booster vaccination for my dog

[BERYL3]

7 years has lapsed since my dog was vaccinated. I wish to put her in kennels but she needs records of booster - which she has none. Will a vet do a booster jab after a 7 year lapse

[alfieblue]

Hi Beryl3 - do you mind me asking why your pet hasn't been vaccinated for 7 years, or why your pet has not had any annual check ups or why you have not been given information about vaccines? Do you have the pet registered at a local vet?

How old is your dog?

Immunity provided from each vaccine wanes over time. If you attend annual check ups with your pet (health checks) your vet will be able to tell you which vaccines need to be boosted.

No doubt your vet will chat/advise you (after examining the doggy) but my goodness - 7 years is a long time! Are you saying that your doggie has never had a booster - presumably the dog was vaccinated when a wee pup - what happened after that?

Best for you to bite the bullet and make an appointment at your local vets. They will check the dog over and give you all the information you need. There is no way a reputable kennel will take a dog for boarding if there is no history of vaccinations, etc.

Also inform your vet that you are hoping to board your dog in kennels - that way you will be given more information.

If a vet is not an option - PDSA or similar organisation will be able to advise.

Hope all goes well.

[BERYL3]

Hi thanks for answering. My dog is 7 years old and is insured. She has never had a days illness in her life and so did not need to take her for annual check-ups. We have never had to put her into kennels because a family member has always looked after her. I have not had her vaccinated because people told me it makes them very ill and I did not want to rock the boat. Of course she was vaccinated as a baby.

[kita1]

A vet would need to give the full vaccination as though it were a puppy.

I too have never had my dog vaccinated since his first vaccine. He is now nearly 13 (well past the breed average).

You could of course explore alternatives to kennels. There are people who will visit the dog each day in your home, people who will stay in your home whilst you are away (looking after your house and pets) and there are people who will have your dog stay in their home with them. That way you will not need to vaccinate your dog.

[alfieblue]

Dear Beryl3, thanks for getting back. Your doggie sounds a healthy little critter!

However, vaccinations are carried out to provide immunity against diseases and in all my life (which is long!!) I have never known a pet to become 'very ill' after a wee injection. There are several diseases that still affect dogs and unfortunately can be transmitted to humans.

I still say that a kennel would want to see that your doggie has had a booster etc (else they are not worth their salt).

I hope I didn't sound harsh - wasn't meant to be.

Just chat with your vet or local animal centre eg PDSA, they will help. :o)

[jules77]

I know a lot of people that dont vaccinate after the first 12 months booster, some use homeopathic nosodes, others do nothing. I had a bitch who had a severe reaction to a booster half an hour after having it, she was five years old at the time, and had to be rushed back to the vets. She never had another vaccination in her life again, my decision, but the vet also agreed.

[alfieblue]

Beryl - best to talk to vet or PDSA (or equivalent) - they will advise you - and then you will have peace of mind. They may also be able to recommend trustworthy dog/house sitters etc (in your area) to keep your wee girl safe while you are away. :o)

[lankeela]

I don't vaccinate my dogs after the initial puppy course. I have friends with kennels who accept dogs that are not vaccinated.
It is my dogs that are at risk, not any others, and even vaccinated dogs can carry infections to other dogs. I have seen evidence of dogs that have become very ill after vaccinations and had a greyhound puppy die two hours after being vaccinated.

Most kennels ask for vaccinations to be up to date, but to be honest, all they do is check the last date in the book, and haven't a clue about what the rest of the entry means.
I have recommended more than once that people fill in their own books and sign them - vets want to give the full course if you go to them. Some kennels will allow dogs that have been done homeopathically, and there is no proof that this works, but they still take them.

You can have your dog tested to see if they actually need vaccinating, although this is probably as expensive as having them done again. There are many papers written on annual vaccinations not being necessary.

[lankeela]

alfieblue - please can you tell me which diseases dogs are vaccinated against that can be passed to humans?

[gelda]

Lankeela, I so so agree with you, when I was a dog walker as many as 6 of the dogs had bad reactions to the vaccine, in fact 2 of them died, a lot of the dogs were only given the puppy jabs and they were the ones who were the healthiest. Alfieblue take a look at this site. www.canine-health-concern.org.uk I'm sure you're a very good dog owner and love your dog dearly but there are two sides to this.

[alfieblue]

I have no arguments or disagreements with anyone.

I was just trying to help beryl3 and giving her my thoughts, thru years of experience with pets. At the end of the day I hope beryl can sort out trustworthy accommodation or sitter etc for her wee girl.


Yes, maybe I have been lucky re vaccinations etc and for that i am thankful.

At the end of the day, I was just trying to help. :o(

[jules77]

Alfieblue, I understand you were only offering help from your experience and you may be interested to read the attached links. The booster is no 'wee' injection, and in my girls case, nearly proved fatal.

http://www.dogstuff.info/canine_vaccination_od riscoll.html

http://www.canine-health-concern.org.uk/

[Noweia]

In answer to lankeela - most standard courses in the UK include a vaccination against Leptospirosis. And I sincerely hope that your advice in one of the previous posts was a joke, as forging a vets signature, or pretending to be one, is an offence by law!

Having seen many, many animals vaccinated I have only seen one severe vaccine reaction in dogs. Mild reactions e.g. slight temperature, feeling off, etc are normal and expected - they show the vaccine is actually working. The reason a lot of vaccines are boosted every year is that we have to work in accordance with what the drug sheets say - which is every year in many cases, and three years in others. Kennel cough is the exception, as that is a 6 monthly or yearly booster. We're bound by the rules even if others don't want to follow.

In answer to the original question, find the kennels you're going to use and ask them what vaccinations are required. After seven years you will need to start a new vaccination course. Don't forget to get the kennel cough one too, as it's a separate one.

[BERYL3]

Thank you to all who answered me. I have come to the conclusion that it is better not to put my 7 year old Rottweiller in kennels but have a family member look after her. She is such a darling dog that to lose her through have her immunised would make my husband and myself ill. We have a 6 month old Shihtzu who we will make sure has annual visits to the Vet.

Regards

Beryl3

[alfieblue]

Thank you Noweia for your informative message. You sound like an expert and you have put my mind at rest.

I lay awake worrying last night that I had overstepped the mark - and thank you too for mentioning Leptospirosis.

I have had many wonderful pets over the years and have never had a problem with the vaccines. The annual checks are a bonus - and I will not stop them.

I am sorry to hear of the stories from others of bad reactions to the vaccines - At the end of the day its the owners decision - only you can decide what it best for your pal.

Our local kennels are superb - they will thoroughly check the dog/cats history re jabs, health etc. They will not accept anything less!!

Beryl - I am so pleased you have got a member of the family to look after your wee girl. And your little Shihtzu sounds a delight. Best wishes to you - doggies n all. :o)xx