Jump to content

Do You Still Vaccinate An Old Dog?


 Share

Recommended Posts

They have to be vaccinated within 12 months??? it only takes a few weeks to get immunity, would they not accept a dog who had it vaccination say 4 weeks before their stay??? If they didn't stay often they may only need to be vaccinated every few years at most

I think Becks means they have to have had a vaccination within the previous 12 months. Standard for kennels.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 66
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

They have to be vaccinated within 12 months??? it only takes a few weeks to get immunity, would they not accept a dog who had it vaccination say 4 weeks before their stay??? If they didn't stay often they may only need to be vaccinated every few years at most

I think Becks means they have to have had a vaccination within the previous 12 months. Standard for kennels.

Okay, yep that makes sense, I guess if you boarded them once a year, then yes they would have to have yearly vaccinations.

My vets do not like the concept of titre testing and my dog club will not accept a titre test so at this stage it is trienniel vaccines for us - took me long enough to get that one accepted by vets and dog club!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

April my 1st border collie, sig pic, was vaccinated annually until I went to a workshop on homeopathic veterinary. The speaker at that time thought that vaccines probably lasted 7 years but hadn't been proven, but definitely 3/4 years. April wasn't vaccinated since then especially when 2 friends had their dogs die after their vaccinations at 9 yrs old.

Our other dog Sooty was last done just before getting Tilba 3.5 yrs ago. Getting a new pup I wanted to make sure. She was 7.5 yrs at the time. Getting a new pup a couple of months ago I didn't bother about Sooty getting vaccinated, she's now 11 yrs & Tilba is on tri-annual vac.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Where I live, we are required by law to do rabies vaccination every three years. Rabies is so awful I'm willing to comply . . . even if the scientific basis for vaccination of older dogs is weak. Once you create loopholes in a protocol, people take advantage . . . eventually this may lead to an epidemic.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I haven't vaccinated Orbit since his 16wk shot. I'll get around to titre testing him one day :laugh:

If a dog has any sort of immune problem, eg auto immune diseases or history of, we generally don't vaccinate them again. That's also been the advice from Specialists who we have referred auto immune cases to.

My understanding that if a dog does not seroconvert a vaccine, it's unlikely to do so with repeated vaccines.

I think the vaccines registered for triennial use now out number those still advocating annual use. In fact I only know of one company who still encourages annual vaccines, even though their vaccines are exactly the same as one registered for triennial use (made by the one company, just different labels).

We offer titre testing and do so direct to WA which keeps the cost down. Still around $80 dollars or so which doesn't include a check-up (optional) but much cheaper than using our regular path labs which would see the cost much higher. Pays to ask around in case there are others like us.

Edited by stormie
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Moose is 3 in a couple of weeks and hasn't been vac'd since his 15 month booster.

Zoe is nearly 13 and probably hasn't been vac'd since she was 2 or 3.

My vet still recommends annual vac but I choose not to. Will be getting them titre tested soon. :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Interesting topic. I've always had my dogs vaccinated annually, as this is what the vets have recommended and I'd never really put a lot of thought into it causing them any harm as they've always been perfectly fine. What are the cons to vaccinating annually can I ask? I might rethink things with the new puppy :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We offer titre testing and do so direct to WA which keeps the cost down. Still around $80 dollars or so which doesn't include a check-up (optional) but much cheaper than using our regular path labs which would see the cost much higher. Pays to ask around in case there are others like us.

Which lab do you use in WA?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What an interesting thread! I had heard of titre tests but never really understood their significance before. I wonder what the availability of titre testing is here in my city... will have to ask a few of the local vets I think.

I just posted some details on easier titre testing in another health thread here. I've been looking around for an easier, more effective $ solution.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I did still vaccinate the oldies as I had pups for a number of years. I think I went a couple of years without vaccinating and then started again when I got the youngsters.

I can't vaccinate Amber (2yo) as her liver will not cope with it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Puppy Vacc then booster at 15 months then that's it folks for mine.

