Dog Vaccinations

Although there are many shots for dogs, did you know the only dog vaccine required by the United States Federal Government is for rabies?

There are local regulations for some shots. For instance, if Lyme disease is prevalent in your area, there may be a requirement for it. Or if you need to board your dog while you are out of town, a kennel cough vaccine in the form of nasal drops is usually required by the boarding facility. Please consider nosodes
instead of vaccinations not required by law.

COMBINATION VACCINES

The most controversial vaccines are the combos. I know these are meant to save you money by combining 4 to 8 vaccines but ask yourself these two questions:

• Does my dog really need all these?
  (Check your local requirements and find out exactly what your dog is at risk for before you go to your vet.)
• How would I feel if someone gave me a shot carrying small amounts of 4 - 8 diseases to create an immunity to them?
  (Answer? Terrible! How can it not create canine illness?)

Next time you go to the vet's office, please sit down and talk. Ask your veterinarian questions. Remember you are the one making decisions for your dog.

PUPPY SHOTS

The dog vaccination schedule begins in puppy-hood.The three diseases which puppies are vaccinated against at approximately nine weeks are dog distemper, canine adenovirus, dog hepatitis and Canine Parvovirus. Each of these will usually be given three times, a few weeks apart to ensure full protection.

Not only is this a lot for a little one to deal with, what if he doesn't need it? Didn't he gain immunity through his mother's milk? Have your vet do a titer test.

Here is a revised dog vaccination schedule published in 2005.

WHAT IS A TITER TEST?

It checks the number of antibodies to a particular disease or virus in your dog's bloodstream. If antibodies are present especially in high numbers, it indicates an immunity to the disease.

The problem with analysis of this test is that low titers do not equate with lack of protection, especially the farther out in time the titer is measured from the original vaccination.

THE PROBLEM WITH VACCINATIONS

So many dogs are over-vaccinated, it breaks my heart. They are now at greater risk for developing chronic disease.

Whether its for humans or pets, those who have a weak immune system needing the most protection from any disease, are those most likely to become ill by a shot! Their immune system can't handle it. (You couldn't pay me to get a flu shot and I never catch the flu anyway.) Read more about vaccine side effects.

Never let your vet give your dog a vaccination when she is not in good health!

Although not quite in the dog vaccinations category, here I've added Heartworm Treatment, preventative or medicine because most people think it's a non-toxic way to prevent dogs from catching this "disease" but nothing could be further from the truth, and it has side effects.

WEST NILE VIRUS VACCINE

Thank goodness there isn't a dog vaccine for this disease because this is considered a non-disease for canines. Read Symptoms of West Nile Virus.

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