An interesting subject that came about whilst in conversation with a friend.

I'm interested in others opinions, do you/don't you and why?

What I found from one person was their local council breeders licence states they should vaccinate every 2 years but most peoples vet would advise annual vaccination.

Those that vaccinate annually were in 2 groups
1. Naive & will do anything their vet tells them with out questioning them.
2. Had or seen a dog die/suffer due to not being vaccinated.

Puppy vaccinations, first booster then 3 yearly and no more after 7.

Every dog, every year, always -never had a problem but have seen neighbours' dogs die from parvo and distemper, had a pup with distemper arrive in my house once, thankfully the others were all safe.

Both mine have annual boosters as manufacturer's guidelines - DHP every three years and Lepto and Pi annually. The oldest is now around 13 and the younger one 9 on Friday. I've never had a problem. I always ask my vet's advice re: vaccinating the older dog (who is currently fit and healthy).

Initial jabs as a pup & no more.

Initial puppy ones, then titre test and guided by the results will only vaccinate when it's needed from then on.  This is actually what my vet recommends.

Same as Daisy; puppy course, full booster at 1 year, then Lepto annually and DHP three-yearly. Never had a problem with multiple dogs living well into their teens.

Same as Daisy and JG

Same as CVL

Every year without fail and touch wood never had a problem, however have had a pup with parvo ( not my fault she had it when I got her ) and just won't ever take chances again - terrible illness

Just moved onto what Rabid does, along with Daisy and JG...

Same as Daisy and JG here for all ours and always have done...but do leave it 2 months over due each year.

Done as pups, boostered at one year and then no more. 1 dog aged 17 and 1 dog aged 15 so not doing badly :)

Same as Lexy - initial puppy jabs only because I lost a dog several years ago just days after his booster......

My current dogs have had puppy jabs then no more but if I got another puppy I would avoid the lepto jab altogether I think.

> Same as Daisy and JG here for all ours and always have done...but do leave it 2 months over due each year.

Exactly the same as goldie.  I always let them go that bit over, but never so much that the vet moans.

For those of you who don't vaccinate annually, it seems to be a condition of insurance companies that you do vaccinate every year.  Can I ask if your dogs are insured?
Thanks

Mine are but treatment for anything that can be vaccinated against would not be covered.

> For those of you who don't vaccinate annually, it seems to be a condition of insurance companies that you do vaccinate every year.  Can I ask if your dogs are insured?
> Thanks

Hi Snoodle,
I really don't want this thread turing into a "you should because.......... or you shouldn't because ........"

Do you vaccinate annually?

Thanks

I think you will find it isn't a condition per se, but they won't pay out for anything arising from disease that is covered by vaccination.

I don't insure my dogs anyway.

Yep, annually for both dogs here.
Too many unvaccinated dogs where I live and parvo is always rife, especially after the Qld floods.

Puppy vaccs only here.  My breed is bothered far too much with auto-immune that it is more a risk TO booster.
Also, mine are insured and they have put the inculsion on my insurance form that I don't vaccinate and as such won't be covered for any illness arising from this.

I vaccinate my dogs and insure them and feel I'm paying out loads of money needlessly.  In the past I had two dogs who only had the first vaccinations and were not insured.  I don't remember ever having to take either of them to the vets, apart from bee sting and some other minor problem.  For the dogs I have now, the oldest one is six, and I've never claimed on the insurance, so am starting to question what I am doing.

Puppy vacc's, first booster, then nothing from the rest of their lives.  Lost too many Pomeranian's in the past to continue vaccinations.

One that I rehomed who only had her puppy vaccine was tested at 10 she was borderline so her new owner started the vaccinations again.  Don't think I would have done myself but it was the new owners choice at that time.

> For those of you who don't vaccinate annually, it seems to be a condition of insurance companies that you do vaccinate every year.  Can I ask if your dogs are insured?
> Thanks

Not insured, never had any big bills...my mother worked out that for a year of vets bills & food it averaged at £21.43 per dog per month(that is mostly food).

The thing with insurance is when you have it and don't have to use it it seems expensive but the day you do need it you're glad to have it.

Puppy vacs only & my insurance company knows this, so if any of mine get anything that could be vaccinated against, its my problem. I have insurance for everything else.

