You take your dog to the veterinarian for his annual exam.  They draw blood for a heartworm test, the obtain a fecal sample to check for internal parasites, the veterinarian performs a physical exam and then they give him his "annual vaccines".  Do any of these questions pop into your head? "What are these annual vaccines?  Are they necessary? Is there an alternative to these vaccines?  What is the difference between modified-live vaccines and killed vaccines?  Are all vaccines needed for my pet in the area I live?  My pet doesn't go outside, does it still need vaccines?" No?  Well they should.  They pop into the minds of veterinarians and has started some very heavy debates among them. The best thing to do is to do a little research and have a heart to heart with your veterinarian.  The next series of blogs will explore these questions. Here is a bit of information to get you started.

Dogs:

Let's start with what they call "core-vaccines".  These normally are the "required" vaccines.

Rabies - Whether a dog or a cat, this vaccine is more often than not required by the state you live in and for good reason.  Rabies is everywhere, whether you live in the most remote areas of the country or the most developed cities.  Rabies can be carried by any warm blooded animal, including humans. The most common carriers (and the ones that are the biggest threat to humans and pets) are  bats, monkeys, raccoons, foxes, skunks, cattle, wolves, coyotes, dogs, or cats. Rabies may also spread through exposure to infected domestic farm animals, groundhogs, weasels, bears and other wild carnivores. It is a deadly viral infection that attacks the brain and central nervous system.

  

It is normally spread through the transfer of the virus via blood or saliva - hence a bite is the most ideal situation.  So if your pet goes outside - at all - it is highly recommend that your pet is give a rabies vaccination. If your pet does not go outside for any reason, it is still recommended to have this vaccine.  Why?  Many state laws require it for one reason, and for a second reason, if your pet should happen to bite a person, that pet will need to be taken away for observation for rabies.  It isn't worth it.  

Dogs normally get a Rabies vaccine every 3 years (except during the puppy vaccine cycle - they receive their first vaccine at 12 to 16 weeks and then again the next year).  The rabies vaccine involves administering a small dose of killed virus in order to provoke a response from your dog's immune system, triggering it to create antibodies to fight future infection without actually giving your dog the disease. There is also a form of the vaccine available for people who work in high risk jobs that might bring them in contact with infected animals.

There is a small amount of danger with the Rabies vaccine.  Allergic reactions are extremely rare but not impossible and some sarcomas (malignant cancers of connective tissue like fat and cartilage) have been attributed to the vaccine.  This is one vaccine that is given intramuscular or subcutaneously (under the skin) so talk to your veterinarian about where they give the vaccine and the risks. If you truly believe that your pet is at no risk or either being bitten or biting someone, talk to your veterinarian about your concerns of vaccinating.

DHPP (the Distemper Vaccine) - This vaccine normally comes as a combo vaccine that covers Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvo virus and Parainfleunza.  It will sometimes include Leptospirosis as well (DHLPP) but many veterinarians are choosing to vaccinate them separately as the new DHPP vaccines are given every 3 years while Leptospirosis is needed every 6 months to a year in high risk areas. Let's look at all the components separately:

Sounds serious doesn't it?  It is but what many veterinarians don't tell clients is that after the first few years of vaccinating, many dogs don't need the vaccine anymore.  The way the vaccine is designed it that it helps the body build up a defense against these viruses.  If the bodies antibody levels are high enough, then no vaccine is really needed.  After for dog has gone through the puppy vaccines (starting at 6 weeks of age and then every 3 weeks until they are 12 to 16 weeks old) start discussing the option to titer instead of vaccinate.

Titering is a way to test those antibody levels.  It is a simple blood test.  What is the difference?

Pros - no need for unnecessary vaccinating, no chance of allergic reaction, proof that your pet is protected

Cons - more expensive than a vaccine, if levels are low then vaccination is needed anyway, time constraints (it may take some time until the results are back from the lab)

Talk to your veterinarian about what is best for your dog.

Your dog is inside only?  It doesn't come in contact with any other dogs?  Does your pet still need to be protected? Yes!  All of these viruses can be contracted via the air, contact with urine or feces and some even last up to months outside its host.  If your dog is at the veterinarian, it is at risk. If your dog is riding in your car or sitting by an open window, it is at risk. Get your pet protected.

Watch out for the next blog when we look at some of the "non-core" vaccines for dogs such as Bordetella, Leptospirosis and Lymes.  After that, we'll look at cats!

Always remember - talk to your veterinarian. If they question why you are questioning them, look for a new veterinarian.  This is your pet we are talking about, find a veterinarian that will listen and talk with you but always give you the best options.