Those are loaded questions! Everyone will have their own ideas regarding vaccines. I've been in dogs (showing, racing, training, boarding) for 25 years and even us long-timers disagree among us!!!
This is what I do. I got this information from a seminar I attended by Dr Ronald Schultz who was the researcher who first started to question the need for yearly vaccines. Based on his research the AVMA revised their vaccine protocol in 2006.
I give the combination shot at 8, 12 and 16 weeks. I do NOT include Lepto and it is suggested that it is not given UNLESS you live in an area where it is a problem. I never give Corona Virus vaccine, simply because Corona Virus does not affect dogs. Dr Schultz called it a "vaccine in search of a disease". As far as the lyme vaccine, I do not give it. I've had a few dogs over the years that have tested positive and the treatment is 3 weeks of antibiotics. Done Deal. Afterwards, the dogs will always test positive, but that is because the body will be producing it's own antibiotics to combat the disease. I should mention that I have all of my dogs tested yearly for all tick-borne diseases so that I will catch any problems early and will be able to treat them in a timely manner.
Of course, you can always opt to have titers done. That way you will know if the dogs is protected without introducing unnecessary vaccines into the dog, but that is very expensive.
Also be aware that the new vaccine protocol calls for dogs to be vaccinated with the core vaccines only once every 3 years after the first adult shots at one year of age. Some vets are still pushing for the yearly vaccine schedules with their clients.
Hope this helps.
This is what I do. I got this information from a seminar I attended by Dr Ronald Schultz who was the researcher who first started to question the need for yearly vaccines. Based on his research the AVMA revised their vaccine protocol in 2006.
I give the combination shot at 8, 12 and 16 weeks. I do NOT include Lepto and it is suggested that it is not given UNLESS you live in an area where it is a problem. I never give Corona Virus vaccine, simply because Corona Virus does not affect dogs. Dr Schultz called it a "vaccine in search of a disease". As far as the lyme vaccine, I do not give it. I've had a few dogs over the years that have tested positive and the treatment is 3 weeks of antibiotics. Done Deal. Afterwards, the dogs will always test positive, but that is because the body will be producing it's own antibiotics to combat the disease. I should mention that I have all of my dogs tested yearly for all tick-borne diseases so that I will catch any problems early and will be able to treat them in a timely manner.
Of course, you can always opt to have titers done. That way you will know if the dogs is protected without introducing unnecessary vaccines into the dog, but that is very expensive.
Also be aware that the new vaccine protocol calls for dogs to be vaccinated with the core vaccines only once every 3 years after the first adult shots at one year of age. Some vets are still pushing for the yearly vaccine schedules with their clients.
Hope this helps.
