Post by Dobereich on Feb 13, 2011 0:44:40 GMT -5
After a discussion with Jodi about vaccines, I wanted to post a little something in simple English about vaccinations in hopes it can help others in their decisions about vaccines. This information is geared to Canadian climate. Everyone should look into what viruses might plague your region.
The truth is that the dogs do not require vaccines every year. In fact, most of the vaccines that are given are good for 3 years. The common annual combination vaccine gives your dog a small dose of a modified live virus. Not so much that that the dog will get the virus. But just enough that the immune system can create antibodies to over-take it and kill it. Once exposed, the immune system remembers those invading viruses and attacks them if they ever come into contact with them again. When the immune system forgets how to identify those viruses, its time for another vaccine.
Primitive practice was to give the vaccine every year, all of them. But in recent years its been discovered that the immune system has a much longer memory. This is found by doing a blood test to check the “titers” to see if the dog has enough antibodies to be considered protected.
The most common annual vaccines given to dogs are;
Distemper
Parvo virus
Hepatitis/Adenovirus
Parainfluenza
Rabies
Leptospirosis (depending on the area and exposure)
The first 4 are given in a vaccine referred to as “DHPP” or “DAP2”. A vaccine manufacturer, InterVet, tested the integrity of these vaccines and found that, when properly administered, 3 out of the 4 vaccines were effective for more then 3 years. The only vaccine in that cocktail that did not hold its effectiveness for more then 1 year was the parainfluenza. So, because 1 of the 4 in this cocktail is only good for a year, the entire vaccine is repeated annually even though the other 3 vaccines do not need to be repeated until 3 years.
InterVet decided that they would make a vaccine that was free of parainfluenza, and this is called “Continuum DAP2”. To be repeated every 3 years in order to protect your dog against Parvo, Hep, and Distemper. In order to give your dog the parainfluenza (flu shot), you can opt to give your dog an annual (intranasal) Bordetella vaccine that covers parainfluenza as well as kennel cough. At the time of the annual Bordetella vaccine your vet will have the opportunity to examine your dog, test for heart worm, etc.
One would think that all vets would have implemented this 3 year vaccine. Surprisingly many vets still don’t even know about this vaccine by intervet. However some vets are aware of the downfalls of over-vaccination and have come-up with their own way to break-up vaccines through a staggered schedule. One of the reasons some vets refuse to give the 3 year vaccine is because they fear that pet owners will no longer come in for annual check-ups. So it you are going to speak to your vet about this, ensure them that you will come in annually for the kennel cough and health check-up, etc.
It is recommended that the continuum vaccine be boostered at least once. In pups, they should receive a second (or sometimes 3rd) booster every month following the initial vaccine (given between 7-9 weeks of age). If an adult dog is receiving the Continuum for the first time, its recommended that you booster one year after the initial vaccine, then every 3 years thereafter.
If your vet doesn’t have this vaccine, you may opt to give your dog the regular DAP2, or DHPP. Some recommended manufactured vaccine brands are “Merial”, “Durramune”, “Intervet”, etc. The modified live viruses in these cocktails are also considered safe for 3 years. However because of that annual flu shot, they are labeled effective for only 1 year. This doesn’t mean that you have to give the vaccine annually, you can repeat the vaccine every 3 years, and on the off years go in for the Bordetella vaccine.
There is another respected route you can take that will ensure that your dog remains protected. You can have blood drawn to check your dogs titers (antibodies) annually, or every 2 years, and this will tell you if they are ready for another vaccine or not. The cost is higher, but I feel it is a worthy investment that will protect your dog from the consequences of over-vaccinating. It is also acceptable by CFIA and nobody can tell you to vaccinate your dog if they already have enough antibodies to be protected against exposure to these viruses. The viruses that are commonly tested for are; Distemper, Parvo, and Rabies.
Rabies vaccine should be given once as a puppy, boosted 1 year later, and then given every 3 years thereafter.
Leptospirosis is contracted through the urine or feces of infected Raccoons, rodents, etc. I would check into the risks within your area, contact the CFIA and verify if there have been any reported cases of it, and how far from your area of travel. Also check into the type of Lepto found, because there are more then 1 type, and it would be redundant to give a vaccine for Type 1,. If type 3 is prevalent in your area, etc. There are at least 5 recognized strains of Lepto, and type 1 seems to be the most commonly used vaccine regardless. Here is a link about Lepto, go to the bottom, it will describe the risks. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leptospirosis
Heartworm is another infection that I would treat in the same manner as the lepto. Check into it, see how far away any cases of infection have been reported. Then bare in mind that mosquitoes have an approx 30 km travel range. So if there have not been any reported cases of heartworm in your area (removing any dogs that were imported to the area already infected), then I would seriously consider the benefits and risks of treatment. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirofilaria_immitis A link with descriptions of the different drugs used to prevent Heartworm. Research, this is the best way to feel comfortable with your decision. Also be sure to frequently check on the status of your region for outbreaks of heartworm.
