Quote: Keleah Stull

Lepto sounds like the one.

I would call and ask - just say you forgot the name of the vaccination - and post back.

 Quote: Melissa Thom

As far as heartworm it depends on your area. I live in an area of the US that is not heartworm bearing so I don't treat for it.

I do understand that some folks do not use Heartguard, etc. This is a decision to be made after educating oneself. However, there is no longer any state in the US where there's no heartworm.

It is Lepto. Told the vet I wanted to make sure I knew the name so I could talk to my hubby about the vaccines.

 Quote: Keleah Stull

It is Lepto. Told the vet I wanted to make sure I knew the name so I could talk to my hubby about the vaccines.

Here are the Jean Dodds comments:

QUOTE:
Not recommended
1) There are an average of 12 cases reported annually in California.
2) Side effects common.
3) Most commonly used vaccine contains the wrong serovars. (There is no cross-protection of serovars) There is a new vaccine with 2 new serovars. Two vaccinations twice per year would be required for protection.).
4) Risk outweighs benefits.
END QUOTE from http://www.weim.net/emberweims/Vaccine.html

Thanks Connie. I'll let the vet know when I go to pick up Otto's prescription after the blood work comes back, that we aren't doing that vaccine.
How bout distemper? Should he get it or not?

Yes, a dog can be affected by salmonella. They are far less vulnerable than humans (short fast digestive system, much less time for pathogens to colonize, more caustic stomach acid), but they can get sick from it. I have read and heard about more kibble-triggered salmonella cases than raw-feeding cases, but there is no diet that is 100% safe from all pathogens (or 100% safe, period).

 Quote:

And how can I tell my vet that I don't want my dogs getting unnecessary vaccines and not have her push it?

I used to have a vet that pushed one of the vaccinations twice a year! I think it was Parvo. I'd get reminders in the mail that vaccinations were due. I'd just ignore the reminders, and if asked about it (only happened once), "a friend of mine does his own vaccinations and offered to do my dogs too while he was at it." It's perfectly legal in the US to administer your own vaccinations. Although I do believe Rabies must be done by the vet in order to get the certificate and rabies tag.

The problem I find is that people are far too honest and open with their vets LOL.

As for Heart worm medication, to me this isn't even a debatable point. There is no heart worm in Belgium, but anywhere in the US I would do it without question. One could argue that "my last dog lived to be 23 and never had heart worm," but wouldn't it suck if your new dog did get it and died? It's not a mythical issue. I even know someone who's dog got heart worms. It was not a fun experience. The dog is alive and well though.

 Quote: keleah stull

Lepto sounds like the one. Do you think it's a good idea to even get him this vaccine if he has thyroid problems? Since thyroid problems are associated to the immune system being attacked by the body itself?

I absolutely would never vaccinate a dog with thyroid problems for anything and a vet should consider this a "health issue" and read the insert in the vaccine packaging. FOR HEALTHY DOGS ONLY means just that. A dog that needs thryoid supplementation is NOT a healthy dog and should not be vaccinated.

In Wisconsin, thryoid issues are reason enough for my vet to write a rabies vaccine waiver for the life of the dog.

 Quote: cindy easton rhodes

.... a vet should consider this a "health issue" and read the insert in the vaccine packaging. FOR HEALTHY DOGS ONLY means just that. ....

A GREAT point and one that we hear of being ignored by vet after vet after vet, even when a dog actually goes to the vet for treatment or diagnosis of an illness -- and is vaccinated "since he's here anyway."

This is something that, as Cindy points out, is clearly stated on the vaccine package insert (that vaccines are for healthy dogs only), but it's so obvious that the warning is shrugged off by vet staff all the time that I hope readers will engrave it on their minds. It's often up to the owner to protect the dog from vet staff.

Thanks Cindy. That is an excellent point you made about the fact that vets will vaccinate even an unhealthy animal just for the sake of vaccinating. I knew that it wouldn't be a good idea to vaccinate for anything because of his thyroid. It just didn't sound right.

When I told my husband about how the vet wanted to vaccinate and what for, he said absolutely not, no reason to. One thing is, everytime I've made an appointment for any one of the dogs, he's been working and I'm the one who has to go in. I guess is I have to be a bitch, I guess that's the way of it.

We live in a small town and the closest vets office is only 2 miles from us. Other than that, there's one that I took my adults to for their rabies, and it's about 70 miles away. But if this new vet doesn't like that I don't want to give my dogs, especially Otto, unnecessary vaccines, then I will make it a point to take them to the vet that's 70 miles away.

Here's why, when I called to get Shaed and Otto in for their rabies shot, they asked if I wanted the distemper combo, blah, blah, whatever. I told them no, just the rabies and there was no questions what so ever. AND, there was nothing bad said about me feeding a raw diet-it was a younger vet and I think she knows that it's better for dogs, period.

It just sucks that I'm so far from the vet that I prefer. Driving an hour for a doctors appointment for myself is a must, and if I have to drive that far for my dogs to get the care I want, I'd rather do that then end up with a dead dog.

Thanks again Connie and Cindy. I'll make sure I mention that to my vet, if she asks about the shots again!