Hi All

I posted on here before about vaccinations if on the atopica drug so you will possibly remember me, i have been to the vets this week with Hamish for another reason and he spoke to me again about having his vaccinations done because there has been an outbreak of parvo in our area and 3 dogs have died because of it, he explained to me the risks because Hamish has not been able to have his innoculation since April 2005 as he has been unwell with his skin allergies and has been on atopica now for around 14 months where he has now remarkable recovered and is a completely different dog his skin is great and his fur all grown back. To have his innoculations i would have to now have the whole course again because he has gone past the booster slot where he has lapsed for so long so i would have to have the 1st jab then wait 2 weeks have the 2nd jab then wait another 2 weeks before putting him back on the atopica drug, i feel he would not last this long and it would set his skin back again as we tried lowering his dose to a maintenance dose of 1 every 3 days and he was itching in no time, i said i would rather him not have his jabs as i feel he is not a healthy dog anway and i don't want to risk him falling ill again and suffering but he said i have got to understand the risks i am putting him under and that he advised if i did not innoculate to not take him out walking as if he gets near a dog carrying the parvo disease he will then fall ill and we will lose him because he will not be protected, he said to put him into the garden for exercise so he will be at less risk.
I am very concerned now that i will not be able to walk him as i don't want to put him at risk deliberately, he said the best option is to take him off the atopica and risk his skin breaking out to get him re boostered, i didn't realise they had to start the whole course over again if they missed a jab, i feel i have made the right decision for his skin but am worried about losing him to these deadly diseases, but i know in my heart he will not survive being off the atopica for over 4 weeks without his skin breaking out.

Helen

You could get him to speak to the manufacturers as to whether the double dose is necessary as some posters have recently indicated it is not.  Other than that I think he is in a far better position than any of us to weigh up the pros and cons considering the risk in your area.

Helen

Your dog had his booster in 2005 and these should only be give every 3 years (for parvo & distemper) so he doesn't need another until 2008!

If he is late (which he doesn't appear to be) he still does not need to have the course again, only one jab is necessary!

Also unhealthy dogs should NOT have vaccinations.

Why not ask your vet to do a titre test to establish whether or not he needs a booster?

This will put your mind at rest!

Good luck and don't let them push you into something that is not in your dogs best interests!
Maria :)

don't let them push you into something that is not in your dogs best interests!
This is very good advice, Helen.  I know, from previous experience, that not all vets are right all of the time ! 
I think a titre test is well worth considering in your circumstances.

Maria, not all vaccines cover for 3 years, some are due a booster after 1 year.  Titre will, probably, tell you his current status but is not going to predict that cover will continue for another year. 

>Also unhealthy dogs should NOT have vaccinations.

...without the vet considering if it is appropriate in the light of greater risk, which this one seems to be doing.

The majority of vaccines used for parvo/distemper do cover for 3 years, so in this case as we don't know which one has been used in the past, it might be worth having a look on his vaccination record.

Unhealthy dogs should NOT be vaccianted, obviously the dog in question is on medication, to have to be taken off this before a vaccination can be given shows the dog is not in the best of health.

Parvo has been mentioned but perhaps in context of the whole question of vaccination for this dog.  I don't think that the diseases that we do vaccine annually for can be ignored.  If Hamish was unfortunate enough to be affected by any of them it would not be very beneficial to his general health let alone his skin condition :rolleyes: which is why I think it entirely appropriate that a vet does not just shrug his shoulders and say all unhealthy dogs should not be vaccinated.  The vet is the best person placed to evaluate the risk and the benefit taking that individuals health issues and the local environment into account.  We cannot possible do it from here.

Maria, not all vaccines cover for 3 years, some are due a booster after 1 year

Agreed Isabel, but it seems to be parvo that is the concern here.

Helen, I have PMd you. :)

Hi Helen, I've sent you a PM too  :-)