What vaccines do my pets need?

[Maggy]

Mollie had all her shots before I got her, and now its approaching a year that I've had her, so I'm wondering what shots should she get?

[Helly]

A lot of that depends on her age, and what shots she recieved in the first place. Did she get a one year rabies or a three year rabies, for example. And it also depends on where you live. It's something you really should discuss with your vet.

[PAWS]

Generally, the first Rabies is good for 1 year, then when it is boosted, it is good for 3 years...each state is different for this. The DAPP or DHPP or DHLPP, whatever combo they use, is good for 1 year. Bordatella (kennel cough) is good for 1 year if your pet is not exposed to other unknown dogs very often, and is recommended every 6 months if kenneled often, or competing in shows/agility. An occasional trip to the dog park or grooming salon isn't considered high exposure enough for getting that vaccine more than once a year. Once the dog reaches about 7 years, depending on how large breed it is, a lot of vets will recommend dropping the upper respiratory vaccine to every 3 years also, to avoid over-vaccination. This is because it is thought that they retain immunity longer after so many yearly vaccines. In reality, any vaccine can be effective for many years after the initial series. But, to know for sure, you would have to spend lots of $$ to run titers to see if they are at an effective level. Plus, when a company says its good for xx number of years, it is because that is how long they tested it for and were licensed for. How would they make any money if they researched it to be effective for 10 years?? Best to simply call your vet and do what THEY recommend though!

[Helly]

Actually the newest recommended protocol on the distemper series is a one year booster after the initial puppy series, then booster every three years, unless you want to go with titer testing.

There are two types of rabies vaccine; attenuated live virus and killed virus. If memory serves me right, killed virus rabies vaccination needs to be boosted every year. It's also not associated with vaccine induced carcinoma, so some people consider it safer than live virus.

But, I made my first post pretty vague, because I wasn't sure if we were talking about a dog or a cat.

[Maggy]

Mollie is a dog, but Dooley is probably overdue for his kitten vacs, he go some at 8 weeks and now he's going on 5 months.

[PAWS]

Mollie is a dog, but Dooley is probably overdue for his kitten vacs, he go some at 8 weeks and now he's going on 5 months.

I would get your kitten in soon and get a few distemper-combo vaccines done 3 - 4 weeks apart to get her up to date. Even if your kitty is strictly an indoor cat, you and your dog can track viruses on your feet and expose kitty.

Helly, which distemper combo (manufacturer) has the 3 year vaccine approved for young dogs? I am interested! I don't want to give my pets vaccines if I don't have to...I just have so many mixed feelings about "how often" it really needs to be done. I like when less is more

[Helly]

I don't know if any of the manufacturers have actually gone to labeling for over 1 year. But all of the veterinary schools are now recommending the three year protocol, if I'm not mistaken. At least that's what I've read.

It's kind of funny, my brother-in-law, who is a vet, was doing the three year protocol as far back as the '70s. Of course, that was before the parvo outbreak, and I think he did yearly parvo vaccs for a while once they became available.

[Cosette]

Dooley is probably overdue for his kitten vacs, he go some at 8 weeks and now he's going on 5 months.

If he hasn't been vaccinated for rabies yet, I recommend asking your vet if s/he is using the recombinant rabies virus vaccine that contains no potentially dangerous adjuvants and is therefore less likely to cause Vaccine Associated Sarcoma. It's the adjuvants in the killed rabies virus vaccine and FeLV vaccine that they believe are contributing to the formation of sarcomas.
My cat, Chloe, developed a tumor at the injection site of a killed rabies virus vaccine, and she's now losing her battle with VAS. It's heartbreaking which is why I try to warn others about the potential risk.
Sheri

[PAWS]

I don't know if any of the manufacturers have actually gone to labeling for over 1 year. But all of the veterinary schools are now recommending the three year protocol, if I'm not mistaken. At least that's what I've read.

It's kind of funny, my brother-in-law, who is a vet, was doing the three year protocol as far back as the '70s. Of course, that was before the parvo outbreak, and I think he did yearly parvo vaccs for a while once they became available.

Ooooh kay, I gotcha. Sounds like just what they were doing off-label for the "senior" dogs, but are now doing it for young dogs also. You know, the companies would probably make plenty of $$ recommending yearly titers (cheaper please!) and be doing it more ethically. They could just have their own lab, then recommend vaccination only when necessary...

[Cosette]

There are two types of rabies vaccine; attenuated live virus and killed virus. If memory serves me right, killed virus rabies vaccination needs to be boosted every year. It's also not associated with vaccine induced carcinoma, so some people consider it safer than live virus.

According to the articles I read after Chloe was diagnosed with VAS, vaccine manufacturers in the US stopped producing the modified-live (attenuated) rabies virus vaccine back in the mid 80's due to concerns about it actually causing rabies in some pets.

The adjuvanted killed rabies virus vaccine that replaced the modified-live and the adjuvanted FeLV vaccine that was introduced during that same time period have both been implicated in the emergence of Vaccine Associated Sarcoma in the late 80's.

VAS is supposed to be extremely rare in dogs so I believe the killed rabies virus vaccine is still being recommended for them and is available in a three-year booster. But, for cats, the recombinant rabies virus vaccine is now being recommended instead as the safer alternative. I don't think there's been a recombinant rabies virus vaccine approved for dogs yet, but I'm not sure about that.
Sheri