There have been ongoing discussions around the World whether we should vaccinate our dogs or not. I grew up in Sovjet Union where I personally saw dogs and cats dying in Parvovirus within 48 hours. Another deadly disease, Rabies, which was called in our language “madness disease”, because infected people became “mad” and died, was so common in dogs and cats that when you got bit by a dog, painful Rabies vaccinations, for the one who got bit, were mandatory. Otherwise you might have faced painful death. And even then, after the shots, you did not always survive from the disease. This is what I still remember.
This all has been forgotten in countries where new generations have not seen what these diseases result. Now are active movements “do not vaccinate or you will die”, “do not vaccinate you children”, “do not vaccinate your dogs” etc.
I find this “do not vaccinate” talk very silly and short sighted.
NB! All this is my own personal opinion and should be taken with common sense and everyone should use it’s own logical thinking when making conclusions and decisions!
I believe in common sense and balance in everything.
I do not believe into not vaccinating our dogs, neither I believe in over vaccinating our dogs. I believe that we should take the best from our modern era and at the same time do not fall into marketing and go over edge.
Last 15 years in my home country in pure bred dog world was mandatory vaccinating dogs once in a year. These were World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) regulations which were followed in our country. Which means I had to let my dogs to be injected the virus into my dogs body once in a year. How sick is that? And you must not underestimate the lobby to sell those vaccines as it is a very profitable market.
But in order to follow the rules and participate in events it was mandatory and I did it with all my dogs till they were so old my heart could not allow to do them anymore.
Latest studies have shown that the antibodies against some viruses are found in dogs bodies 4 years later and even up to 8 years later. So why to vaccinate every year? And the same studies have shown that vaccinations against Leptospirosis do not give immunity for 1 year. It does make us thinking, doesn’t it?
Now, depending of the country, the vaccination regulations vary from annual mandatory vaccination up to four year mandatory vaccination. Every country has it different. I am not familiar of all different country regulations, better is that you check from your local country and your own veterinary.
So now you might ask, what do I believe in? Well, I believe in of all things in moderation and moderation in all things.
Firstly, I believe that all dogs should be vaccinated in puppyhood!
We do the first complex vaccine at age 2 months and complex booster again at age 3 months including Rabies vaccination. And I believe into the second booster complex and Rabies vaccine after one year. I think this is minimum which is ought to be.
I myself vaccinate my dogs according to the country regulations we are based at present. And according to the Kennel Club regulations we participate on events. It means usually vaccinating the dog every year or after every second year. It also depends of the vaccination and it’s deadline. But I do not vaccinate old dogs who are on their well earned retirement and don’t need to participate anymore anywhere. I do believe that old dogs body needs more support and time to recover. I believe that all those countless lifetime gotten vaccinations have done it’s work and they have already sufficiently antibodies and I would rather work to support old dogs immune system then weakening it.
In conclusion: I believe vaccinations are useful and needed to the most basic level in order to prevent the spread of diseases but I think dogs good health and immune system is most important. So vaccinate your dogs according to the regulations but do not over vaccinate.
All your vaccination information can be entered to petworld it will remind you when you need to vaccinate your dog again.
Author:
Monika Laneman