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Am I correct in reading that the current WSAVA recommends 3 yearly vaccinations? I would then wonder how long it will take for the vets to pick this up and recommend it?. I would be happy with 3 yearly vaccinations and yearly health checks.

Edited by rommimum
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Yes Rommimum, you're reading it correctly (for the 3 core vaccines anyway - hepatitis/adeno, parvo, and distemper).

As for how long will it take the vets to catch up - depends who your vet is, I guess! The teaching hospital at my uni already recommends 3 yearly core vaccines to all their clients, as far as I know we haven't had any problems with the new protocol so far.

Other vets I guess just haven't done their own research, or perhaps have liability concerns, maybe they're waiting for the vaccine manufacturers to change the official protocol before they stop recommending annual boosters? :thumbsup:

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I think many of our Aussie vets are still way behind the times. A few weeks ago I rang around to find out about titre testing for dogs who aren't vaccinated yearly. Most of them hadn't even heard of it and couldn't believe that I didn't want to vaccinate yearly. One receptionist told me that she'd heard about it and said it was an internet hoax, and that there was actually no research about it! Sheeesh!

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I think many of our Aussie vets are still way behind the times. A few weeks ago I rang around to find out about titre testing for dogs who aren't vaccinated yearly. Most of them hadn't even heard of it and couldn't believe that I didn't want to vaccinate yearly. One receptionist told me that she'd heard about it and said it was an internet hoax, and that there was actually no research about it! Sheeesh!

Just got to ask yellowgirl - when you "ring around" do you speak to the vet or to the underpaid kid on the front desk? I think you might find that if you actually spoke to the vets in the practice you would get a whole different story than you get from the girl on the phone :thumbsup: (I know I do!)

ETA: Gotta wonder about the internet hoax thing though!

Edited by Sandra777
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Yes Rommimum, you're reading it correctly (for the 3 core vaccines anyway - hepatitis/adeno, parvo, and distemper).

As for how long will it take the vets to catch up - depends who your vet is, I guess! The teaching hospital at my uni already recommends 3 yearly core vaccines to all their clients, as far as I know we haven't had any problems with the new protocol so far.

Other vets I guess just haven't done their own research, or perhaps have liability concerns, maybe they're waiting for the vaccine manufacturers to change the official protocol before they stop recommending annual boosters? :laugh:

Staranais what is your teaching hospital?

*I am SO hoping it's in Sydney* :thumbsup:

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I think many of our Aussie vets are still way behind the times. A few weeks ago I rang around to find out about titre testing for dogs who aren't vaccinated yearly. Most of them hadn't even heard of it and couldn't believe that I didn't want to vaccinate yearly. One receptionist told me that she'd heard about it and said it was an internet hoax, and that there was actually no research about it! Sheeesh!

Just got to ask yellowgirl - when you "ring around" do you speak to the vet or to the underpaid kid on the front desk? I think you might find that if you actually spoke to the vets in the practice you would get a whole different story than you get from the girl on the phone :rofl: (I know I do!)

ETA: Gotta wonder about the internet hoax thing though!

When I was ringing I had exactly the same experience as you yellowgirl :laugh: I did try to talk to the vets but underpaid kid on the front desk (or know-it-all assistants) didn't think it was necessary and felt educated enough to answer my questions about titer tests ('whaz that? ohhh why would you want it if you can just vaccinate every year') and 3 year vaccination ('nope never heard of this, but we do recommend yearly vaccinations') inquiry. I rung about 15 local and local-ish vets :thumbsup: At the end of it I just felt terribly frustrated and sad. Only one vet rung me back and he said he doesn't believe in 3 year vaccine.

ETA The only place that was willing to do a titer test for me was The Natural Vet and the closest vet that offered 3 year vaccination was the Sydney Uni Clinic. I know that there are more vets north of Sydney that also offer 3 year vaccinations but I wanted to limit the drive to 1h each way :laugh:

Edited by laffi
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Jeez you had an even worse run that I did laffi.

I rang about half a dozen local vets - my own, as well as a few within an hour and a half (I have 3 major country cities within that radius). One senior vet I spoke to was so downright rude I nearly hung up on him. Most of the staff did let me speak with a vet which was good.

Thankfully my local vet offered to do some costings and was interested enough to go through with it. Must've paid enough attention to it to not send me my usual vaccination reminder either. :mad

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These posts about the 'kids on the front desk' really upset me. Not because I'm offended, but because I think it's sad that these nurses/receptionists give the rest of us a bad name.

I wish someone would call us up and inquire about 3-yearlies or titre testing! Maybe then my boss would listen to me and start doing it :mad

Staranais I think you are right regarding the manufacturers. Whilst they still say their vaccines should be given annually, that's what vets are likely to do. Particularly the older vets who were around before the days of parvo vaccines and saw how bad things used to be, I think there will be some reluctance for them to want to change the protocol and risk things going back to how it once was.

My current boss is quite unsure about it. Some might call him narrow minded and say he doesn't keep with the times, but really, we don't get sent any information about the new protocol, and the specialist centers/uni's aren't putting on any seminars about it, so we don't really get any scientific reports on it at all. He's not the sort to look something up on the internet either - he wants cold hard facts from reliable sources too, before in his view, he risks his patients lives on something he hasn't got any information about.

