Shots for your Shelties

Sorry i have to chime in. I am one who will vaccinate my puppies. I have seen what parvo will do and you can pick it up anywhere! I used to breed collies. My girl had a litter of 12. We moved into a new home when the pups were 3 weeks old. I did not know that the previous renters had a dog with parvo there. I lost every last one of my pups. It was horrible! The vet tried to save them but eventually they gave up the fight. I cried for days because of what happened. My dogs were always home and i never took them anywhere except the vets. If you think your dog cannot get rabies, think again. Unless he is immune he can get it from any rabid animal that may come into your yard. My animals have never has a reaction to a shot. And yes, i vaccinate my children too with no problems.
 
My point was I have seen puppies and dogs die of parvo and no not all of them were shelter dogs. Nasty disease. Heartbreaking when you have sat up all night and they still die despite trying everything. When I was in private practice in S.D I saw the distemper dogs, private owned dogs. I myself would feel terrible if one of my puppies died of a preventable disease.

Also no where on this forum have I ever advocated yearly vaccines or vaccinating sick animals. The issue I have is the people who refuse to vaccinate at all.
 
My point was I have seen puppies and dogs die of parvo and no not all of them were shelter dogs. Nasty disease. Heartbreaking when you have sat up all night and they still die despite trying everything. When I was in private practice in S.D I saw the distemper dogs, private owned dogs. I myself would feel terrible if one of my puppies died of a preventable disease.

Also no where on this forum have I ever advocated yearly vaccines or vaccinating sick animals. The issue I have is the people who refuse to vaccinate at all.

Oh, I think you specifically said something in regards to every three years or something, so I didn't think you advocated every year. it's getting more and more common for people to not vaccinate every year... but you being a vet, would you vaccinate my dogs know they have neuro issues?

I was reading some stuff and found it scary that many people report their dog was vaccinated against parvo but contracted it still... scary. I do wonder how effective vaccines are with the mutations constantly happening. I do know the kennel cough shot is a joke.
 
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Oh, I think you specifically said something in regards to every three years or something, so I didn't think you advocated every year. it's getting more and more common for people to not vaccinate every year... but you being a vet, would you vaccinate my dogs know they have neuro issues? I just don't get the fact it's a law but then it says don't vaccinate sick animals... it seems so twisted? There are only about 120 cases of distemper in the US a year, luckily.

No I would prefer not to vaccinate a dog with neuro issues. But unless you live in a medical excempt state I have to tell you that you dog must be vaccinated for rabies. I can not tell you to break the law or it is my license on the line. Now what you choose to do is another thing but be aware of the penality if your dog bites someone and that includes the person who was bit requesting your dog be put down and tested for rabies in some states. Until the laws are changed that is the way it is. People are very parnoid about rabies.

Distemper and Parbo booster, yep , I would not vaccinate a sick dog. Different scenio then a healthy dog. I did not vaccinate my dog after she developed kidney disease.

Distemper is still here and yes it is not as common as other countires but in some rural parts of the US, vaccination levels are low, wildlife reserviors are present and the risk is higher than one thinks. Vaccination does prevent it almost 100% and yet out in SD we saw it almost every year.

I do think the parvo vaccine is pretty effective if the boosters are given at properly. Lots of reasons why an animal might not respond to one vaccine so that is why it is important to booster and then check the titers to make sure they responded.
 
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No I would prefer not to vaccinate a dog with neuro issues. But unless you live in a medical excempt state I have to tell you that you dog must be vaccinated for rabies. I can not tell you to break the law or it is my license on the line. Now what you choose to do is another thing but be aware of the penality if your dog bites someone and that includes the person who was bit requesting your dog be put down and tested for rabies in some states. Until the laws are changed that is the way it is. People are very parnoid about rabies.

Distemper and Parbo booster, yep , I would not vaccinate a sick dog. Different scenio then a healthy dog. I did not vaccinate my dog after she developed kidney disease.

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Yeah, sadly I live in one of those and they don't accept titer for rabies...My only option is to try to get out there and change the law.
 
When Seamus was so ill, our vet gave us a dispensation from rabies vacinne letter, however he stipulated that if Seamus was to go out into the wild and get in trouble with another animal or person that he would rescind his written consent. Really his letter just stated that we preferred not to vacinate due to illness and that we were responsible pet owners. Thankfully, New Jersey recognizes waiving rabies vacinne in cases of illness. We were able to get him registered.

Tobey was my black and white boy, he had a bad reaction to a rabies shot, he also had ongoing skin rashes and constant itching (which is why I ask so many questions about Harper's itching). Long story short, because of his skin ailment he died from the rabies shot. I know many of you are thinking how could I know for sure? We had gone to a different vet for a less expensive vacinnation one year and he ignored Tobey's skin issues. What he also ignored was that Tobey had anemia. While I was treating his skin issues, he was dying from hemolytic anemia made fatal by a rabies vacinne.

All I am saying, is that a titer while expensive is better than over vacinnation. As was said there is a titer kit for distemper and parvo. That's good. While rabies is an in office blood draw, you can get the test and take it from there.

After enough vets and lawmakers get the picture that a whole lot of animals don't need to be vacinnated over and again, then titers will be a whole lot less expensive. Cornell University is doing studies which point in that direction. In the meantime, get in touch with your Congressman, they listen and respond because they want to be re-elected. Make someone in Congress work!!!!

Best,
Kate
 
When Seamus was so ill, our vet gave us a dispensation from rabies vacinne letter, however he stipulated that if Seamus was to go out into the wild and get in trouble with another animal or person that he would rescind his written consent. Really his letter just stated that we preferred not to vacinate due to illness and that we were responsible pet owners. Thankfully, New Jersey recognizes waiving rabies vacinne in cases of illness. We were able to get him registered.

Tobey was my black and white boy, he had a bad reaction to a rabies shot, he also had ongoing skin rashes and constant itching (which is why I ask so many questions about Harper's itching). Long story short, because of his skin ailment he died from the rabies shot. I know many of you are thinking how could I know for sure? We had gone to a different vet for a less expensive vacinnation one year and he ignored Tobey's skin issues. What he also ignored was that Tobey had anemia. While I was treating his skin issues, he was dying from hemolytic anemia made fatal by a rabies vacinne.

All I am saying, is that a titer while expensive is better than over vacinnation. As was said there is a titer kit for distemper and parvo. That's good. While rabies is an in office blood draw, you can get the test and take it from there.

After enough vets and lawmakers get the picture that a whole lot of animals don't need to be vacinnated over and again, then titers will be a whole lot less expensive. Cornell University is doing studies which point in that direction. In the meantime, get in touch with your Congressman, they listen and respond because they want to be re-elected. Make someone in Congress work!!!!

Best,
Kate


I completely agree with you.... when we have a pet that is very ill or like my elderly cat who has had a severe life threatening reaction to them, we shouldn't do those pets!
 
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