How Often Does a Dog Need Shots?
Some veterinarians urge clients to get annual re-vaccination. Why? Is it needed? Is it dangerous? Many experts say no to the first question and yes to the second. Our current vaccination protocols are just based on the guesses that were made when the vaccines first came out. Dogs are likely to be protected for their entire lives, rather than yearly.
Personally, I use titers for my dog - the vet can test to see if there is enough of the antibody present, and if there is, they probably don’t need re-vaccination. Titers are sufficient proof for most dog training classes.
Don’t trust me? The following quote is from the Current Veterinary Therapy, volume XI (1992). The CVT is a very well respected, peer-reviewed book that is updated every four years. The authors of the article are veterinary immunologists Ronald Schultz from the University of Wisconsin and Tom Phillips from the Scrips Research Institute.
“A practice that was started many years ago and that lacks scientific validity or verification is annual revaccination. Almost without exception there is no immunologic requirement for annual revaccination. Immunity to viruses persists for years or for the life of the animal…… Furthermore, revaccination with most viral vaccines fails to stimulate an anamnestic (secondary) response…. The practice of annual vaccination in our opinion should be considered of questionable efficacy…”
EEk! Vaccines aren’t free, to the person paying for them or for the dog receiving them. They are not without danger, and shouldn’t be given willy-nilly.
