Does anyone here NOT vaccinate their dogs every year?

[WriggleJiggle]

If so, would you mind telling me why?

I have vaccinated the dog every year without even thinking about it, but then I started to wonder why. Is there any independent research that suggests vaccination is not a good idea. I can imagine there is quite a lot to suggest it should be done (and probably sponsered by the drug companies).

We don't - when we lived in Spain we used to vaccinate our dog yearly against rabies because it is a legal requirement there, but never against anything else. Have never vaccinated him against anything since returning to the UK (he is now 9). I'm afraid it isn't through any great knowledge of research though, just never thought to do it . . . to be honest maybe a smidgeon of absorbing the Spanish attitude whereby if you have a pedigree dog they get the best of everything, but mutts just kind of hang out around the edges. Our friends there thought we were pretty odd for having our mutt live in the house with us

Immunity is not life long. Leptospirosis immunity in particular should be boostered on a yearly basis. Vets do not vaccinate for every disease every year as not all reduce in efficacy in that sort of time frame. Having seen dogs die of these diseases I wouldn't take the risks of not vaccinating.

I thought the advice for most things was a 3 yearly cycle - I know of one dog who died as a direct result of a vaccine but this was a one in a billion chance, horribly random bad luck. I have mine done every year because it's a condition of the insurance and in case he ever has to go into kennels.

I've just googled "Leptospirosis dog symptoms" and the first website clicked started with this 'a contagious disease .... bacterial pathogen called Leptospira .... may result in chronic liver and kidney disease and fatality in the dog.'

and then

"Over the past 30 years preventative vaccination against two of the most common Leptospires, L. canicola and L. icterohaemorrhagiae, have nearly eradicated clinical disease associated with these strains among the inoculated population. Though not without potential side effects associated with allergic reactions to inoculant in a small number of dogs, the risks of not vaccinating for Leptospirosis once far outweighed risks of vaccine-reaction.

In recent years, however, new outbreaks of Leptospirosis have been reported in the population of vaccinated dogs. Clinical evidence now suggests that these new cases are associated with the once, less-common Leptospires for which current vaccines do not protect against.
In light of these findings, the process of vaccinating dogs with the current Leptospirosis vaccines is being seriously questioned."

Which leaves me with a feeling that there is some doubt in whether it actually does any good or not.

My dog is 11 and has only been vaccinated once.
(Not saying I'm right though)

Do you mind me asking why Elsiepiddock? A concious decision not to, or just never got around to it?

Well, a bit of both but over the years I have read that annual vaccinations aren't necessary - although most vets don't promote this thinking.

Recently my dog had to see a specialist vet (for a chronic condition in her bum - not related) and they tested her immunity with her blood tests when she was admitted. She still had immunity from all 4 of the diseases they are immunised against!

The vet treating her agreed that most dogs don't require annual immunisation, but it's what the drug companies recommend.

My dog is five and was vaccinated as a puppy. I had no idea he needed vaccinating annually. My family always had a dog and I dont remember them getting vaccinated annually either....how do you know? Who toldyou?

It will say on your vaccination certificate, next booster due... I also get reminders from the vet.I didn't vaccinate my old dog in the last couple of years of her life, but thats because I knew she didn't have long left, she had longer in her that we thought, thankfully.
My current 2 are vaccinated, and protected against Kennel cough too, which is quite common at the moment and can kill.
I have heard that after giving your dog boosters for 7+ years they are generally covered for life. But I've also heard that leptospirosis vaccines only protect the dog for 6mths, and having had a dog almost die from this (as a child - our family dog was touch and go with this, luckily pulled through). I would vaccinate.
I have a friend who works as a vet nurse and she's said that alot of people aren't bothering to give their dogs boosters or worm them during the credit crunch, possible a false economy?

i dont agree with getting them vaccained every year when my dog was a puppy i got the two injections then the following year the vet put down the wrong date the vet told me i would have to have the two injections again it was only over the date by two weeks and its not cause i am tight with money its just i think the vets try to make more money out of people so they try to make you have them done every year thats what i think anyway.

Mine usually are but forgot last year and as they didn't need to go into kennels after booster was due had no stimulus to get butt in gear.

Feel I ought to get them done though. TBH it is the thought of the little snappy one's reaction to kennel cough (injection she doesn't mind) that is making me dread taking them. She hates it.

i put my dog in the kennel last year so i could take my kids on holiday and the person who runs the kennel told me its not worth having kennel cough cause they sneeze it out after anyway

wrigglej - are these scientific studies you are quoting? If you search the internet you will always find people who disagree with something whilst others agree.

Perhaps consider that if you did not vaccinate and your dog died as a result of one of these diseases how would you feel? They do happen, I have seen them. Thankfully they are a lot less common than they used to be, but is that reason to not vaccinate when they are still a threat?

mine is nearly 16, and has not been vaccinated for 4 years, previous vets used to send a reminder, we moved, and my memory is rubbish.

There are vaccines available now that do selective boosters - ie cover the diseases that need boosting yearly, but also miss out the ones that only need doing every 2/3 yrs.
Where i work, we've just had a parvovirus outbreak - due to a large number of people not bothering to vaccinate they're dogs cos they think they know best. I've seen several puppies die horribly & painfully, plus many older, loved family pets. For the sake of a £40 (ish) annual cost. I don't understand this general mistrust of vets, people think they only advise things to make money. Vets do they're job because they want the best for they're patients (yes, i know there's the odd unscrupulous one, like there is doctor, plumber etc, but that's life).

you see I thought parvo was pretty much eradicated, that scares me

I couldn't take the risk of not vaccinating mine

My dog has been vaccinated the first few years of her life[maybe 4] but not since and she is 18 this year. No reason why

Parvo is rife in my area at the moment

I stopped vaccinating my CAT about three years ago, after I turned up for one lot of boosters three months late and was told the cost would be double because she's need a different set because I was late.

I just couldn't see the logic at all, and haven't taken her since (she is semi-feral and quite old now anyway)

We always get the firsts set of vaccinations done but then don't have any further ones.

We do however live in a very rural location and the dogs have no contact with any others.

Same with cats - we only ever get the very first lot of vaccinations done.

Our vets have said that in our situation tbh they wouldn't get any further ones done.

Morningpaper: the logic is that if you are over a month past the booster date you need to do the full primary vaccination course again - assuming that's what you couldn't see the logic of

but bella why do the vaccinations last EXACTLY 12 MONTHS

that seems odd

where is the evidence for this?

I'm not a vet but I do understand that vaccines are tested to see how long they last and this is how the vet knows when to do boosters.

For instance, kennel cough used to last 6 months but newer studies show it is effective for 1 year, so it is now done annually.

And don't you rap the table at me, missy!

i think my dog had 1st set of boosters and then after that I just forgot !!

Why can't animals just be vaccinated ONCE, like humans are for most things?