Good luck!
Monica
The truth is that the dogs do not require vaccines every year. In fact, most of the vaccines that are given are good for 3 years. The common annual combination vaccine gives your dog a small dose of a modified live virus. Not so much that that the dog will get the virus. But just enough that the immune system can create antibodies to over-take it and kill it. Once exposed, the immune system remembers those invading viruses and attacks them if they ever come into contact with them again. When the immune system forgets how to identify those viruses, its time for another vaccine.
Primitive practice was to give the vaccine every year, all of them. But in recent years its been discovered that the immune system has a much longer memory. This is found by doing a blood test to check the “titers” to see if the dog has enough antibodies to be considered protected.
The most common annual vaccines given to dogs are;
Distemper
Parvo virus
Hepatitis/Adenovirus
Parainfluenza
Rabies
Leptospirosis (depending on the area and exposure)
The first 4 are given in a vaccine referred to as “DHPP” or “DAP2”. A vaccine manufacturer, InterVet, tested the integrity of these vaccines and found that, when properly administered, 3 out of the 4 vaccines were effective for more then 3 years. The only vaccine in that cocktail that did not hold its effectiveness for more then 1 year was the parainfluenza. So, because 1 of the 4 in this cocktail is only good for a year, the entire vaccine is repeated annually even though the other 3 vaccines do not need to be repeated until 3 years.
InterVet decided that they would make a vaccine that was free of parainfluenza, and this is called “Continuum DAP2”. To be repeated every 3 years in order to protect your dog against Parvo, Hep, and Distemper. In order to give your dog the parainfluenza (flu shot), you can opt to give your dog an annual (intranasal) Bordetella vaccine that covers parainfluenza as well as kennel cough. At the time of the annual Bordetella vaccine your vet will have the opportunity to examine your dog, test for heart worm, etc.
One would think that all vets would have implemented this 3 year vaccine. Surprisingly many vets still don’t even know about this vaccine by intervet. However some vets are aware of the downfalls of over-vaccination and have come-up with their own way to break-up vaccines through a staggered schedule. One of the reasons some vets refuse to give the 3 year vaccine is because they fear that pet owners will no longer come in for annual check-ups. So it you are going to speak to your vet about this, ensure them that you will come in annually for the kennel cough and health check-up, etc.
It is recommended that the continuum vaccine be boostered at least once. In pups, they should receive a second (or sometimes 3rd) booster every month following the initial vaccine (given between 7-9 weeks of age). If an adult dog is receiving the Continuum for the first time, its recommended that you booster one year after the initial vaccine, then every 3 years thereafter.
If your vet doesn’t have this vaccine, you may opt to give your dog the regular DAP2, or DHPP. Some recommended manufactured vaccine brands are “Merial”, “Durramune”, “Intervet”, etc. The modified live viruses in these cocktails are also considered safe for 3 years. However because of that annual flu shot, they are labeled effective for only 1 year. This doesn’t mean that you have to give the vaccine annually, you can repeat the vaccine every 3 years, and on the off years go in for the Bordetella vaccine.
There is another respected route you can take that will ensure that your dog remains protected. You can have blood drawn to check your dogs titers (antibodies) annually, or every 2 years, and this will tell you if they are ready for another vaccine or not. The cost is higher, but I feel it is a worthy investment that will protect your dog from the consequences of over-vaccinating. It is also acceptable by CFIA and nobody can tell you to vaccinate your dog if they already have enough antibodies to be protected against exposure to these viruses. The viruses that are commonly tested for are; Distemper, Parvo, and Rabies.
Rabies vaccine should be given once as a puppy, boosted 1 year later, and then given every 3 years thereafter.
Leptospirosis is contracted through the urine or feces of infected Raccoons, rodents, etc. I would check into the risks within your area, contact the CFIA and verify if there have been any reported cases of it, and how far from your area of travel. Also check into the type of Lepto found, because there are more then 1 type, and it would be redundant to give a vaccine for Type 1,. If type 3 is prevalent in your area, etc. There are at least 5 recognized strains of Lepto, and type 1 seems to be the most commonly used vaccine regardless. Here is a link about Lepto, go to the bottom, it will describe the risks. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leptospirosis
Heartworm is another infection that I would treat in the same manner as the lepto. Check into it, see how far away any cases of infection have been reported. Then bare in mind that mosquitoes have an approx 30 km travel range. So if there have not been any reported cases of heartworm in your area (removing any dogs that were imported to the area already infected), then I would seriously consider the benefits and risks of treatment. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirofilaria_immitis A link with descriptions of the different drugs used to prevent Heartworm. Research, this is the best way to feel comfortable with your decision. Also be sure to frequently check on the status of your region for outbreaks of heartworm.
Good luck!
Monica