Pet vaccines Your Opinion?

My dogs always had their puppy shots and subsequent rabies shots. I was current on the rabies shots but rather than the ongoing annual shots I did the blood titers testing which showed what specific infections and diseases they were protected against. My vet was always up to date on what was going around in my community.

Thank you guys, all great answers. I have decided for my dogs to go minimal vaccinations and getting Titer's done when in doubt. Nowadays, too many unknowns in those vaccines that may be more detrimental than the risk of the actual disease. No one seems to know exactly what is in those vaccines besides the actual virus. Too many binding agents and preservatives thrown in and no research on potential harm of the "inert" ingredients.. Just my opinion. I give 2 puppy shots as pups, then a booster at one year and one at 8 years. I do not show anymore so it's not a factor, and all my dogs ALL get rabies vaccines, to be legal and because we have so many diurnal skunks, which means they are most likely rabid.

Vaccines, just as opinions vary, they're like rectal orifices, everyone has one.

Rely on the vet's recommendations, which may vary from vet to vet, as well as individual animal to animal and area to area.

It's important, but also very important to NOT over vaccinate. ESPECIALLY if you have a small dog. There is a test you can do for the rabies vaccine, and some others, that will tell if you need it again. You should absolutely do this test, and DO NOT get the vaccine again if the test says it's not time.

They use the same vaccine amount for big dogs and small dogs, which they SHOULD NOT. If you can find a good vet, who is aware of the dangers of over-vaccinating, that can be very important. If not, Rabies is the big one to watch, and do the test before you give any new rabies vaccine.

Vaccines, when administrated properly, are wonderful, and should absolutely be done. But some vets don't pay attention to all the dogs it hurts, and even kills, when they are re-vaccinated too often, with too much.

Do the vaccines, but find a vet who understands the dangers of over-vaccination, and actually looks at the data the pet provides.

My opinion is if it's there to be used, why not use it. All our puppies are vaccinated according to the protocol in that country, and then boostered 12 months on. After that they go to a 3-yearly booster routine, apart from Leptospirosis which should be boostered 12 monthly, as it dips. And of course, rabies would be given, by law. I stop boostering mine by around 7 - 8 years however. With the exception that last Winter, we had RATS around so I immediately wheeled my two in for Lepto boostering.

If more people didn't vaccinate their dogs, the diseases we don't often see these days, could well become seen again.

I have had NO bad reaction in any of my hounds, in all the years we have had them.

ps After I stopped boostering, my vet(s) knew and in Canada at any rate, I had a vet who would alert me if something like Parvo flared, in which case I'd wheel mine in to be updated.

My cats get a single rabies and a single FVRCP vaccine at 5 months (when the mothers antibodies have worn off so the vaccines take). Other than that they only get vaccinated if its required for them to be up to date to get treatment (if I need to leave them at the vet they need to be up to date on FVRCP). When I had dogs I gave the young one a rabies vaccine every 3 years. She had never bit anyone but she was dog aggressive and nervous so I always worried. I never gave my other dog vaccines since he was 10 years old when I got him. I don't like vaccinating old animals. He was also not going to bite anyone so it wasn't an issue.

That's just me though. Some people might live in areas where other diseases are more common and they may need to get their animals vaccinated against those diseases. Some people have outdoor cats which should be vaccinated against more diseases. Some people board their dogs and will need to give them additional vaccines. Some people just don't feel comfortable not keeping their pets up to date. Everyone needs to do research and assess their own situation and vaccinate accordingly.

I get the mandatory rabies but I don't do any others. I can see if one was operating a kennel getting the Vaccines from a Feed Store & doing the shots themselves. Most people only have one or more but not enough to fill a kennel. So the average pet is not exposed to some of the things that can be caught in a kennel situation & how devastating to have something run through your kennels.

I only get the extra shots if I am seeing a Vet for another reason & gets pushy bout the other shots. As a general rule just the 3 yr rabies.

My opinion is that you should do your own research.... Each specie has different diseases and different vaccines.

Consider what diseases are common in your particular area..

Assess the risk (a dog that is often boarded, shown or taken to events should probably get bordatella vaccine, for example. A dog that is often outside or is taken hunting, hiking or camping should have lyme vaccine. A dog kept indoors may not necessarily need those vaccines).

Assess the risk of the particular disease.. Parvo is often fatal. Rabies is always fatal.

Consider any potential vaccine reactions.. Certain breeds/bloodlines are more prone. My dog had issues with the lepto vaccine. He was an indoor housedog tho so I chose to forgo that vaccine.

If the animal will be used for breeding or not.. You may want to use certain vaccines on females prior to mating to pass that immunity on to the unborn young.

Also consider laws in your area. Rabies is required in most areas.

I pay a trained, licensed Vet and follow her advice.

I am not a Vet.

I don't know more than my Vet. I trust his judgment. I would rather take his advice than not take his advice and have a problem with my dogs' health.

A very good friend of mine decided to have titers run instead of getting her dogs innoculated. All went well right up until her dog bit a child. She ended up in Court with her dog, not innoculated against Rabies, in front of a Judge who thought the dog should be euthanized and tested for rabies.

She now gets the shots.

I'm always amused by (apparently) high school graduates who couldn't get into Veterinary School if they wanted to, Vet School being more difficult to enter than Med School.

Wonder if Doctors also learn how to sell products ...?

My opinion is that vets recommend and it is them that is making a profit by recommending, they do recommend annual and it is unnecessary, however it also depends on where in the world you live , no rabies here so no rabies vac needed ( that I would get)..... I always have first vaccines then titer test, I do not give chemicals, so no wormers, no flea/tick posions and so no knocking out the immune system of the dog and the immune system is what protects the dog

I use and have used for the last 30 yrs and very sucessfully neem oil/bark which protects/kills all and any external/internal parasites as well as helping the immune sustem work at optimum level ( works great for horse too)

Had lots of chats with vets as I work with many( including my own vet) of course their line is they push chemical wormers, chemical flea/tick treatments and vacs as that is what they sell and are trained to sell........ but I smile as I know my own vet although he had never heard of neem before I told him, now uses it for his own dogs and I also know several others who do as well.

Not so sure about pet owners, they often need/want simplicity and many think vets know everything, from how to deal with behaviour, breed showing conformation, animal nutritionists and trainers.... no they are skilled and trained in health, ops and making commision on pills. creams and the products they sell