• Personally, I would not have a 5-in-1 shot given. Besides rabies, there are only 3 core vaccines: Distemper, Hepatitis (adenovirus-2), and Parvovirus.

    There are 4 non-core vaccines that should only be given on a regional basis in areas where the diseases are known to be a true risk: Leptospirosis, Lyme, Bordetella (kennel cough), and Parainfluenza.

    Then there are the vaccines that are not recommended under any circumstances: Advenovirus-1, Coronavirus, Giardia, Crotalus atrox Toxoid (rattlesnake), and Porphyromonas (periodontal disease).

    I'm assuming the 5-in-1 includes the 3 core vaccines, but what are the other two? Down here in the U.S., many vets include the Coronavirus which is one of the "non-recommended" vaccines.

    Also, the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) now recommends vaccinations no more often than every 3 years after the initial round of puppy shots. Here's a link to their 2011 Guidelines: https://www.aahanet.org/PublicDocuments/CanineVaccineGuidelines.pdf


  • DHPPC is Distemper, Hepatitis (Adenovirus-2), Parvo, Parainfluenza, Coronavirus.

    I would not give the Coronavirus at all.


  • I do not give Corona either. And I believe it is 3yrs after the one year boster, just like rabies. There is one available that Lisa Voss noted on a different thread that if given as the puppy shots, bosters at 1yr are not needed. All the other manufactures of vaccines are puppy shots, boster at one year, then every 3 yrs. Distemper, Hepatitis (Adenovirus-2), Parvo, Parainfluenza are the only ones I give.

    Of course always best to check with Kevin and Therese


  • Thanks guys. I called the vet to book an appointment, but then mentioned I didn't want the Corona. Michelle (vet tech) said "no, Kipawa won't be getting the corona". I told her I had a letter saying it would. Seems they have those pre-written letters at the vet and all they do is plug your dog's name in. And they selected the wrong option for Kipawa.

    So, always good to really be careful and question things when it comes to our basenjis.

    I'll be sending a note to Kevin and Therese in the morning. Right now I want to crawl under the blankets and have my Mr. Snugglebum under there with me. Poor hubby… 🙂

  • First Basenji's

    I hope it's okay to add my question onto Fran's, because I want to ask about the same/a similar vaccine.

    I took Bowpi into the weekend clinic because she was due for her three-year DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza and Parvo). The clinic gave her a "5-in-1" (which they have labeled as DHP+Parvo, and does NOT include Lepto or Coronavirus) and recommended that it's only good for one year. I said that my vet and the vaccination schedules I was looking at recommend doing it once every 3 years for adults. The tech's response was that they use the exact same vaccines that vets use, but the clinic will only guarantee the vaccine for one year, so if something happens after that, it's on me.

    We got the vaccine anyway, and I'll reconfirm the vaccination schedule with my vet when I go to consolidate the records. But I wanted to ping the forum for feedback. It should be okay to consider this shot good for 3 years, right? Weekend clinics are significantly cheaper for these routine vaccines, but it's such an assembly line system, they don't really care about giving thorough explanations…


  • Can someone explain why the Advenovirus-1 and Coronavirus should not be given? I was aware that some vaccines should not be given yearly, but didn't know about these specific ones not ever being given. I am embarrassed to admit, I don't know what these are.


  • @curlytails:

    The tech's response was that they use the exact same vaccines that vets use, but the clinic will only guarantee the vaccine for one year, so if something happens after that, it's on me.

    Meaning what, exactly? I don't know of any vet who guarantees that a vaccination will absolutely prevent disease. Are they saying they will cover any related vet bills if this happens? Somehow I doubt that! If you have deep pockets, IMO the best strategy for any vaccine is to have the blood titers checked, so you will know if your dog still has immunity and avoid over vaccinating.


  • There is only one vaccine on the market, that I know of, that is labeled for 3-year use. Vets have gone to a 3 year cycle based on research done at vet schools but without the vaccine companies doing challenge tests to prove the longer efficacy of their vaccines they cannot label them as a 3 year or more product. So the clinic staff is just telling you what is on the manufacturer label.

  • First Basenji's

    Thanks, Lisa. I figured it was something like that. But I will double-check with my vet.

    Alas, if I had money to burn, I'd rather be at our regular vet than the weekend clinic. 🙂 Hoping to be in a better financial circumstances in three years, when Bowpi will be about 10 years old and I will, with any luck, finally be done with graduate school (yes, this degree takes forever). Not sure at what age titering is recommended over re-vaccinating, but that seems like an age where I should definitely titer first.


  • I've been doing blood titers for adults for awhile now. Expensive, but I don't like re vaccinating if it isn't necessary. My niece, who is a vet, gets her rabies titers done periodically, and has noticed she has had a "boost" without re vaccinating….....so somewhere along the line she has come in contact with the virus and wasn't aware of it. Scary!


  • Oakley is overdue in his distemper, he only had it once as a pup ( 4 mo i believe) an I have to get it done now before it's good for the three yeRs. My question is, should I titer him this time or just get te vaccine this time and titer from then on for it? Also, is the distemper mandatory? I know the state requires the rabies vaccination but this too? I just hate Oakley getting vaccinate because he gets reactions and gets sick. Need advice on what I should do for this situation?


  • I believe the recommendations are as a puppy (around 4 months) then in one year, then if you want you can titer… and many think after the pup shot and 1yr booster, they should pretty much be good for life.


  • Thanks Pat, I thought the pup and 1yr HAD to be done…I always prefer titering but on this one it's necessary. I assume then it's not mandatory to get the distemper as it is with the rabies?


  • Not sure I understand the question? Most protocols are pup and booster at one year. It is not mandatory as far as I have ever heard. That said, I do the pup and 1yr booster on all mine.


  • As far as I know there is only 1 brand that has been challenge tested effective without a 1 year booster, Continuum DAP. All other brands are boostered at 1 year then good for 3 years under the current protocols.


  • I didnt know if it was mandatory Oakley get it every three years or if it was something I had the ption to not get it next time (3 yrs from now when the vet wants to give it) if his titer came back that he didn't need it. I'm certainly getting this done as its his 1yr, my question was if next time the vet would force me to get it if I didn't feel he needed it based on titer results. Some states make certain vaccines mandatory, just didn't know if this was one


  • Only one that is mandatory is rabies…..


  • The only vaccine that states mandate is Rabies and each state is different in how often is mandated though most are now 3 years.


  • @LindaH:

    Also, the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) now recommends vaccinations no more often than every 3 years after the initial round of puppy shots. Here's a link to their 2011 Guidelines: https://www.aahanet.org/PublicDocuments/CanineVaccineGuidelines.pdf

    You are partially correct. The recommendations are every 3years for core diseases IF the puppy achieved full immunity, there are not underlying health issues, the vaccines are modified live or attenuated viruses ( not killed as many are) and state laws allow. In many cases, these are not met and advising a blanket "no more frequently than 3 years" will lead to animal death.

    The media, celebrities, and the ignorant/gullible public have bought into the "unreasonable danger" myth of vaccines which has led to resurgence of previously rare diseases resulting in unnecessary deaths of both animals and humans.


  • The unreasonable myth of vaccine danger is for some. In my case- my dog was over vaccinated as a pup and was close to death, now he gets one shot at once and still has reactions, therefore I DO NOT vaccinate if unnecessary due to the REAL danger it poses to my dog. Titters are the way to go for me and as long as he's healthy I'll continue to stretch out the duration of vaccines in order to cut down on the number of times he'll have to have it in his lifetime. Pat and Lisa, thank you for the confirmation, I thought rabies was the only mandatory vaccine but wasn't sure.

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