How often should I vaccinate my dog? I have done a lot of research on this and advice is conflicting. I want what is best for my dogs, not what’s best for companies, whether they sell pharmaceutical vaccines or nosodes.
Can you provide me with some solid advice?
Mary Elliott, by email
The WSAVA guidelines are puppy vaccines 2 weeks apart then a booster 1 year later. Then not until 3 years after that, if needed.
ReplyDeleteAsk your vet about doing a titre test, this should cost around £50, a little more expensive than the vaccines but there is no need to vaccine for the core diseases yearly.
You might want to go to the WSAVA website and download thier fact sheet New puppy owner vaccination guidelines http://www.wsava.org/sites/default/files/NewPuppyOwnerVaccinationGuidelinesUpdatedJuly2202013.pdf
I have had quite a few debates before with doggy people on this subject. It is really the choice of the owner. Do continuous research, ask more people, and your vet. Some people say their dogs have reactions to vacs, and others like mine, don't.
ReplyDeleteI recently have been interested in this exact subject, and through some self conducted research, I have decided completely against yearly vaccinations. There are horror stories (but then, there are for everything) where some dogs were seriously affected by their vaccinations, and a number of dogs have died as a result of their vaccinations. That's not to say I think badly of those who vaccinate, it's just not for me, and I have vowed to instead undertake a yearly titre test for my dogs to check their immunity. I may decide to vaccinate every three years, but it depends on the titre results obtained, and it's a relatively new concept to me still, so I'll see how things go! The thing that really puts me off vaccinations is more the response from some vaccination producers, who seem not to have much of a backing to their insistence that 'yearlies' are necessary. Other vaccination producers' guidelines are once every three years. Why a lot of vets pressure you into it once a year, I just don't know (money?)
ReplyDeleteAlso - you should go on the Canine Health Concern website (just type it into Google) and consider buying the booklet on common questions about dog health, which I found after it was mentioned in Dogs Today.
I too would suggest you look at Canine Health Concern; there is also a Facebook page called Canine Health - Dogs and vaccinations - What vets don't tell you. At the end of the day, it's a very personal decision. I have heard that if you do decide to vaccinate, it's better to wait until the pup is older, as maternal antibodies present will render a vaccine ineffective; this also means that you should be able to have just one puppy vaccination. Don't forget the alternative of nosodes, too.
ReplyDeleteI don't vaccinate and haven't in 9 years. My dogs and cats are the healthiest they have ever been. My vet is very much against my decision and so because of this I don't titre test. But if you feel you want to check immunity, this is a good option. The WSAVA website is a wealth of information for vaccinating. http://www.wsava.org/guidelines/vaccination-guidelines.
ReplyDeleteThe Canine Health Concern website also does a booklet you can buy for £3.50 which is also a good read, and one to keep handy.
http://chcstore.weebly.com/common-questions-about-dog-health.html