By choice that is what I'd do, but if mine have to go to kennels then they have to be vaccinated within 12 months of their stay :mad

Most kennels accept titres now

None by me do, they have to have their 'annual' vaccs + KC

They have to be vaccinated within 12 months??? it only takes a few weeks to get immunity, would they not accept a dog who had it vaccination say 4 weeks before their stay??? If they didn't stay often they may only need to be vaccinated every few years at most

I think Becks means they have to have had a vaccination within the previous 12 months. Standard for kennels.

Yes, vaccs between 12 months and 2 weeks before their stay - must be standard vaccs and then KC too.

This is why I don't normally go away but I had 2 trips abroad this year so had to get them all up to date on vaccs and luckily the 2 trips were within the 6 months for the KC

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I stopped vaccinating my girls about 3 years ago. Maybe more....they have had 2 titre tests - both came back within normal levels.

Any future dogs will have puppy & 15 month old vaccs, then titre tests.

Our kennels accept normal titres, as does my new dog training club - so Im pretty happy about that :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My westies are 11 and 10 years old now. They have not been vaccinated since they were 4 or 5 years old (can't quite remember now). They used to have titre tests every year - but now i just have their bloods done every year (for general health checking) and they are both very healthy dogs who have never had the typical skins problems that westies have. Their bloods come back normal every year so far. They honestly seem fit & healthy looking for dogs of their age. They have also been fed a natural diet all of their lives and I honestly believe that the healthy food & lack of regular vaccinations has contributed greatly to their overall health.

I have seen other small dogs around the 10/11 year mark who are in terrible condition and upon chatting to the owners - the common differences always seem to be commercial food and annual vaccinations ...... I am a firm believer that we over vaccinate our dogs unnecessarily.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have two dogs with low immunity that have to be vaccinated almost yearly.

Most vets recommend yearly vacc as the cost of titre testing etc puts most people off. Vaccinating is much the same price.

Two things here - low immunity judging by what? Titre testing only shows up the antibodies actually in the blood stream at the time. If the dog hasn't been exposed to the virus "recently" then the antibodies won't be wandering around the bloodstream, that's not how the immune system works. The dog could then test as having low immunity when it could be that if the dog encounters the virus it's immune system will actually do what it's meant to do and produce the right antibodies.

The cost of vaccinating vs the cost of titre testing may be the reason why some people chose to vaccinate and that's their choice. The cost TO THE DOG is the reason I choose not to vaccinate annually.

I ask a simple question - when were you last titre tested or vaccinated for polio?

Judging by the fact they are diagnosed with a immunity disorder and one of them has cancer for the second time. My dogs are exposed all the time due to me being a vet nurse. I bring it home no matter how much cleaning and scrubbing I do. Do NOT judge me because I choose to vaccinate to protect my immunity challanged dogs. I respect everyone's decision to vaccinate to their beliefs, so I'd hope people on here would do the same. I really resent the fact you are implying I'm costing my dog :mad

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Judging by the fact they are diagnosed with a immunity disorder and one of them has cancer for the second time.

Thank you, and I was to know this how? Many many people have had their dogs titre tested, the results have come back inconclusive and they have been told (and believe) their dogs have low immunity when there really is no way of knowing this from the titre test.

My dogs are exposed all the time due to me being a vet nurse. I bring it home no matter how much cleaning and scrubbing I do. Do NOT judge me because I choose to vaccinate to protect my immunity challanged dogs. I respect everyone's decision to vaccinate to their beliefs, so I'd hope people on here would do the same. I really resent the fact you are implying I'm costing my dog :mad

Unless we keep them in glass boxes they're going to be "exposed".

I didn't do any judging so sorry you jumped to that conclusion, but I would be incredibly reluctant to continue to vaccinate a dog who's immune system is already seriously compromised. That's MY belief.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share


×
×
  • Create New...