Annual booster for an elderly dog?

[Crazyladee]

I have a cocker spaniel who is 15 years old next month.
He has been showing signs of dementia for about a year now,
is now doubly incontinent and has developed a very sensitive stomach in his old age. He has recently had a bout of gastroenteritis and was so poorly we thought the end was here. However, he seems to have bounced back okay, but we have had to change his diet to a specialised diet for gastro issues which he's tolerating well. As it stands today, he is well except for the incontinence and dementia traits.

The Vets have sent me an auto reminder that his annual booster is due. I am unsure what to do as the last thing I want to do is risk upsetting his tummy again. I also wonder how important annual boosters are for a dog approaching the end of his life? He gets short walks twice a day in a residential area, but we no longer can let him off his lead as he gets confused and is completely deaf so there's no recall. I am not sure whether that reduces his chances of picking up the viruses the booster provides protection for. I know this question should be a discussion with the vets but I don't trust them fully as they seem very sales orientated from past experiences. Anyone any experiences with elderly dogs and boosters?

I'm really sorry, OP, but I couldn't read further than 'double incontinent.' A dog who can't control their bladder or bowels is a dog that is suffering - even if you cannot see it. He's not 'well.'

Honestly, I don't think the booster is the issue here and I know that's not what you asked but it needed saying. But FWIW, with a dog this elderly and frail I wouldn't be giving them boosters, I'd be preparing to say my goodbyes and making sure his final days aren't painful or full of suffering.

Not boosters , but fleas & wormers. They were upsetting my 14 year old’s digestion and the vet said not to bother. The dog was meandering close to home rather than rampaging through the woods and we judged the risks to be small.

I dare say our vet would have been happy to skip the boosters too had they come up at this stage.

I think your decision would be based on what activity he has and whether is meeting other dogs when out.

Sorry OP I have to agree with the pp. I don’t think at this stage a booster is the main worry, a dog that is “doubly incontinent” is suffering, that’s no life for them. As hard as it may be I would definitely be considering the kindest option.

Actually op, I do have to add that the incontinence would be a sign for me that it was time.

incontinence was always a line in the sand for me as my dog was so easy to train and so clean in the house. As it was, he was pts for other reasons.

He has lost control of his bowels and the urine is the odd accident. He isn't suffering, I would never let him. I have said for years I will make sure we are not even a day too late in saying our goodbyes.

It's more of a case if him forgetting he is house trained. He isn't doing his business in his bed. He is getting up out of his bed and walking around the kitchen where he will do his business. I won't let him suffer even though it will be the hardest decision I have to make in my life. He seems happy and even had the zoomies the other day!

Sounds identical to my old cocker who died last year nearly 16. The vet did not bother with the boosters for the last 2 years of his life. He also got zoomies! Beware a sprained dog wrist

Thanks. I have just taken him for a walk and he got all giddy with excitement, jumping around everywhere..knocking his water bowl flying. He honestly seems so happy in himself even though he does quite a bit of wandering around a bit confused.
I'm watching him like a hawk though and the first signs of discomfort or pain I'll make the right choice for him. Thanks for the booster advice. It's not worth it.

My cocker spaniel that had dementia was like this. He wasn't incontinent, he'd just forgotten that he was supposed to go outside to toilet. He'd jump off the sofa and poo in the middle of the rug. It didn't upset him as he didn't know it was 'wrong'.
Eventually his dementia became so bad that he forgot who we were and seemed frightened of us, so we knew it was time to let him go.
I'm sure you'll make the right decision for your dog when the time comes.

In answer to the booster question, no I wouldn't bother.

Re your question nope I would not do boosters at his age

You can get titre testing to see whether a lot of the boosters are necessary. I didn't vaccinate my dog from younger than 15 as he didn't interact with other dogs and wasn't being left in kennels etc

My dog has just had all her puppy jabs, and as initially from abroad, Rabies jab, and that's it.
I believe most of it is a money making issue.
As she never goes in kennels, it is not an issue, I have not had any issues in the past 11 years.

That must have been horrible; him not recognising you. A clear sign "it's time" for sure.

The only dog he is interacting with is my other, much younger cocker. Occasionally they are in contact with my in laws' labrador. Neither of them have ever been in kennels. Titre testing? From the vets?

I do puppy vacs plus one year booster and that's it.
I was talking to my vet and she agreed that most of the vaccinations last for three years, so there isn't really any need to do them annually.

At that age I wouldn't worry.
Generally dogs are actually only vaccinated for leptospirosis annually the 'big'ones eg parvovirus are on a 3 year cycle (or are at my vets, you just wouldn't know if you don't read the vaccine booklet closely). And all except the leptospirosis have a longer cover than allowed for anyway.
All of which adds up to your old dog has far bigger problems than the very slim chance he encounters another dog who is infected and that his immunity has immediately waned after 15 years of regular boosters.

Have you talked to the vet about the dementia? There are drugs thst are sometimes helpful. Can't recall the name of it though right now

No I haven't I didn't realise there was treatment for it. My vets have recently been taken over by a much bigger vet company and since then I've been unimpressed with them. Everything seems very sales driven. I took my younger cocker for a health check the other day and got given a quote for £800 to clean his teeth and remove a bit of plaque! I'm on a waiting list to change to a better vets (not just for my old cocker but my younger one too) needless to say, I'll do a bit of research on dementia treatments.

You should be able to get titre testing at the vets, if you wanted to look at that. For dementia, our vet recommended Aktivait which you can buy online without a prescription and Vivitonin which is prescription. We only started these with our dog a month before he passed away, so I can't say how effective they are, but could be worth a try.

Check the vaccination records to see which is due, usually the lepto is annual and other core every 3yrs, then discuss with your vet as they tend to know how high risk is locally or if dogs condition may increase side effects from jab.

I kept mine going as my dog was never ill after and given rats are everywhere to spread lepto and parvo can survive in the environment a long time didn't want to take any chances as usually the young/old are less able to fight off infections plus my insurance wouldn't have covered any treatment costs if preventable.

Veterinary opinion has changed. Leptospirosis annually the others every three years.

A dog like this I wouldn't do it.

My dog had some tablets for dementia because he would forget to poop outside and come in and perform. On the tablets this stopped.

Thanks. Ive ordered some Aktivait. The reviews seem to be either very, very positive or completely ineffective. Seems to work depending on the individual dog. Fingers crossed.

Thanks. Which tablets were they? We are having poo accidents more than urine to be honest. Very strange since he's drinking a heck of a lot of water recently. DH thinks he may just be forgetting he's already had a drink and is just drinking for the sake of it. He's doing a lot of wandering around aimlessly following me around the house. We also caught him standing with his head completely in the washing machine! (We have one that has a big drum) hopefully the tablets will work as I've just ordered some Aktivait.

It was three years ago now, can't recall. Vets are treating dementia now so worth a phone call at least.

It was our springer spaniel aged 16 who had them

I am so tired of these bad vets. The vaccination guidelines clearly state that core vaccinations should NOT be given annually and should not be given to ill or elderly dogs.

So no, no more boosters needed. Don't have to take my word for it, you can read the official vaccination guidelines. I just wish vets would do the same. Clearly footfall into their practices is more important to them than following the health guidelines of the people who make the actual vaccines.