Annual Shots Or Not? At This Stage Does It Matter?

[Guest FordRacingRon]

With my other threads many of you know Leia, know that she is almost 11 1/2 and has had trouble lately with energy levels and her appetite. Not taking old age gracefully. But that is not what this is about.

 

Next month is the time she is due for her annual shots,,the Bordetlla and whatever the other 2 we always get. I am wondering if not at this stage of life and her age is we should blow them off. Her rabies is still good for 2 more years and I do not think maybe she needs the others anymore. She is NEVER with other dogs,,she gets no close the 10 feet to a dog at the park where she walks.

 

Any takes?

[LuvAPuppy]

My vet refuses to vaccinate my 16yo. She had her yearlies from the time I got her at age 2 until she was 14. She doesn't leave the house/property anymore except to go to my fiancees once a week. She's too arthritic for her walks around the block and she's retired from rescue events. I'm not fostering anymore except in a desperate emergency because of her blindness and deafness -- it freaks her out too much so the vet just said they weren't going to recommend exposing her to the extra chemicals.

[Hubcitypam]

Poodle was about twelve when the vet gave him what he said would be his last rabies shot. We quit other shots when he was about 9.5.

[Remolacha]

Mine get the three year rabies, and even that I wouldn't give if it had come due after they turned 11-12. They don't get any other annual shots, but it has been years since I had one that wasn't a senior

[galgrey]

My 11 1/2 year old will not be getting any more vaccinations.

[HopeForHounds]

Jet got his last Rabies last year. Our vet agrees no more vaccinations for him.He is 12 1/2 now.

[JJNg]

I'd suggest just keeping her up to date on rabies vaccination according to the laws in your area, and try to go with the longest interval possible. At her age, she really doesn't need DHLPP anymore, and if she's not around other dogs, she doesn't need Bordetella.

[Bogangles]

The vets we are/were going to did not want to give either of my guys any more vaccines. They were over 11 years old with health issues.

[greysmom]

My vet cuts ours off at age 10 depending on health. Maybe rabies if we feel they can handle it. Our licensing depends on rabies shots, so they have to write an exclusion letter for me to send in to the county. But I've never had the county refuse to accept it.

[Guest FordRacingRon]

Rabies only it is then,,,thanks. I think her rabies shot is due in the fall of 2016 so ,,,well,,,maybe she has had her last one of those too.

[FiveRoooooers]

I'd suggest just keeping her up to date on rabies vaccination according to the laws in your area, and try to go with the longest interval possible. At her age, she really doesn't need DHLPP anymore, and if she's not around other dogs, she doesn't need Bordetella.

Thank you for this, Jennifer. What about Lepto for our seniors?

[Bogangles]

Many people here are asking for titer tests rather than vaccines to establish that they are still immune to rabies. If so, they do not give the vaccine at that time.

[seeh2o]

Ron, you can ask your vet for an exclusion letter from your vet. It is legal in California, became legal a year or so ago. I wouldn't risk it, especially given her health now.

[Houndtime]

When Paul was 12, I decided not to vaccinate him that year. He hated going in the car was the first reason. He never left our property as he could hardly walk across the street. I told me friend who is a vet tech and she agreed with me. He lived to 12 and 10 months.

[JJNg]

Thank you for this, Jennifer. What about Lepto for our seniors?

 

Lepto risk depends on location and lifestyle. We don't tend to see lepto in my area, and I don't vaccinate for it unless the dog is at risk of exposure - such as hiking, access to property with streams, ponds, or other bodies of water, etc. Talk to your vet about your dog's risk level. I found this interesting lepto risk assessment calculator:

http://www.leptoinfo.com/risk_assessment.html

[XTRAWLD]

I spoke with my vet about Kasey at his annual checkup this year in May. He's 11. We agreed no further vaccinations. His three year rabies shot was administered last year I believe so he'll be good to go for the remainder of his life regarding that. I will still keep him on Heartworm meds that have flea protection however.

[Guest FordRacingRon]

Ron, you can ask your vet for an exclusion letter from your vet. It is legal in California, became legal a year or so ago. I wouldn't risk it, especially given her health now.

Well as I said,,she isn't due until Oct of 2016 for rabies so I will worry about that if there is a then. She would be 13 1/2 by then so,,well,,,'nough said.

[FiveRoooooers]

 

Lepto risk depends on location and lifestyle. We don't tend to see lepto in my area, and I don't vaccinate for it unless the dog is at risk of exposure - such as hiking, access to property with streams, ponds, or other bodies of water, etc. Talk to your vet about your dog's risk level. I found this interesting lepto risk assessment calculator:

http://www.leptoinfo.com/risk_assessment.html

Thank you!!

[GeorgeofNE]

Bordatella (kennel cough) is only necessary if you're going to board her and they require it. I have NEVER gotten it unless that was the case.

 

Only rabies is required by law, so go with your gut.

[kikibean]

I do shots up until age 10/11 (do them every 3 years). At around 10 or 11 they get a 3 yr rabies and that's it.

[Burpdog]

Sometimes when they are due for their rabies at an advanced age, I "forget"

 

Depends on the dog whether I do any vaccines after age 8. If they have raced and received shots for the first 3 or 4 years of their life, I may do one more booster -- except for bordatella which I will do if we are going to an event.

[brindlehound]

Magic's most recent rabies shot was in 2013 and it was a two year. Some vets in PA do every two years; others every three. I don't know if had anything to do with Magic's age - 13.5. He's due for others in November - distemper, et al.. If he is still around, I'll check to see what the vet says.

 

Magic gets a bordatella shot before GIG in the unlikely event he encounters a dog with kennel cough either at the event or in town.

[Guest FordRacingRon]

Sometimes when they are due for their rabies at an advanced age, I "forget"

 

Depends on the dog whether I do any vaccines after age 8. If they have raced and received shots for the first 3 or 4 years of their life, I may do one more booster -- except for bordatella which I will do if we are going to an event.

Yeah,,we don't go to events anymore. We have cancelled all the vacation trips we had planned this year ,,and hopefully we get to next year too,,,because I don't want her to be a burden on our sitter so from now on it is just Leia,, myself and the DW for the duration. That is another reason I thought,,why shots? She is never ever around dogs anymore.

 

So the shots are done. If she gets to 13 1/2 I think the rabies shot is off the table too.

[duncan41]

Go to youtube and search Dr. Ronald Schultz. There is a multi-part interview with Dr. Karen Becker that addresses animal immunity. Dr. Schultz knows more about animal immunity than anyone on the planet. Listen to what he says then research and read about the Rabies Challenge.

 

After doing my own research, I asked myself the following question: "Would I have or would I take my child for yearly vaccinations knowing what I know now?"