I just got back from my 8 year old golden's well exam with a new vet. He was not exactly pro raw or excited about no vaccines, but he was very understanding and receptive. I opted not to vaccinate for anything for my golden (and never will again given her age) - the vet had no problem with that. He even told me about some interesting research he had found coming from Schultz at University of Wisconsin (??). He likes to do distemper and rabies every 3 years. All the other vaccines are on a family situation basis.

I told him about the puppy we are getting later this week, which received her puppy shots at 6 weeks. He cringed and said that was way too early. He likes to do them at 10-12 weeks and then again at 14-16 weeks and then maybe one booster 1-2 years later and then thinks the dog may be set for life, should the family take that option.

When I asked him when he'd recommend the next set of shots, he said around 12-14 weeks. What are your thoughts about this? I am so new to this - wanting to the very best, but not sure what that is for my puppy. I absolutely know I don't want to vaccinate every year, but I feel too green to make that determination to NEVER vaccinate (at least under my watch, since she's already had one set of shots).

I've only read Shock to System (once - so far). Very eye-opening, but I still fall in the category of wanting some protection for my dogs. I am leaning to getting the second set of shots around 14 weeks. What are your thoughts about this?

He continues to give distemper vax every three years to adult dogs?

That leaped off the screen at me.

That is fairly common, unfortunately. DHLPP yearly is too. I only know this because the local vets send me postcards reminding me that my pets (all deceased, of course;-) ) need this to stay healthy.

 Quote: Jenni Williams

That is fairly common, unfortunately. DHLPP yearly is too. I only know this because the local vets send me postcards reminding me that my pets (all deceased, of course;-) ) need this to stay healthy.

sigh



Lisa, there's a reason for calling them puppy shots. JMO.

You will see Dr. Schultz (chair of the Department of Pathobiology at U. of Wisconsin-Madison School's of Vet Med) referred to here, too:
http://www.caberfeidh.com/Revax.htm

http://dog-care.suite101.com/article.cfm/vaccine_reactions_in_dogs


But you asked about core vax for puppies. Here is the Dr. Jean Dodds (colleague and co-author of Dr. Schultz) minimal vax protocol:

http://www.weim.net/emberweims/Vaccine.html

It looks like what you are being told would fall into her guidelines; perhaps breeders who follow the Dodds protocol will see this and respond.

 Quote: Lisa Harvey

I told him about the puppy we are getting later this week, which received her puppy shots at 6 weeks. He cringed and said that was way too early. He likes to do them at 10-12 weeks and then again at 14-16 weeks and then maybe one booster 1-2 years later and then thinks the dog may be set for life, should the family take that option.

When I asked him when he'd recommend the next set of shots, he said around 12-14 weeks.

He sounds like he's pretty reasonable about the vaccinations.
Make sure you look at the link Connie provided for Dr Dodd's vaccine protocol. Your vet's schedule does fall into line w/ her recommendations. And if you are planning on vaccinating, the 12-14 week time frame is a good one. (for distemper and parvo only) In the meantime, keep the pup's exposure to other dogs to a minimum.

For rabies, wait until the pup is older than 6 months...
If it were me, I would not allow distemper boosters every three years...

Thanks, Lynne!

What about the suggested two more, accepting the too-early one as number 1?

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

Thanks, Lynne!

What about the suggested two more, accepting the too-early one as number 1?

If it were me, I would accept the first one, and only do 1 more at 12-14 weeks.
My understanding is that the vaccines today are termed 'high titer' (I think the Caberfeidh link talks about this) and it's likely that they overrode the mother's antibodies. I will try to find the specific info I'm referring to and link to it.

This vet sounds like he has a reasonable approach to vaccines, at any rate...

Here it is:

 Quote:

This problem is actually less critical than it was in the past. In the early 90s, Dr. Ronald Schultz did a study showing that some available canine parvovirus vaccines were not providing protection even when given according to label directions. Since then, nearly all approved canine parvovirus vaccines have been reformulated to break through resistance from maternal antibodies, and provide immunity at a much younger age, so this problem is less common now. These are called "high titer" vaccines.

Taken from this link:
http://www.caberfeidh.com/PuppyVax.htm

This is such a good site for anyone researching the pros and cons of vaccinating. To the OP, take the time to look through the Caberfeidh site; you will come away with some great info...

Lynne, I am with you. Read everything that Christie Keith has on the topic. She's great.