Dog Jabs

[merylpeep]

how important are annual booster jabs for dogs?

[woofgang]

ooo big question. Some people only do the puppy course, some people use homeopathic nosode treatment, there is no proof WHATEVER that that works. I vaccinate annually for some things and 3 yearly for others as that's what the vaccine schedule is for the vaccines that my vet uses. I would always vaccinate my dogs and think its important to do that provided that the dogs are otherwise fit and healthy. Why do you ask?

[paddywak]

Like woof we had Max vaccinated regularly,on the basis that it's better to be safe then sorry also if the need arises to put the dog into kennels no reputable kennels will accept a dog if his jabs aren't up to date.

[chaptazbru2]

It's important to me and I make sure my dog has them every year, as have all my dogs in the past.

[Baldric]

Our two go in about every 15 to 18 months, Vet is quite happy with that.

[lankeela]

I do puppies but have not done adult dogs for about 25 years. There is much information available to suggest that most vaccination give life long cover. You can also have a titre test done to see if the dog is carrying immunity to various conditions. I also leave it later to vaccinate puppies as they carry immunity from their mothers and vaccinating too young means it is wasted -I do mine at 12 and 14 weeks.

[RATTER15]

How often do we vaccinate our children?

Most boosters are just a con to make vets wealthy!

[Buffalo-Bill]

It depends on your dogs activities,but they should be given once yearly vaccine against Leptospirosis, with a booster against Distemper, Hepatitis and Parvovirus every three years.

[Dizmo]

If your animal is insured then I'd suggest reading the small print about vaccinations. Should you have 'in case of death' cover you may find that depending of what your animal has died of the insurance company may not pay out if the correct vaccinations were not up to date.

The Parvovirus is hideous. When I was 16 I started working at a Kennel and Cattery and some idiot (I could be a lot more offensive) didn't follow the correct procedure for cleaning their feet with Parvocide. Not only did the virus kill all 22 stray dogs on the premises but 4 kennelled dogs. This is another reason why a lot of boarding kennels now as to see vaccination certificates before you're allowed to board your animal there.

[in a mo]

Ratter15 Maybe if children eat their own faeces ,scavenge for food,sniff each others bums and other such disgusting habits then the answer is NOT ENOUGH.

[woofgang]

I have seen a puppy die of parvo. It was horrible.

[ganesh]

Strange comment Ratter- we DO vaccinate our kids from babies to teens AND they have boosters. Adults have vaccinations all the time too from tetanus every ten years to nasty disease ones when we travel. Makes sense to protect our cats and dogs too. I agree vets charge the earth for our pets but vaccinations are definitely necessary. I, too, have seen pups with parvo!

[paddywak]

Some vets charge an arm and a leg for boosters,a few years ago I took my sisters poodle to her vets for his boosters and he charged the same price as our vet charged us for giving Max his boosters AND his kennel cough.