So most of you guys are not going to vaccinate anymore? I was curious because I recently posted about dog clubs asking for shot records and go not response. Also, because while I was thinking of adopting a dog, they all said current dogs must be current on vaccines and lastly, because I wanted to begin my dog's CD title this year and they ask for shot records too.

Sorry for the hijack, but I thought it was related to the topic and I was pretty sure I wasn't going to vaccinate my dog anymore, even rabies.

Alex, I do two things. First, I lie. Then, if that doesn't work, I lie again. Remember, all my "current" pets are dead.

Like you Alex this is an issue I am struggling with. I did give my dog his puppy shots after the recommendations of Dr. Dodds, but am wondering about the need for the one year booster. If he got immunity from his puppy shots, why would he need a booster? If you already have the immunity, all the virus in the the booster will do is get killed by your antibodies. It seems to me that you can't get "more immune" anymore than you can get "more pregnant", you either are, or you aren't. Does this make sense? And if my dog isn't immune to parvo and distemper from his puppy shots I'm sure he would have gotten sick by now from all the places and dogs he has been exposed to.

And then then there are titers. I get conflicting opinions on how effective they are. And you could get back a titer that shows nothing, when your dog does in fact have the immunity, he just hasn't been exposed to the virus recently, so ther are no antibodies being produced to fight it, but the "memory" cells that produce the antibodies are still there, and in fact he has immunity. Then there is the question of does the immunity last for life.

I may be off base here, will someone with more knowledge please chime in? My dog will be a year old soon, and I am really leaning to no more vaccinations, but am constantly being questioned on why. Even Dr. Dodds recommends a one year booster. It is all very confusing.

Alex,

I won't ever give another DHPPC and don't plan on ever giving Bordetella, Lyme, or anything else at all.

The rabies vaccine really caused me a lot of stress. First, it's the law in California and the state does not accept titres. Second, there is rabies in my area and the carriers literally live in my back yard.

I spoke awhile back with one of our most knowledgable members about this and her response and reasoning for giving a second rabies vaccine was sound.

In 3 years I'll do a rabies titre, see where things stand, and make a decision about further rabies vaccinations then. It is really a tough call, given what I'm seeing now.

Shody,

I had a Distemper-Parvo titre run on True at this last vet visit. He only received 2 vaccines as a pup (one given by the breeder). The titre showed a good response/immunity (I forget the actual wording). I'm very happy about that, especially considering he did not have the vet-recommended 4 boosters.

Nico had more shots than i care to remember, but i didnt know any better, she has lifelong issues that i attribute to improper vaccination practices.
Levi had only one rabies shot, at 8 months because he had such a high prey drive.
Loki had zero puppy shots but did have a single shot for parvo and distemper at a year old because there was a parvo outbreak and we were bringing a new pup home, I didnt want to risk it either direction.

Fargo had one distemper and parvo shot at 12 weeks, and I am going to test his titers next month to see if immunity response took place, if not we might do another because of all the parasites he has dealt with I dont trust his immune system to do the work if exposed to parvo. I suspect he will have immunity though and we will be fine.

I dont keep my dogs in a bubble, but they eat good food, get probiotics to boost their immune system response and are healthy as can be, Both Loki and Levi went on walks, to the park, on hikes in the woods, Loki had a stomach issue at 14 months that I still suspect might have been parvo but it was mild and resolved quickly and without complication.

I dont take my pups anywhere with a high level of animal or dog traffic when they are under 6 months, and if they have to go to the vet i either hold them or wait in the car with them to minimize exposure in the first 6 months.

We dont kennel, I use a dog sitter or pay my nephew to stay at the house when we go out of town. Its cheaper to pay a dogsitter to do it then kennel all three dogs and they also feed the cats, so we dont need kennel cough shots.

The cats get only rabies every three years and Feline leukemia once as young adults

I do rabies at one year and every three years after that for the cats and dogs. Nico is exempt from all further vaccines with a written affidavit from the vet.

I do have her titers tested for rabies because she is at risk for exposure in the summers, so far they come back very good so i havent worried about it.

Disclaimer, I am not a vet, I am relating the information given to me by a vet and in doing research.

In regards to the thuja, for a large dog, German Shepard or equivalent size I was told to use the human dosing.

Typically it is 4 tablets under the tongue and in some instances is repeated every 4 to 6 hours during the acute onset of a problem, but sometimes only once and then once again a week or more later for long standing problems. With Fargo recent vaccination he recieved a dose right along with his vaccine and then they called to check on him and would have given another dose had any reactions shown up.

30x is stronger than 6x, my vet has in the past given Nico 100x but that isnt something I would be comfortable using on my own as it is stronger.

Ya, it's the law here in CO as well. All of my dog's shots are due/overdue, but I think I'm going to pass. Only thing is... competing. Does anyone here compete in obedience? When my dog got her CGC in Sept, it was the first thing they asked for!

Sarah and Alex, don't worry about sidetracking on this thread. Vaccinosis is the topic and nothing either of you said is sidetracking or off topic so please feel free.

Jenni (I knew you'd come along ) and Debbie, thanks for all those great links and info. I've got research ahead of me.

Is thuja a liquid or powder?

Edited to add: Alex, I'm never vaccinating my dog again. Long story short, his 2nd and last vaccine at 3 months old caused a tremor in his right leg after he got up from a nap. Didn't last but a couple of seconds but that was enough for me.

You can get thuya in liquid or tablet preparations.