Vaccinations

[tesslynn]

groomer preference

First, let me apologize for asking a question that has probably been discussed numerous times in the past - but I'm fairly new to Shelties and a search of the forum didn't exactly answer my question(s).
The other day Timmy's groomer commented that Timmy will need to get a Rabies booster by December something.
I didn't give it much thought and mentioned it in a post. A reply to the post caused me to look into vaccinations a little more closely and now I'm concerned about Timmy getting any "routine" vaccination. But, if he doesn't get them, there are places such as the groomer, he can't get groomed by at least this groomer.
What am I to do? There are state laws requiring vaccinations but am I taking a risk with his health and well being by getting annual booster vaccinations? I don't want to have him get more than what he needs, so what are recommended/required boosters?
Thank you, Don

You follow your heart after you have done your research. The groomer is probably following rules to protect themselves. If you don't want to adhere, find another. This seems to be a touchy subject with many. You sound highly responsible, just remember there are always choices I am of the less is more camp-and have voiced that and been countered on here, whatever. I have a wonderful Vet that supports my choices. Can I inject something hilarious...he is around the corner from a regular type Vet clinic, and he gets a lot of his clientele from them. He has "saved" many pets that the clinic has said there is no hope for. They are a popular chain-up on the "latest" trends and techniques-ya right, NOT!

 

[The Quahog]

I don't get the whole NASTY and RUDE approach...that seems EXTREMELY prevalent in many of the practices lately. Hello, you should be kind to your patrons...educate/inform but be supportive of their choices.

I agree, there is no place for nasty and rude. On either side.

"But many of the animal hospitals/vets wanted to revaccinate her to be sure before a spay...I was FURIOUS, and wiped up the floor with a few about the issue. YOU DON'T VACCINATE and DO SURGERY-same day, that is STUPID and I SAID SO, any CARING, EDUCATED Professional outta know better,"

 

[trini]

Just a reminder to please keep posts polite and respectful of others while sharing your views. This is a topic that brings out strong opinions and emotions and it is important to hear everyone's "take", but it is also important not to turn this discussion into a dump on a person (or a group of people) who don't have the same views as you hold.

Thank-you.

Trini

 

[The Quahog]

Saw that one coming…..

 

[Lightplum]

First just an OT pet peeve, Its LYME not LYMES.

Now moving on to the topic groomers, trainers, boarder..etc have standard guidelines. After dealing with non compliant public it has to be a set standard type of protocol to protect themselves and other animals. Is it a one size fits all? NO, but you have to make a decision on what you are comfortable doing. Either vaccinate or groom yourself, or vaccinate or find an inhome pet sitter..etc.

Rabies protocol vary from state to state, which can make it frustrating. Rhode Island does a 1 year in puppies, and then the following year a 3 year shot. Its the same vaccine they however only issue the first one for a year..crazy, insane, we know.

As for vets pushing vaccines etc. Yes it does happen, but also look at the other side of the coin. They see animals who come in who have not been vaccinated, sick etc. Just look around, in RI one of our shelters keeps popping up quarantined for Parvo, it happens for one of two reasons. 1. importing dogs from the south who are not vaccinated, and or 2. local dogs who owners cant be bothered to vaccinate their dogs and come in contact with dogs imported from the south who are sick..

 

[Sharon]

First just an OT pet peeve, Its LYME not LYMES.

Now moving on to the topic groomers, trainers, boarder..etc have standard guidelines. After dealing with non compliant public it has to be a set standard type of protocol to protect themselves and other animals. Is it a one size fits all? NO, but you have to make a decision on what you are comfortable doing. Either vaccinate or groom yourself, or vaccinate or find an inhome pet sitter..etc.

Rabies protocol vary from state to state, which can make it frustrating. Rhode Island does a 1 year in puppies, and then the following year a 3 year shot. Its the same vaccine they however only issue the first one for a year..crazy, insane, we know.

As for vets pushing vaccines etc. Yes it does happen, but also look at the other side of the coin. They see animals who come in who have not been vaccinated, sick etc. Just look around, in RI one of our shelters keeps popping up quarantined for Parvo, it happens for one of two reasons. 1. importing dogs from the south who are not vaccinated, and or 2. local dogs who owners cant be bothered to vaccinate their dogs and come in contact with dogs imported from the south who are sick..

I stand corrected!Lyme not Lymes.

 

[The Quahog]

Rabies protocol vary from state to state, which can make it frustrating. Rhode Island does a 1 year in puppies, and then the following year a 3 year shot. Its the same vaccine they however only issue the first one for a year..crazy, insane, we know.
.

Having had a little cooling off period, allow me to address this issue.
The vaccine manufacturers label, under dosage and administration, states give the first vaccine, then 1 year later, then every three years. One can argue with this, certainly, but it has a reasonable basis. This is the idea of 'boostering'. In essence, the first vaccination sets up 'antibody factories' in the immune system. Later vaccines simply stimulate those 'factories', already in place, to produce antibody, so the same vaccine is effective for a longer duration. So Rhode Island is simply following the vaccine manufacturers direction, anything else would make them liable. I wouldn't call that requirement crazy, but if it is it's not on Rhode Island.
What IS dopey (I won't say 'insane') about the Rhode Island law is the stipulation that if the vaccine is overdue, even by a couple of days , it reverts to being the one year 'first' one. This is not mentioned on the vaccine insert. Now, if your dog received a rabies vaccination at 12 weeks, and got a second one 8 years later, sure, there is little boostering effect and it will have shorter duration. But we have gotten in trouble for cutting people slack when they were about five days overdue. This makes the veterinarians the bad guys for a very poorly written law. If, for example, we send out reminders in May for June vaccinations many clients, who lead busy lives, will not have an appointment until the vaccine is overdue. Yet reminders sent out two or months ahead often are put away by the client and forgotten. The law really should say that if a vaccination is a year or more overdue then it reverts to a one year duration.
However , particularly on pet legislation, states try to keep things simple and admittedly doing it more correctly would be more challenging to administer. (For example, we keep hearing that when a dog tangles with a skunk it needs to be quarantined for 10 days. Of course this makes absolutely NO sense, but the difference between incubation period and transmission period confuses many authorities.) Having said all that I, like almost everyone concerned, REALLY wish that law could be made more sensible.

 

[trini]

Thank-you, Dr. Mac for taking the time to help clarify some of the issues pertaining to vaccinations and the laws involved... and what makes good sense and what doesn't. Your input is appreciated.

Trini

 

[ClantyreSheltie]

I ran into a small problem when I was shipping a dog to Hawaii (talk about antiquated/anti-science, but they are getting better!)

The bottom line is that to import a dog to Hawaii, they are required to have two rabies shots in their lifetime, and a passing titer. There are timelines involved, and a three-page "simplified" checklist.

Anyway. My puppy got his first Rabies shot at six months old. He had a Rabies titer through Kansas State University four weeks later. He passed the titer, per Hawaii requirements. However, even with a passing titer, he had to have another rabies no less than 90 days later, because Hawaii requires a dog to have at least two rabies shots in it's lifetime, regardless of positive titer results.

So he gets his second rabies shot four months later. Because there wasn't a year between shots, they only issued the second rabies shot for one year. I asked about it, and my vet kind of scrunched his face up, and told me he really didn't have a choice. It didn't matter, the dog went to Hawaii and has never had another Rabies shot, but it was interesting to see the other side of the one year problem.