To the point: What vaccinations would you experienced board members recommend for an 8 month old puppy with an unknown vaccination history.

The details: A week ago I acquired a male Mal that was "too much" for the original owner. A friend of a friend type of situation that had it land in my lap. I like the dog and he seems healthy.

It was relayed to me that the dog is 7 months, but I'm guessing he is closer to 8 or 9 months. No big deal either way. The previous owner reportedly had the dog "up to date on shots", but not yet started on a heart worm preventative and relayed that the dog needed the County mandated rabies shot.

I have been promised time and again over the week that I have had the dog that all of the original paperwork, vet history, etc. will be provided to me, but so far, nothing. I even asked for just the name of the vet so I may contact the vet on my own, but again, nothing.

I've got the dog on a heart worm preventative now, and I will take care of the mandatory rabies vaccination. What's the opinion on other vaccinations?

You could ask your vet to do titer tests for the other vaccines. It's a blood test to determine if the dog has protective antibodies against a particular infection. If the test shows the dog is good, you wouldn't need the vaccine. Or vice versa.

Titer testing can also be done in lieu of booster shots down the road. No need to vaccinate a dog when the last vaccination is still working.

I'd do the rabies. On another day, a few months from now, when the dog seems mature, I'd do the DHLP-Parvo.
Then I wouldn't do anything else for 3 years.

Thank you for the input. I am familiar with titer tests. The vets that I have spoken with in my area all have the attitude that simply vaccinating and being done with it makes more sense than spending the money and time for a titer test :-/

I did finally get a vet record today from the previous owner. It shows DOB of 10/17/12. The vet record says client claims DAPP and Bordetella given 12/15/12 and that the vet gave Lepto and did a fecal exam on 12/27/12.

Per this record, it appears the pup received only the one DAPP and that is to take the previous owner at his word. Since the pup never had a booster 3 weeks after the initial reported vaccination, would it be wise to have just the one booster vaccine as is recommended for an adult dog or should there be another initial with a booster in 3 weeks?

As a side note, I'm not worried about the dog being current on the Bordetella or the Lepto. I never deal with young puppies and only get dogs that are young adults. If I see documentation of original vaccinations I choose to re-vaccinate DAPP every 3 to 4 years. Any thoughts on whether DAPP, DHPP or any of the other combinations make the most sense without needless ingredients?

http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/13_8/features/Annual-Pet-Vaccinations_20036-1.html


Despite the title of this thread, I think it addresses some of your points:

http://leerburg.com/webboard/thread.php?topic_id=33348&page=1#377569

(I don't combine vaccines in a "cocktail" or vax for any two things on one occasion. But that's JMO.)

Here's the Dodds minimal-vax protocol (in the NON-CORE part, read each comment to see if it's specific to California): http://www.weim.net/emberweims/Vaccine.html



PS

"The vets that I have spoken with in my area all have the attitude that simply vaccinating and being done with it makes more sense than spending the money and time for a titer test."

This is your money, your choice of vet, your decision. JMO!


Weekends are slow on many dog boards (as many are training), and in fact I'm running out too ..... but wanted to give you some stuff to read.

 Quote: Eric Eschmann

Since the pup never had a booster 3 weeks after the initial reported vaccination, would it be wise to have just the one booster vaccine as is recommended for an adult dog or should there be another initial with a booster in 3 weeks?

The only thing boosters boost is the vets pocket. It does not make the dog more immune to the disease at all. It's just to cover the extremely slim possibility that the initial vaccination didn't produce an immune reaction.

Here's a lower cost titer test source. http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/an-inexpensive-tool-to-reduce-pet-vaccinations/

Your dog. Your decision. It was worth it to me to find a vet that used a 3 year schedule as his standard schedule. To me it represents that the vet follows current research and guidelines. A vet who still insists on annual vaccination has either examined and then discarded 30 years of research or simply doesn't care and has other priorities for their practice. I always wonder what else the vet isn't current on.

Asking about diets can be interesting. Even Science Diet is moving away from corn, making continued preaching that corn is wonderful even more ridiculous than it used to be.

 Quote: Eric Eschmann

It shows DOB of 10/17/12. The vet record says client claims DAPP and Bordetella given 12/15/12 and that the vet gave Lepto and did a fecal exam on 12/27/12.

So the only vaccination the pup received was at 8 weeks? I'd vaccinate for parvo and distemper. Too much of that going around for a dog to wait IMO.

Lepto has a much higher rate of reactions than other vaccines.

