Vaccinations

While vaccines have significantly reduced the incidence of serious infectious diseases over the years, increasing evidence implicates vaccines in triggering immune-mediated and other chronic disorders. The duration of immunity from vaccination is now accepted to be at least 5 or more years for the clinically important diseases of dogs and cats.

In 2004, the following statement was endorsed by all 23 members of the ACVIM Infectious Disease Study Group and approved by the ACVIM Board:
"The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine believes that all dogs should have a routine health examination by a veterinarian at least yearly. At that time, vaccination needs should be determined and only those antigens deemed necessary should be administered. We currently endorse the use of the AAHA [American Animal Hospital Association] 2003 Canine Vaccine Guidelines as an aid in determining the vaccination needs of individual dogs."

The Report of the AAHA Canine Vaccine Task Force: 2003 Canine Vaccine Guidelines and Recommendations indicates that the duration of immunity (DOI) following challenge studies in dogs was equal to or greater than 7 years for the three canine "core" vaccines against distemper virus (CDV), parvovirus (CPV-2) and adenovirus (hepatitis, CAV-1).

We, at Lakecrew PWDs, advise that you read the report and formulate your own opinions regarding vaccinations.

The American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA) and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) vaccine guidelines both call for core and non-core vaccines. Both indicate that for some antigens, following a recommended puppy series and a booster vaccination at one year, revaccination intervals can be lengthened.

AAHA and AVMA suggest two vaccination programs for their clients' adult dogs:
  1. a core vaccine protocol for triennial vaccination against the high-risk, contagious, and potentially fatal diseases of rabies, parvovirus, adenovirus-2 (hepatitis vaccine), and distemper, and
  2. a non-core schedule for protection against additional diseases that may be extant in particular regions of the country.
In summary, the new vaccine protocols recommended are:
  1. giving the puppy vaccine series, followed by a booster at one year of age;
  2. administering further boosters in a combination vaccine every three years or as split components alternating every other year until the pet reaches geriatric age, when booster vaccination is often unnecessary and may be inadvisable. In the years between or instead of boosters, serum vaccine antibody titers can be measured to determine the adequacy of immune memory.

Lakecrew PWDs puppies will receive their first set of shots at 8 weeks. You will need to take your puppy in for the rest of the puppy vaccination series. That will consist of two more of the combo shot (at 3-4 week intervals) and then a Rabies shot (at least 2 weeks after the last combo shot!). We recommend the DHPP combo shot (Distemper / Hepatitis / Parainfluenza / Parvovirus) over the DHLPP or DHLPPC combo shot (the "L" is fo Leptospirosis and the "C" is for Corona virus) - as Leptospirosis vaccination isn't needed for puppies and Corona vaccines are not needed at all.

For many years, the practice of veterinary medicine has benefited from the annual administration of vaccines. 20% or more of a vet's practice income can come from vaccinations. That fact partially accounts for reluctance on the part of veterinarians to depart from the standard yearly vaccination practice. But another factor is that it was also a way for vets to encourage dog owners to bring their pets in for exams, which allowed them to recognize and treat issues earlier than would otherwise have been the case.

Be sure to talk with your vet about the changing vaccination guidelines and come to an agreement regarding the appropriate vaccination protocol for your PWD.

In all cases, you should schedule annual well check exams for your pet!


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