversial and may be more expensive (one vaccine vs. multiple vaccines) than vaccinating.  Ty’s veterinarian Dr. Margo Roman owns/operates Main Street Animal Services of Hopkinton (M.A.S.H) and charges around $75 for titers. Ty has had some allergic reactions to vaccinations and will choose to have a titers test done this Friday.

The Whole Dog Journal printed a great article entitled “Take the Titer Test”. I was unable to upload the PDF format and found the information online.  

Of note, you do not need to titer every year. The guideline suggested is 3 years as is recommended for rabies. 

 

 

Ty

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