Hey guys, just wondering if anyone else's pups have reactions while getting yearly immunizations? Kaia turned 4 in June. She had all of her puppy shots no problem, had her first rabies shot at 4months and no problem. The following year she again received the 6-in-1 vaccination and 3-year rabies and had a reaction, muzzle swelled and vomiting. The next year she got the 6-in-1 and the same reaction...this past year I got a new (better) vet and all she got was the distemper vaccine with no reaction. She is due again for her rabies this year and I'm hoping there is no reaction. I give her Benedryl before any vaccination just in case. I feel like maybe her old vet was over vaccinating with the 6-in-1 every year, but again people trust their vets. just didn't know I anyone else had experienced anything like this?

Was your vet giving the 6-in-1 and the Rabies at the same time?? I follow a Limited Vaccine Protocol, and the only dog that has had a shot every year is Kennedy and Sheba. They got their puppy shots and then the one year booster and now they both will be titered. I also space my vaccines out at least a month in between, usually longer. Have you thought about looking into a limited protocol?? Or is that what you and your new vet will be doing?

When she had a reaction all vaccinations were given at the same time. Luckily last year when she just had the distemper vacc she did not react so now I'm thinking it might be rabies...which is obv required. When I went to the new vet last year she stated that usually after about 4 years old dogs don't actually need distemper every year, I did mention titering her. So I'll see what she recommends this year for vaccinations and if there are more than one I may ask to space them out.

It would not be unusual for her to have a reaction from such a big combo vaccine. Usually reactions are from Distemper/Parvo as opposed to Rabies.

Sorry to ask, but what is the 6 in 1? My pups are going to be due for their vaccinations soon, and I am a bit concerned with how uneducated I am with what the vets put in my dogs. Last time I was at my vet with Link I told them I just wanted a heartworm test done so I could get his Trifexus and she goes 'oh, he's due for his kennel cough shot!' and gives him one. So I don't think I'll be trusting them to do my shots anymore, I was displeased as I never board my dogs anywhere, they really don't need the kennel cough ones (past their puppy shots, which I got). I will be going to a vet clinic thats at a local pet store to at least do the rabies and parvo shot as I go to a lot of dog parks and a lot of meets, and most require updated vaccines and I do want my pups to be healthy, I am not going to save a buck by not giving them their shots, but I do want what's best for them and want to avoid over-vaccinating them.

My vet knows my frustrations with shots and I don't get them all depending on what I'll be doing with my dogs. Kennel cough is one that was excluded for a long time as I didn't take my dogs to the kennel, but now I may put the puppy in daycare so he needs it.

My issue is that my cat legitimately died from vaccines in so much as being diagnosed with vaccine associated fibrosarcoma at the age of 10 and passing shortly thereafter from complications (with 3-4 months of diagnosis).

I would be interested to hear what others do for shots as it is kind of emotionally draining for me to watch all the injections into my pets. I mainly now focus on distemper yearly and rabies every 3 years.

I do a "puppy series" and then adult vaccines at a year... I space those (and the puppy shots) out as much as possible. I usually get Rabies first once it's due for the 2nd time (so lets say 16 months) and that's their 3 year Rabies vaccine. About a month later I get their distemper/parvo vaccine. If I can get a singular vaccine, I do. However if they're are only combos I get the smallest. I do not vaccinate again for distemper/parvo. All of the vaccines I get are modified live, not killed. DO NOT VACCINATE AN ILL DOG. You're not making the dog any stronger.

Bordetella is a joke of a vaccine. I work at a kennel and my dogs have each gotten KC (kennel cough) once, and then never again- regardless of their vaccination status. I do not vaccinate for KC. It is a waste. However- many boarding places DO require it. It's silly. If your dog is socialized with other dogs, it will most likely never be an issue. The majority of dogs who get KC after boarding I have noticed are dogs who are not adequately exposed to other dogs routinely and/or dogs who have a weak immune system (puppies, geriatrics, ect.) For what it's worth I have a new foster who is on the tail end of a case of KC now. None of my dogs have had the slightest reaction.

There is so much information out there about the complete over-vaccination of our pets. Most places are thankfully adopting 3 year protocols for the "core" vaccines (Rabies & Distemper/Parvo) but even that is overkill quite frankly I believe.

6-1 is a combo vaccine. For example: DHLPP (Distemper, Adenovirus type1/2 incl. Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza, Parvo) sometimes they'll add Corona in there too. Essentially it's a 1 shot deal and can really screw with some dogs.

So Kristina, after their vaccinations at 16 months you only do rabies 3-year (if I'm reading this correctly)? Do you only get rabies because it is required, otherwise you think that is overkill as well? Just curious?

I used to do yearly vaccinations as my dogs are active in various dog sports where proof of current vaccinations is required and with the number in my kennel alone I did not want to be bringing something home.  It has always bothered me as I do believe there is such thing as over vaccination, then a fellow musher told me to ask my vet about 3-year shots (they are available in more than just rabies!) they do tend to cost a bit more but if your vet is willing to order them it's well worth it.  I'm currently looking to find out if I can order my own bulk 3-year vaccinations as I do my own vaccines (except Rabies, that has to be done by the vet).

I also do not do Lepto- it has been linked to causing seizures in our breed for one, and also out of the 6 strains of Lepto out there the vaccine only protects the dog from 2 strains. It's just not worth it, find out from your vet how high of a risk lepto is in your area, in ours it's minimal to no risk at all.

I think 3 year rabies is overkill, but that's the law. The RCF is trying to get it changed to every 5 or 7 years, last I had read. I haven't read up on it since May ish though. I only do rabies every three years because I have to. But I didn't give Sheba her rabies until I think 6 months ish. 3-4 months is just too soon IMO.

I have a question regarding vaccines! Growing up we only ever did rabies, nothing else. Should you do all the puppy vaccines and the rabies and then only do the rabies after the first year update of everything?

Honestly, I have mix feelings on puppy vaccines. With Sheba, she had no vaccines when I adopted her at 8 weeks. I didn't give her her first vaccine until 13 weeks, and I had taken her everywhere. I of course avoided dog parks; but I took her to Petsmart(kept her in the cart though), and basically anywhere I could.

I don't have a definite stance on puppy vaccines, but I for sure have my doubts.