Some might think I'm crazy...but do you all vaccinate your dogs?

I don't vaccinate my kids. Suffice to say, yes, I've done a lot of research, reading, and learned a lot in school (pre-med, biology).

Read a thread recently on another doggy website and was surprised to find a lot of people do not vaccinate their dogs. They do a titer test instead to show the dog is not inflicted with rabies. I don't know how that would hold up in a "situation" with another dog or person.

Florida requires yearly rabies vaccinations, or the 3-year shot.

I can post a link the to the thread if anyone is interested.

I would rather not vaccinate, but law is law. Neo has all his shots because for hiking and boarding he has too. Jackson on the other hand, I cant tell you when the last time he even had a rabies shot was.

I have to vaccinate our one neighbor hates us because my GS doesn't like him. So he calls the animal control on us and anyone else with a dog in our neighborhood. They have only been to our house once but when they come it's the first thing ask and they have called us twice. So just to save the headaches and such I just do it.

i only do the rabies, because its required, and puppy vaccinations. otherwise, nope

There's a reason why we vaccinate people and our pets, diseases like yellow fever are becoming more prevalent in the US due to not vaccinating children; the disease never went away, everyone is vaccinated for it. But yes over-vaccinating is also bad in itself. I do a 3 year rabies and distemper/parvo/lepto, and yearly lyme and crotalus vx. Kale had a full series of puppy shots for full immunity. (4 dist/parvo, 2 lepto, 2 bordtella, 2 lyme, and 2 crotalus. the only thing he'll be vaccinated for this year is lyme and crotalus. I work in a vet office as a technician and physically see what not vaccinating does on an almost daily basis. Parvo is an awful virus that strips the lining of the intestines and prevents nutrients from being absorbed, but that's not what kills them, dehyration does them in first, their bodies can't absorb any fluids. We are seeing more and more adults come in with parvo every month it seems. Do the 3 year vaccination, for the safety of your furbaby.

Rabies as required by law, kennel cough when needed for kennels. Most others if my Vet recommends them, I trust his judgement.
Some prefer trusting titers, I don't. After having one loss to premature death I have no desire to saving a few bucks and losing in the long run. Just remember once Parvo hits you will very likely lose your companion. (yes many live but more die)

I'm with Brooke and Len.
I trust my vet and she's seeing more cases of parvo lately, even in adults.
I know of 2 pups, about 6 months old, that caught parvo and it's not easy on the pups, and it's not easy on you emotionally or financially. One did not survive. The other, survived but immune system is compromised and she easily gets sick and is often at the vet for other illnesses.

i<3neo wrote:

I would rather not vaccinate, but law is law. Neo has all his shots because for hiking and boarding he has too. Jackson on the other hand, I cant tell you when the last time he even had a rabies shot was.

Agreed. I would rather not do the rabies, but God forbid something did happen.

FL is one of the three states where Parvo ranks the highest with infections. Maybe because of tourism and so many coming and going? IDK..so rabies and parvo it is.

We do the 3yr rabies and destemper/ parvo nothing else.
What ever I can do to make sure they are safe. They can't make the call so we do. As far as kids yes they shold also get vaccinated for what ever is needed. I don't do the flu shot cause I don't think it works, to many strans, but If i was told their is an outbreak of something and 100% taking a shot would prevent me from getting it or dying I would do it

Vaccinating is important. Delilah was a rescue when we got her, so we sent her in for her full round of shots. She will get rabies 3 year and parvo every year. I don't mess with vaccinations. That includes vaccinations and human beings. Kids need vaccinations. You are only putting them in harms way...the same for fur babies.

We vaccinate ours. It's better to be safe and the risks of side-effects are very low. They mix with lots of other dogs and it isn't worth the risk of them catching something. Rabies isn't required here but we do that too. I've had rabies jabs myself when travelling and I figure if it was good enough for me it's good enough for the dogs!

After the puppy series, I only get the rabies shot, but titer for distemper and parvo. I would find a holistic vet in your area and see what they recommend. They will be more willing to work with you to limit vaccinations than the majority of most traditional vets.

At least get their puppy shots! I did puppy and when they were a year old (oh crap that reminds me I need to take Elara in to get hers!) and do the 3yr rabies and parvo/distemper probably every 3yrs too. My cats got their shots when they were young and a few rabies, but haven't gotten any shots in a couple of years. They're indoor only, so I don't really see the need for it with them.

I stopped vaccinating for everything but Rabies because it's required by law.

As a nursing student listening to the way vaccines work, there is no reason to revaccinate the dog every year of its life unless the dog is living In a hole never coming into contact with other dogs. The constant interaction of my dogs with other healthy dogs at the dog park and work on a near daily basis is enough exposure and a "refresher" for the memory cells to keep the immunity. The way a dog is going to get sick is by being stuck at a vet or in a kennel where the dog is stressed (which stresses the immune system) making them susceptible to disease. That's why adults who are "vaccinated" against distemper or parvovirus can even become infected with it.

Lu&amp;Katsmom wrote:

After the puppy series, I only get the rabies shot, but titer for distemper and parvo. I would find a holistic vet in your area and see what they recommend. They will be more willing to work with you to limit vaccinations than the majority of most traditional vets.

I thought about that today...looking for a holistic vet. Really think that would be the best route!

I follow the Dr Jean Dodds vaccination schedule to an extent.

Basically, all the puppy series of shots, then the 12 month boosters including the 1 yr rabies. After that they only get the 3 yr rabies as required by law.

Edited to add: I'm totally against overvaccinating but I would never skip the puppy series or the 12 month boosters. After that your dogs should be set for life.

The puppies have their veterinary appointment today.

I'm not sure how this vet administers the shots, but I think the parvo/distember is a combo.

I couldn't find a holistic vet in our area, but I'm still looking! Hoping this vet will be a great one!

The parvo/distemper is almost always combined. Its the DHLPP (distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, para-influenza, and parvovirus.