If the only thing they carry is combo shots you can order the separate vaccines from Revival Animal Heath and have the vet administer them or do them yourself. A member recently did that and the cost was comparable to the office charge for a vaccine at the vet.

Insightful. My plan of action now is to vaccinate for parvo and distemper, to give the vaccines once without a follow up booster until 3 years go by.

Regarding the Lepto, in addition to the statement about the higher incidence of adverse reaction than many other vaccines, I recall reading that the strain of Lepto that the vaccine prevents is a very uncommon strain that a dog is unlikely to encounter. I have read recommendations that the Lepto vaccine is wise only if the virus is known to be in your area, and even then it is a long shot that the vaccine will protect against the variant the dog will likely come into contact with. Those are the reasons I choose not to give the Lepto vaccine.

The kennel where I have boarded my dogs the few times I have needed to is very understanding. They have me sign a waiver that if the dog catches anything I release them from liability as I have chosen not to have my dogs get all of the vet recommended shots. They do still require rabies and bordetella. The rabies my dogs stay current on and the bordetella I'll have administered 3 weeks before boarding the dogs if it has been more than 6 months since they've last had it. As I type this I'm recalling it's been about 18 month since I've last had to board. Nice.

Thank you all for your input and help in guiding my decision.

I contacted my wife's vet who was coming for her horses and asked about getting just a parvo and distemper for this 8 month old pup and my almost 6 year old dog. I was told it would not be a problem. When the vet arrived it turned out that they "don't have single vaccines available" and he highly recommended the DHPPLC that he feels is the best option. I replied that I was certainly not concerned about Lepto, Corona or the Pariinfluenza.

Long story short, he talked me into it for both dogs.

The 6 year old dog had received DA2PP 4 years ago. He chastised me for not having it boostered every year. He claims that because 4 years have gone by since the dog had received the vaccine, it needs to be administered again in 3 weeks. Looking at the most recent AAHA canine vaccine guidelines, I'm not sold on that assessment. I'm leaning towards waiting another 3-4 years before having the dog get the shot again. Hopefully at that time just parvo and distemper. Thoughts?

The 8 month old pup received the same DHPPLC vaccine. As I stated above, it was reported but without documentation that the pup had received the DAPP in December and nothing after that. The vet is adamant that the pup get a booster in 3 weeks. Looking at the AAHA guidelines I read "One dose is considered protective and acceptable" for dogs greater than 16 weeks of age. That said, I would think this dog is also set for a minimum of 3 years without getting the recommended booster in 3 weeks. Thoughts?

I am sure that I am thought a little less of by some of you for caving in and taking the convenient path of the offered combination vaccine that was the only option at the time of the appointment, none the less, I don't want to have them re-administered in 3 weeks if it's not needed for the dog's health. I will admit to feeling sheepish as the vet is telling me how he majored in immunology along with all of his other schooling and the many initials after his name while I am relying on only my internet research. I certainly could not counter his arguments regarding the limited benefits of doing a titer (how do we know a titer that is good today will be good next month? How do we know that the amount of antibodies revealed in the titer meet the threshold for disease protection?) and after loosing to dogs to disease (one to MMM and another to organ failure of UKO) I want to do things right for the dogs which has me always doing a lot of second guessing.

I welcome any input and my thick skin is on.

Thank you

I contacted my wife's vet who was coming for her horses and asked about getting just a parvo and distemper for this 8 month old pup and my almost 6 year old dog. I was told it would not be a problem. When the vet arrived it turned out that they "don't have single vaccines available" and he highly recommended the DHPPLC that he feels is the best option.

"Don't have single vaccines available" ... well, yeah, they do.

Sources are provided in the LB link above, one on page 3 (here: http://leerburg.com/webboard/thread.php?topic_id=33348&page=3 ).



But you know that regardless of who is "right" or "wrong," this was a bait-and-switch and you agreed to it, right?

When you could have said "I need to think about this, since I booked for something you said you would have and now do not have," right?

I'm saying what I am thinking, based on the "thick skin" disclaimer.


"The 6 year old dog had received DA2PP 4 years ago. He chastised me for not having it boostered every year. "

This is enough for me, but that;s JMHO. This is not the vet for me.

I would be looking for another vet, and I'd be doing phone interviews (or in person) -- that I would offer to pay for -- before settling on a new vet. I'd be getting these files copied and picking up my copies all ready for the new vet.

Then I would bring up my questions with the new vet .... because you and your vet need to have a working partnership. The new vet and I would agree on the next step.

You were railroaded, and this is totally 100% aside from who was "right" or "wrong."

Not acceptable for me.

All JMO!