Puppy Vaccines
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I know this is probably a big topic but my puppy has a vet appointment soon and I want some advice about which vaccines she should recieve. My girl is now 12 weeks old. At around 10 weeks she received the distemper and parvo vaccine as the breeder recommended. I highly doubt that my vet has ever cared for a basenji, so I want to go in armed with info. Also, this is my first basenji, so is there anything else I should discuss while I'm there?
All advice is appreciated. I'm sure that there are many "right" answers.
I have another dog who I give a "5 way" to once/year. I order it online and give it myself. Would this be OK after the first year? I've been a nurse for a long, long time and I'm comfortabe giving the shots. Just need to know exactly what to give, and when.
Thank you!
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I'd recommend checking out Dr. Jean Dodd's vaccination protocol for dogs. It spaces out the vaccines relatively well, which is super important for our vaccine-reactive B's. Combo vaccines are a big no no for basenjis as many don't really handle them well! Check out the last two editions of Dogs Natrually, too… There's some really interesting info on over vaccination and timing of vaccines.
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There are three core vaccines (besides rabies):
Distemper
Hepatitis (adenovirus-2)
ParvovirusUnfortunately, some vets give a combo shot that includes coronavirus, a "not recommended" vaccine. Contact your vet before your appointment and tell him or her that you want only the DHP vaccine, not a combo vaccine that includes other stuff.
You will, of course, have to have a rabies vaccine at a later date. Have that done separately and not on the same day as other vaccines. The first rabies vaccine will probably be for a duration of 1 year, after which it will be a 3-year vaccine.
I'd recommend downloading and reading a copy of the "2011 AAHA Canine Vaccine Guidelines" the link to which can be found at https://www.aahanet.org/Library/CanineVaccine.aspx .
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Shot protocol these days is after the 1st year, every 3yrs
Pat, from my reading of the protocol, they recommend vaccines no more often than every 3 years. Am I reading that wrong? For myself and my two dogs, I plan on having titers done when the 3-year period rolls around rather than just automatically getting them vaccinated. Everyone will, of course, have to decide for themselves what they are comfortable in doing.
I'm having this talk with my vet when we return home in a couple of months. If she doesn't agree with the protocol and isn't willing to do what I want done (or gives me a lot of grief over it), I'll start my search for a new vet.
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I have another dog who I give a "5 way" to once/year. I order it online and give it myself. Would this be OK after the first year? I've been a nurse for a long, long time and I'm comfortabe giving the shots. Just need to know exactly what to give, and when.
Thank you!
For your dogs' sake, please discuss the vaccines you are buying on line. You did not say where you buy them, but sometimes the quality may be inferior; and there are many strains as well. How do you know they were kept in a cool environment or handled correctly??? Also, titers given every year for an older dog is questionable. My Vet allowed me to administer only Lepto yearly,(rural area) Bordatella every-6mo and rabies every third year as required by the county I reside- as a dog at 10yrs already has the antibodies for D-H-P-P-C.
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To be safe, if you are administering vaccines to a dog (or a person!) you should have a loaded syringe of epinephrine on hand in case of anaphylaxis. (and know how to use it) You don't have a lot of time with this type of reaction. My neighbour's dog would have died if the vet hadn't been on hand when the dog reacted to a rabies shot. Fortunately they caught it in time. He had been on a farm call and it was a near thing, because he was about to drive away. I have seen the same situation at my Vet's clinic. A dog reacted in the car as the owner was leaving. If I hadn't alerted her that this was a potentially dangerous reaction, she might have driven off and lost the dog. As it was, the vet had to work quickly to salvage the situation.
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Ok I am new here so let me get this straight when the puppy gets his/hers last puppy shot it should be every three years for the shots. I am having my baby have her third set in a few weeks and Rabies should I have the Rabies separate from the last set? I am trying to get it right. Does it hurt the vaccine when they get the rabies at the same time?
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You are challenging the immune system when you give a vaccination. Two many at once, you may not get a proper immune response, and so have less than effective protection. You also run a higher risk of an adverse reaction.
Thanks for the info, I didn't know that at all. Ok I will talk to the vet about having it on two different days. I know the last one she will have her puppy shot for the 3rd time and rabies shot. I will have them break it up.
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ok Thanks for the in sight on this.. I have to say I am glad I found the site. I love it
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If your vet uses a brand other than Intervet's Continuum then you should booster at 1 year and then every 3 years after that. Continuum is good for 3 years after the last puppy shot.
Thanks i will look into that and see what they use..
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Buddys pal.. I agree that I can not say for sure if the vaccines are fresh or if they are kept cool enough. I do know that they came cold, packed in a cooler with an ice pack. I am a nurse, not a vet, but it's enough to make me aware that it's possible that even at the vets office they may not be stored the way they are supposed to be.
EEEEfarm… interesting point. I've been giving vaccines to people for 20 years. Of course there is always epi available in a hospital, but not necessarily immediately available. Fortunately, in those 20 years I've never seen an alergic reaction.
I give the vaccines at home because about 3 years ago I took two rescue dogs (not basenjis) to the vet. They were somewhat behind, but had received some of their vaccines. Between the cost of the vet visit, getting caught up on their shots and an infection in one ear, I left $950 poorer. I could have provided a home for another animal for that kind of money.
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My sister is also a nurse. She used to organize flu clinics, and one thing that was mandated was that there was a loaded syringe of epinephrine handy.
I hear you about the cost of office visits! My horse vet will come to the farm and wrestle with 3 horses floating teeth, give a couple of shots to each, and the bill is less than my Basenji's routine office visit!!! Ridiculous!