I had used to get mine titre tested but after so many years of not needing any jabs done I have stopped doing that too. I don't even get the Lepto done as it's one of the worst for causing a reaction, I just make damn sure there are no rats in our garden and that I know the symptoms of Lepto just in case.Any new puppy's I get will have the initial and first yearly booster and then nothing.

I have always vaccinated my dogs... just felt I wouldn't forgive myself if they died from a disease for which jabs exist. However I am now questioning whether my dogs really need them. A few years ago, my vets changed the brand of jabs and one of mine reacted (nothing too major but enough to worry me and stay up with him all night).
I also spoke to one of my friend whose vet told her: most dogs don't need jabs past their puppy vaccination. I feel the cost of vaccination is also a factor as I know the jabs themselves cost pennies but I'm paying close to £40 a shot! A breeder friend in Yorkshire has a vet whose vaccination and treatment costs are always half the ones we have here in the South.

Anyway,

have not done it in over 10 years since a pair of litter sisters had their first booster and the same night both of them were in the vets all night on drips as they both reacted badly to the vacc one worse than the other( she was passing blood from her rear high temp pale gums etc) other was just really off colour and our vet told us not to boost again as it might kill her next time we have since gone on to the homopathic boosters and have had no issues, puppys get first shooters and then on to the tablets and as all our dogs are descended from the litter sisters we take no chances

Puppy vaccinations and first year, after that just lepto yearly and rest titred. So far haven't had to revaccinated any dogs.

Vera

Puppy vacc, booster at around 18 months then titre test every 3/4 years, never needed to booster with my eldest dog who is nearly 10.  If they need it they will get it if they don't they don't.

Puppy vacs and first booster, then nothing else.

same here puppy vac and booster  only .

My dog is 6 this year and she has had her vaccinations every year - although I try to stretch the year out a bit - (the vet is always eager to do it early if you happen to be in for something else).  I have to have mine vaccinated because we have no-one to look after her when we go away.  All kennels require vaccination - I don't think any of them would accept a dog which has been titre tested.  It is not down to the kennels but the council that gives them their license to trade.  At 6 I am sure she has had enough pumped into her!  I hate doing it but have no choice.

I used to get my dog vaccinated without fail every year - however when he had his 2010 jabs he developed a horrendous bout of Colitis which now needs daily steroids !!! he is 13 and 5 months now and I will not be giving him any jabs again as I nearly lost him as a result of them.. Its such a hard decision to make - but I did a lot of research and many people seemed to be saying its not necessary.

How do you get the tests done to check if they need their jabs ?  never heard it mentioned in my vets ?

AJ

How do you get the tests done to check if they need their jabs ?  never heard it mentioned in my vets ?

It's a blood test that checks antibodies circulating in the blood. It's called a titre test.

Full boosters and kennel cough for our two.

Both of mine have their boosters approx every 14 months.

We've got three dogs, two cairns, brother and sister now two years old and a pyrenean sheepdog who is seven years old and had to have a pacemaker at two years due to third degree av block. Maisie and Dexter came to us the day after their first vaccination jab, Maisie had a huge lump in her neck which was a bit scarey but did go down slowly over a few days. Dexter seemed ok throughout the vaccination process but did develop red sore looking legs which he kept nibbling, don't know if this was anything to do with the vaccine and after a course of mixed greens from dorwest, he's been fine. The reason for my post is that our vets have just written to us saying that having checked their records our dogs are overdue their boosters and will need to start again from scratch, but it's ok because they're offering this at the same price as a booster. Maisie and Dexter had their initial vaccines but have had no booster and Kizzy, the pyrenean, has only missed out on the last two boosters because we started to doubt the need for them after a chat with a lady who had two show dogs and never vaccinated. My husband also heard on the radio that evidence supports a booster will last two years. Like any dog owner we will do anything to help keep our dogs happy and healthy, but I'm not convinced a booster every year is such a good thing, never mind starting it all over from scratch. Can anyone tell me what the homeopathic boosters I've read about are? We use garlic as a flea and tic deterrant to great effect, so we'd be open to alternatives.

ps I hope I've posted this in the right way, I'm new to this site.

Lepto annually, everything else 3yearly.. I used to titre test, before I had so many dogs.