My soon-to-be boss is more open minded and went to listen to Jean Dodds and is interested to offer titre testing in his new clinic, but he has also admitted that he is apprehensive due to the lack of information within the veterinary industry. I have told them about the new protocol being taught and the conferences, but again, it's not any information we have had shown to us, so its really just been word of mouth...

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I think many of our Aussie vets are still way behind the times. A few weeks ago I rang around to find out about titre testing for dogs who aren't vaccinated yearly. Most of them hadn't even heard of it and couldn't believe that I didn't want to vaccinate yearly. One receptionist told me that she'd heard about it and said it was an internet hoax, and that there was actually no research about it! Sheeesh!

Just got to ask yellowgirl - when you "ring around" do you speak to the vet or to the underpaid kid on the front desk? I think you might find that if you actually spoke to the vets in the practice you would get a whole different story than you get from the girl on the phone :( (I know I do!)

ETA: Gotta wonder about the internet hoax thing though!

The receptionist said that the vet had told her it was an internet hoax! :D

It's very usual and accepted in the US now, so maybe it will just take a little time for our Aussie vets to catch up :mad

I did find a clinic that does do the tests, although the staff didn't know much about it and had to ask the vets there. It was super expensive though.

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The pricing aspect sucks, because unless the vets send directly to VetPath in WA, they will incur the charges from their usual labs for them to send the blood onto VetPath.

For example, for us to do the inhouse test with VetPath for parvo and distemper, would cost us roughly $44 (that was last years prices so would be different now) - cost price to vets that is. But for us to send the blood to our usual Path Lab, who then sends it to VetPath and do the same test, costs us alteast $100. I can't remember the exact price, but will look it up tomorrow.

I know many people would like to think we could just charge the client a similar price too, but unfortunately it just doesn't work like that and we do need to add on the appropriate fees etc to those prices. So for most vets using their regular labs, its easy to see how the price can reach up to and over $200...

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These posts about the 'kids on the front desk' really upset me. Not because I'm offended, but because I think it's sad that these nurses/receptionists give the rest of us a bad name.

I wish someone would call us up and inquire about 3-yearlies or titre testing! Maybe then my boss would listen to me and start doing it :mad

Sorry stormie :D ! I guess I was super frustrated because clearly they didn't know what I was asking about when I was asking about the titer test (as I had to explain to them what it is) but they still felt it was adequate to give me their opinion on the subject. I wouldn't have minded at all if they respectfully accepted they don't know and went to ask the vet. It really bothered me as they just refused to help me. :(

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These posts about the 'kids on the front desk' really upset me. Not because I'm offended, but because I think it's sad that these nurses/receptionists give the rest of us a bad name.

I wish someone would call us up and inquire about 3-yearlies or titre testing! Maybe then my boss would listen to me and start doing it :mad

Sorry stormie :( ! I guess I was super frustrated because clearly they didn't know what I was asking about when I was asking about the titer test (as I had to explain to them what it is) but they still felt it was adequate to give me their opinion on the subject. I wouldn't have minded at all if they respectfully accepted they don't know and went to ask the vet. It really bothered me as they just refused to help me. :)

No need to apologise! I agree with you and I just get saddened that there are that many nurses out there who don't seem to give a damn about their jobs. Sure, we're paid peanuts, but doesn't mean you need to give peanuts in return.

But maybe I'm just lucky cause I found DOL :D . But seriously, DOL has taught me so much ; haha and my vets too - they now diagnose 'cold tail' thanks to dol!! So many things I may not have known about, but have now read about and gone off and done my own research and been able to form my own opinions on things. I think it's great. Plus it makes my job so much more rewarding because I am included in case discussions and even get asked for my opinions on things!!

I just hope those nurses who you have all had negative experiences with, have gone away and done some research on the matter so that they can better answer the question next time.

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I suppose its a bit like how humans used to have tetnus injections. Initially every three years. Then later they told us every five years or so, Now the doctor says if you have had two or three injections in your life you dont need any for perhaps 20 years or more..... if ever.

It is not surprising that the vaccinations for dogs is open to change as they start to understand more what effect it has. Back in the 70's most people didnt bother taking a dog to the vet unless they had a bad accident, it was rare to hear of someone who vaccinated their dogs, nor did they keep them in backyards, they were free to wander around, generally no one bothered desexing. In fact in the 80's if you went to a country pub you would find dogs lying around in the bar. Damm really starting to show my age now.

It is possible that vets in australia might be concerned that if vaccinations aren't annual then most people wouldnt bother taking their dog to a vet ever. At least an annual checkup can help vets by recommending if the dogs weight is a problem or any signs of tumors etc.

So perhaps we shouldnt be too hard on the vets.

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It is possible that vets in australia might be concerned that if vaccinations aren't annual then most people wouldnt bother taking their dog to a vet ever. At least an annual checkup can help vets by recommending if the dogs weight is a problem or any signs of tumors etc.

So perhaps we shouldnt be too hard on the vets.

A lot of people say this, but say it in a negative way in that vets want annual vaccines because they're scared they won't make as much money if people don't come in as often. It might be the case for some, but I can honestly say the main concern from my boss is what if in 5years time parvo is around more and they are saying 'oops, we should have been doing annuals'. He'd hate to tell our clients that they didn't need annual vaccines, to have their dogs contract parvo a year later. It's unlikely, but until he's 100% sure its still effective, he won't be changing.

Personally I think if vets have good trusting relationships with their clients, most will still return for annual check-ups anyway. Well, I'd hope people would...

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