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If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Annual Vaccinations - yes or no ?

37 replies

IKnowItsNotMine · 23/05/2023 11:54

When I was looking for a puppy a couple of years ago I came across a breeder who was anti-vax other then the first course.
She sent me loads of information and FB group links and basically filled me with scare stories.
I have since acquired 2 puppies and have done the first year jabs - what would you suggest regarding the annual boosters ?

I have done these religiously with previous dogs but now I’m not sure what to do for the best.

OP posts:
Newpeep · 23/05/2023 11:59

I’ve always vaccinated my animals to the end of their lives as I believe it’s the only way to make sure they are protected and others are too who cannot be.

They've all lived long lives with no ill effects, dying of old age or other conditions well into advanced years.

I will continue to vaccinate unless I cannot. I have seen no evidence to suggest it is harmful.

It is a personal decision.

Lastqueenofscotland2 · 23/05/2023 12:06

Yes I do. I need to kennel them once a year so that’s big factor but why take the risk…
Most of the anti vax dog owners I know are a little… odd.

BiteyShark · 23/05/2023 12:09

The annual 'booster' is actually only for L4 for us as the parvo etc one is now only needed every three years.

We also get the yearly KC but that is because he goes to daycare.

Yyfandes · 23/05/2023 12:16

In years gone by, I worked in isolation kennels, and saw dogs die of parvo and lepto, so my dogs will always be vaccinated. The exception would be having their immunity level checked, and only vaccinating when it drops, some people do this, and I think that's a good alternative. Just not vaccinating and not checking immunity levels is not acceptable to me.

snygghygge · 23/05/2023 12:17

I do all of the annual vaccinations as recommended. I live in an urban area with many, many dogs and it is required in order to do dog sports in a club. My vet also explained that drawing bloods for annual titre tests is actually more painful/disturbing for the dog than getting the injections.

SaveTheDeal · 23/05/2023 12:17

Vaccinating is part of responsible dog ownership.

Why would you compromise the health of your pets?

Maximuss · 23/05/2023 12:18

The primary course isn’t complete until you have had the first yearly booster (at just over 1 year old), after that most vaccination schedules in the uk give leptospirosis vaccine every year (+/- kennel cough depending on risk/lifestyle) and the distemper, parvo and hepatitis are given every 3 years, I would speak to your vet about the risk in your area and the schedule they use but as a vet i vaccinate my dog with the above schedule and quite a few areas are seeing parvovirus outbreaks at the moment so I wouldn’t want to take that risk personally x

DappledOliveGroves · 23/05/2023 12:35

I know that a lot of insurers will exclude cover for certain things if the vaccines aren't all up to date.

lightinthebox · 23/05/2023 13:01

Absolutely yes, same with kennel cough. I'd never forgive myself if my dog got ill as we didn't do the boosters.

We live in an urban area and it's the responsible thing to do.

ScattyHattie · 23/05/2023 13:01

I've always vaccinated with the lepto annually and rest every 3yrs, none of the 5 dogs had any reactions to worry about so not bothered to look into titre tests.
There was a dog who got a strain only covered by lepto 4 and some parvo cases locally so rather not take the risk given insurance also wouldn't pay to treat if could've been prevented. Presumably there needs to be certain level of the population vaccinated to help keep diseases at bay ?

CMOTDibbler · 23/05/2023 13:10

Parvo is absolutely endemic round here, and my last foster puppy had parvo. It was absolutely awful and though she survived (thanks to going to the vet immediately there were symptoms and the high skill of this vet in treating parvo, even so they didn't think she'd live) it was a very long haul and I'd never want a dog to go through that.
My (happy, healthy) dogs are vaccinated against everything.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 23/05/2023 15:39

Yes, mine is vaccinated and will continue to be throughout his life.

You don't want to see your dog dying of a preventable disease. Parvo and Lepto are not pretty ways to go.

Your insurance also won't cover you if your dog catches an illness they should be vaccinated for.

isthismylifenow · 23/05/2023 15:42

Yes, of course. It's just part of being a responsible pet owner surely.

This is the first time I've heard of anti vax for pets.

