@tanza:
There is no difference in the vaccine's used at puppyhood, 1yr, and then given every three years… all the same vaccine.
@tanza:
That is a problem when you board, I agree….. but no different in the US when it comes to boarding unless at your Vet's who follow the 3yr protocol
@thunderbird8588:
Also i believe it can invalidate your pet insurance if your animal isn't up to date with boosters.
In reality, titers are accepted by many. Most vets try to hold you hostage, ask them to talk to their insurance or see it. Or find a new vet/boarding facility.
It is like Kennel cough.. if they made you get it before you came in to board, sure. But vet boarding places drive me nuts when they have you get them when you drop off, it is a scam. Takes 3 days or more to take effect, by which time they would have gotten it if there and if have it, will give it to others.
YOU not your vet, determines what shots, other than legally required rabies, your dog gets. First call your state Vet board for state laws, then start calling vets and kennels to find one that accepts titers. Considering ALL the major veterinary teaching hospitals agree yearly IS NOT NECESSARY, I wouldn't use a vet who insisted on it because they don't have either my dog's best interest at heart, or they are uneducated.
Colorado State University's
Small Animal Vaccination Protocol
Veterinary Teaching Hospital
In the past there have been many different vaccination recommendations for dogs and cats from veterinarians across the United States based on the best available information. In light of new information, the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital is offering its clients the following vaccination program. This program is designed as the routine immunization program for Colorado State University's clients' dogs and cats living in Larimer County, Colorado, USA in conjunction with a complete physical examination and health evaluation. This program is modified for any patient with specific risk factors.
Not all available small animal vaccines may be suitable for our program. Infectious disease risk may vary and our routine vaccination program may not be suitable for all localities. Anyone using our routine vaccination program is encouraged to follow the guidelines that are its basis and use the program at their own risk.
For pet owners, your local veterinarian is your best resource to develop a vaccination program tailored for your pet. The health status and infectious disease risks of your pet should be considered in the selection of a vaccination program.
Our adoption of this routine vaccination program is based on the lack of scientific evidence **to support the current practice of annual vaccination and increasing documentation showing that overvaccinating has been associated with harmful side effects. Of particular note in this regard has been the association of autoimmune hemolytic anemia with vaccination in dogs and vaccine-associated sarcomas in cats – both of which are often fatal. With boosters (except for rabies vaccine), the annual revaccination recommendation on the vaccine label is just that -- a recommendation without the backing of long term duration of immunity studies, and is not a legal requirement. Rabies vaccine is the only commonly used vaccine that requires that duration of immunity studies be carried out before licensure in the United States. Even with rabies vaccines, the label may be misleading in that a three year duration of immunity product may also be labeled and sold as a one year duration of immunity product.
Based on the concern that annual vaccination of small animals for many, but not all, infectious agents is probably no longer scientifcally justified, and our desire to avoid vaccine-associated adverse events, we are recommending the described routine immunization program to our small animal clients.
**
This Program recommends the standard three shot series for puppies (parvovirus, adenovirus 2, parainfluenza, distemper) and kittens (panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis, calicivirus) to include rabies after 8 weeks of age for cats (Canary Pox Rabies only) and 16 weeks of age for dogs. Following the initial puppy and kitten immunization series, cats and dogs will be boostered one year later and then every three years thereafter for all the above diseases except for rabies in cats which receive the new safer canary pox rabies vaccine that requires annual boosters. Similar small animal vaccination programs have been recently adopted by other university teaching hospitals and the American Association of Feline Practitioners.
Other available small animal vaccines, which may need more frequent administration, i.e., intranasal parainfluenza, Bordetella, feline leukemia, Lyme, etc., may be recommended for CSU client animals on an "at risk" basis but are not a part of the routine Colorado State University protocol for small animals. Recent studies clearly indicate that not all vaccines perform equally and some vaccine products may not be suitable for such a program.
http://www.colovma.com/associations/2956/files/Small%20Animal%20Vaccine%20Guidelines%20final.pdf
