Dog vaccination is left at the hands of our vets. Pet owners trust their advice unbiased by economic and political concerns. On the contrary, it is not an easy task for vets to stay updated on veterinary journal reading and actually integrate new findings into their practice.
Vaccination is a serious medical procedure that can potentially affect health, both in short or long term basis. Experts advise pet owners to vaccinate pets according to its individual needs. Read through this guide to get rid of unnecessary shots while actually enhancing health.
1. Don’t allow your vet, kennel owner or groomer to intimidate you into giving unnecessary shots.
When your vet pushes you to give your dog vaccine shots. Suggest titer testing for parvovirus or distemper. As a client, you have the right to select treatment as well as the right to refuse treatment that you think is not necessary. Require written proof from experts that your dog needs any shot. It is a very important issue with your dog’s lifelong health is at stake.
2. Eliminate vaccines on the “not recommended” list.
The American Hospital Association’s Canine Vaccine Task Force as well as most veterinary organizations and schools have released a not recommended list of vaccines. It includes Giardia and Corona virus, found in many combination shots.
3. Firmly say no to combination shots.
Combo shots, called names like DHLPPC, assault your dog’s immune system with five or seven vaccines at once. It is given for false economic reasons and convenience rather than health or safety. The combination shots are linked to autoimmune disease and other major health problems. It has been found that combo shots invariably contain unnecessary and even dangerous vaccines.
4. Stop vaccinating against diseases for which your dog may already have immunity.
Titer testing is a great use to determine the shots that your dog needs. Blood serological studies show that parvovirus vaccines given to dogs over 15-16 weeks of age generally give at least 7 years of immunity, as does the Rockborn distemper strain. (The Onderstepoort strain gives 5 years.) Ask your vet which vaccine your dog received.
5. Always consider locale, lifestyle, risk and vaccine effectiveness.
Bordetella (a.k.a. kennel cough) is for dogs in poorly ventilated close quarters like kennels, not for pets sometimes playing with others. Leptospirosis is a disease of wetlands and woodlands, and the vaccine may not protect against the actual disease in your area. Lyme is only for dogs in areas with Lyme disease. Furthermore, each of these vaccines has dangerous side effects and their efficacy is questionable. Don’t give them without proven need and benefit.
6. Test immunity. Don’t automatically re-vaccinate.
Titer tests are blood tests measuring antibodies to disease. Renowned pet vaccination expert Dr. Ron Schultz believes that titer tests yielding strong titers for parvovirus and distemper means not vaccinating against these diseases for years and maybe life. (Note: Don’t expect everyone to accept test results in lieu of vaccination. This subject is complicated, and most people are programmed to think of vaccination as “the gold standard.” Also, the absence of strong titers does not necessarily mean that a dog needs a “booster.”)
7. Never vaccinate sick dogs.
All vaccine labels state that they’re to be used in healthy animals. Do not be too unmindful of labels given that vaccine labels do not define “healthy”. As a result, sick pets, immune-compromised pets, pets undergoing chemo and surgery, and even dying housebound pets are vaccinated. Any shots given to an unhealthy animal may well not provide immunity and is likely to develop an adverse reaction, even death. Regarding the rabies vaccine: chronically ill or immune-compromised pets may be eligible for a rabies shot exemption for a specified period or even life.
8. Don’t vaccinate puppies too early.
You end up wasting money on vaccines when you vaccinate your puppies too early. Vaccinating pups that still have maternal immunity is unnecessary and ineffective. Most vets suggest waiting until at least 8 weeks of age. Some experts suggest waiting until 3-4 months to vaccinate puppies, keeping pups away from public places and strange dogs until immunity is proven by strong titers.
9. Insist that your vet documents any adverse vaccine reactions in detail.
Someday you may want to apply for rabies vaccine exemption. The dangers of rabies vaccine can be fatal to your dear dogs. Always think of the safety and health of your dog. Too much vaccination can be harmful to pets.
10. Make copies of dog licenses and vet files and store them in a safe place.
Lastly, keep all important documents to prove your dog’s immunity from vaccination. Some clinics go bankrupt, lose records etc. The last things you want to do is to have your dog vaccinate sooner than necessary due to missing records.