Floralnomad · 23/05/2023 15:44

Mine gets whatever he’s due every year including the kennel cough , I’ve absolutely no evidence that having them does him any harm

gogohmm · 23/05/2023 15:56

Yes because you may need to board them at short notice. I've had to drop ddog at kennels due to family illness for instance

PinkFootstool · 23/05/2023 16:22

I vaccinate because I'd never forgive myself if my dog ended up sick or dying due to a wholly preventable disease.

Same as spaying - ending up with unwanted puppies, a dead mother dog or pyometra when it's preventable is not something I want on my conscience.

pigsDOfly · 23/05/2023 20:03

I've always had my dog vaccinated. She also has kennel cough vaccine just in case she ever needs to go into kennels at short notice, as has happened in the past.

She 12 years old, healthy and active and will go on being vaccinated for the rest of her life.

In the same way that she's is fed properly and exercised well I want to keep her protected as much as possible from ill health.

Justkeepingplatesspinning · 23/05/2023 22:05

We have our dogs vaccinated. As with some PP there are a lot of dogs live by us, and even having had the kennel cough vaccine ours still caught it.

DforDogWoof · 26/05/2023 13:46

You don't have to guess or ask about... simply follow the vaccination guidelines. If everyone became an anti-vaxer then diseases will start getting more prevalent and will start killing dogs again... same with humans and human anti-vaxers. Not to vaccinate at all is pretty stupid and puppies need their puppy vaccinations. However, adult fully vaccinated dogs do NOT need an annual booster. The guidelines for this changed MANY years ago but most vets can't or won't follow the "new" (not so new anymore) guidelines either through ignorance or simply because it doesn't suit them (why would it.. less visits = less money) but the fact is, annual vaccinations are no longer recommended. I have my dogs vaccinated every 3-4 years. Please see Dog Vaccination Guidelines

DforDogWoof · 26/05/2023 13:48

PS Just to be clear re my post above, non-core vaccinations are still annual. Do core vaccinations every 3-4 years.

Radiodread · 27/05/2023 01:37

Dog anti-vaxxers are definitely a thing

I had to leave one Facebook group for my breed cos it was populated by anti-vaxxers and I couldn't get on with their anecdata approach nor the shaming if you gave your dog commercially available wormers/ flea/tick treatments.

It's a balance of risk with a smattering of social conscience. Do you think there is more risk of vaccine damage, or more risk of your dog getting ill from an vaccine treatable disease?

pigsDOfly · 27/05/2023 13:07

Dog anti-vaxxers are definitely a thing

Yes, they are.

Some years ago I was in the park with my dog, got chatting to a woman that I'd never met before who, after a couple of minutes normal conversation, asked me if I had my dog vaccinated.

When I said yes, she launched into a very longwinded, detailed lecture about the evils of vaccinations for dogs, and why she would never have her dogs vaccinated.

Part of her reasoning was that the vets and vaccines manufacturers where in cahoots to stick dangerous chemicals into our dogs just to take our money and put our dogs into an early grave; just like most anti-vaxxers really.

All very boring and very irritating when you're trying to have a pleasant walk and play with your dog.

Quveas · 27/05/2023 13:14

Vaccination status is usually a requirement of health insurance.

But yes, my dogs are all vaccinated according to the vets schedule. I have recently seen a lovely 3 year old die of parvo because the owner hadn't vaccinated. No way am I risking that for my dog.

DforDogWoof · 27/05/2023 16:26

The only thing I would say re the above is to go by the vaccine manufacturers guidelines, NOT the vets schedule. As I mentioned in my previous post, most vets will suggest annual boosters which is NOT correct.

ScattyHattie · 27/05/2023 17:02

DforDogWoof · 27/05/2023 16:26

The only thing I would say re the above is to go by the vaccine manufacturers guidelines, NOT the vets schedule. As I mentioned in my previous post, most vets will suggest annual boosters which is NOT correct.

Vets surely would follow the vaccine manufacturers guidelines as offers them protection if there is an adverse reaction.
It would cost them more to give all each year given they tend to charge same fee for vaccination with only kennel cough as an extra.
There was a vacs manufacturer's brand that still needed annually for core diseases, but sure most incl my own vets have now changed to brands that are 3yr schedule for core + annually for lepto as that only lasts that long much like human flu jab. The stickers in vet card will tell you what's been done to work out what will be due next time.

I've had adult dogs that have had to restart their vaccinations with 2 part like puppy as I wasn't able to get vet history from previous owners for evidence it had been done.

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