Right level of vaccination

[Fenners]

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Hi,

You may be aware from my previous post that I recently received a puppy from a breeder that is an advocate of a homeopathic approach to healthcare in dogs.

I decided to have my puppy vaccinated and have also dewormed him, against the advice of the breeder. Although I like to follow the approach backed by medical science, I am also a believer that vets do over-treat dogs. My plan currently is to give the puppy his 2nd vaccination but then to avoid booster jabs. This is based on much reading on the internet from a variety of sources. My plan is to have his white blood cells tested at certain points to see if a booster is actually required.

I wondered if people were willing to share their views on this as I’m still in the process of making my decision. I also wondered how often you give your dogs worming medication and how often?

Thanks in advance.

 

[JudyN]

I think that checking bloods for immunity (titre testing) every so often is a great approach - I would have done this with my dog if he was more cooperative at the vet!

I took a similar approach to worming - I sent off a stool sample to Wormcount every few months so only had to worm him when it was needed (it usually wasn't). The best bit of doing that is when the person in the post office asks you what's in the parcel...

 

[Hemlock]

I agree with JudyN.

My dogs had puppy vaccinations once their immune systems were properly developed, then with the full approval of my vet, were titre tested until 9 years old, after which, having been proved to be fully immune for all that time, were considered well protected for the rest of their lives.

 

[Fenners]

I agree with JudyN.

My dogs had puppy vaccinations once their immune systems were properly developed, then with the full approval of my vet, were titre tested until 9 years old, after which, having been proved to be fully immune for all that time, were considered well protected for the rest of their lives.

May I ask at what age their immune systems were developed? Have I had it done too early at 10 weeks for the first jabs?

 

[JoanneF]

I can't comment on the effectiveness, but if your dog ever has to go into daycare, or kennels for boarding, or be taken out by dog walkers, they may insist on up to date vaccination.

 

[Hemlock]

May I ask at what age their immune systems were developed? Have I had it done too early at 10 weeks for the first jabs?

I let my vet guide me as individual pups mature at different rates. I'd suggest you see if you can find a holistic vet and follow their guidance.

JoanneF raises a very necessary point but luckily for me those were not going to be a part of my dogs' lives.

We also cared for a dog whose owner did not want her vaccinated at all, and this dog tested immune each year as well! Vet said she must have had a challenge from the virus, put up her own response and stayed immune thereafter. Truly the more we learn the less we know.

 

[Fenners]

I let my vet guide me as individual pups mature at different rates. I'd suggest you see if you can find a holistic vet and follow their guidance.

JoanneF raises a very necessary point but luckily for me those were not going to be a part of my dogs' lives.

We also cared for a dog whose owner did not want her vaccinated at all, and this dog tested immune each year as well! Vet said she must have had a challenge from the virus, put up her own response and stayed immune thereafter. Truly the more we learn the less we know.

My issue with going to a holistic vet is that I imagine they would just say no more vaccinations and sell me some nosodes. I want to go down the vaccination route but just not excessively like seems to be the case with some vets.

 

[Mad Murphy]

I know my vet said hes never seen a case of parvo or distemper. Thats great but I have and it will never leave me. Watching a pup puke until it dies isnt something you forget.
So I vaccinate its a 3 year program. The vaxx they get every year is lepto. We have a lot of waterways so lots of rats and often times by the time you realise its lepto its too late.

But vaccines are something you have to decide about weighing the odds and the risks and what you can live with if it goes wrong.

 

[Fenners]

I know my vet said hes never seen a case of parvo or distemper. Thats great but I have and it will never leave me. Watching a pup puke until it dies isnt something you forget.
So I vaccinate its a 3 year program. The vaxx they get every year is lepto. We have a lot of waterways so lots of rats and often times by the time you realise its lepto its too late.

But vaccines are something you have to decide about weighing the odds and the risks and what you can live with if it goes wrong.

That’s exactly how I see it. I’m trying to weigh up all the risks based on the vast amounts of conflicting information out there. Ultimately, I just want what’s best for the little fella.

 

[Hemlock]

Yep - that's the best any of us can do. And we must be aware that information constantly changes, so we need to keep on learning.

Re: holistic - it's easy to misinterpret the term. It means treating the animal and its health as individual, and recommending the courses of action that best suit on the day. It does not mean pushing non-drug remedies over drugs, or vice versa. It is about using the whole range of available treatment, including food and lifestyle, to help the particular creature with the particular illness.

 

[Esther Mander]

your puppy will still have immunity via the mother upto about 16weeks of age, vaccination before this overrides this immunity. Nosodes are a way of safely exposing your puppy to a virus to build natural immunity. Titre testing is then a recommended process to follow the body's immunity against recognised pathogens. It has been found that puppies can developed skin allergies around the time of vaccination which will then stay with them all their life, these allergies can also flare up at booster time.

Vaccines are grown using animal based carrier cells, chicken, beef and subsequently can in turn then cause an allergy response to these foods. Read on dogs naturally page for more indepth info. ( i can't add links)

that said you do need to weigh up the life style of your dog, the area you live in and budget and time to know what you can do for the best.

Personally I have puppy core vacs at around 14wks and before this take them out and about for short periods with limited exposure to ensure the socialisation window is used effectively, I then titre test every two years.

Natural health is the best way to go but vaccinations are important when given at the right time, over vaccination and chemical application isn't a good protocol for your dogs health imho

 

[JoanneF]

Another aspect to consider - I renewed T's insurance this morning. I was considering stopping his vaccinations as he's 14½ and I reckon he is as immune as he will ever need to be, but one of the questions was whether his vaccinations are up to date.