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Vaccinating Your Pet

Catherine Forman
May 23, 2006

Why Vaccinate Your Pets? - dog getting a shot at the vet's officeTo vaccinate, or not to vaccinate? Lately, this seems to be a popular debate. After all, most of us were vaccinated as children, and occasionally get boosters for things like tetanus. Should our pets get the same sort of childhood treatments?

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The Case For Vaccination

Perhaps the strongest case for vaccination is tradition. It has worked so well for the past few decades! The late 1970s saw an epidemic of parvo virus that killed thousands of dogs; only a nationwide administration of the vaccine stopped it.

Think of the alternatives: would you like to see your unvaccinated pet suffer through rabies or the parvo virus? Annual vaccinations have been very effective in fighting diseases that used to be common, like hepatitis, canine distemper, parvo, and feline leukemia. These diseases (and others) are real and could be common without the preventative measures of vaccination.

The Case Against Vaccination

Some veterinarians and pet owners believe that vaccinations are an unnecessary evil. The side effects can be much worse than the problems they should prevent: allergies, seizures, anemia, even tumors and cancer. Some say that we are overwhelming our pets' immune systems instead of helping them develop immunities.

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The United States Department of Agriculture and drug manufacturers recommend annual vaccines, but there is no real scientific evidence that says the vaccines have to be administered every year. Some researchers believe that yearly vaccines go against the natural order of a pet's body, and lead to serious auto-immune diseases.

The Case Between The Two

Not sure if a yearly vaccination series is right for your pets? You can ask your veterinarian about annual titers, tests that check the level of antibodies in the blood. If there are enough antibodies, a booster shot may not be necessary.

There are certain core vaccines that probably should be given to all dogs: rabies, distemper, and parvo virus. Other vaccines, like those for Lyme disease or bordetella (kennel cough), may be useful if your dog has a chance of being exposed to the diseases. However, a dog that never sets foot in a kennel probably won't need a bordetella vaccination. Pets that live in an area where Lyme disease is not prevalent may be able to skip that shot.

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Talk to your vet about your concerns, and vaccination options for your pets to have the best possible health.

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Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 104 Posts
August 24, 2010

I just discovered that the American Veterinary Medical Association and the ASPCA both state that new research confirms that dogs need certain vaccinations only every three years.

 
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Questions

Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.

February 23, 2018

My dog had parvo when he was about 11 weeks old. He was cured from it, but was never given his full vaccinations as a puppy. What vaccines does he still need to get?


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Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 105 Posts
February 23, 20180 found this helpful
Best Answer

Normally there is a set of 4 vaccinations a puppy gets. I'm not sure the exact name of them. I just know if you live in the US your dog has to have a rabies shot. Then there is the yearly vaccination, which he get 2 of them. One is given first and the second one is given 4 weeks later.

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This protects him for a year. Then after this they are given once a year. I think the first one they gave my puppy was for Parvo at 6 weeks old. Then he had his yearly one 2 weeks later, 2 weeks after this he had his second Parvo and 2 weeks after that his yearly.

 

Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 949 Feedbacks
February 24, 20180 found this helpful
Best Answer

I would suggest you call your vet's office and have them check your dog's chart to be sure you have the correct info as well as a time line when each shot/vaccination is needed.

  • If you call your vet you can also ask about the cost of these shots and since you will be charged for a doctor's visit each time, you can ask if some can be combined and maybe be good for your dog and you.
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  • Here is a schedule for a puppies first year but your dog may have already had some of the suggested shots.
  • www.dummies.com/.../
 
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April 22, 2020

My 9 week old puppy has been healthy w/o issues. He has had loose stools the last 2 days. He is eating, drinking, and peeing normally. Can I give him his 2nd 5Way vaccine or should I wait until his stool is normal. If I wait, will it screw his vaccine up with it being a few days late?

Thank you.

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Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 949 Feedbacks
April 23, 20200 found this helpful
Best Answer

There are several shots/vaccinations that are safe to give to dogs after they complete their one year round of health care but maybe not the first year as the vet needs to examine the puppy during each visit to make sure they are healthy in all respects.

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The first year is so important - especially with Parvo so prevalent everywhere.
I know that vet visits are expensive but this is a precious pup's future health we're discussing so please try to make a way to make visits possible.

A few days 'off' the schedule may not be a problem but be sure you tell the vet everything about the puppy's behavior.

Here is a great information site: (dumb title but good site)

www.dummies.com/.../

 
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March 29, 2017

My cat was spayed in the ASPCA mobile van last year, per registration.
Is it necessary to register my cat at the mobile van this year in to get her vaccinated?


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Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 949 Feedbacks
March 30, 20170 found this helpful

You should contact your ASPCA unit and ask them what you have to do as their primary service is spay/neuter and it may be foolish to make an appointment and wait 2-3 hours for nothing.

 

Gold Post Medal for All Time! 677 Posts
March 30, 20170 found this helpful

According to their website, vaccinations are only given to animals who are being spayed/neutered. This applies to the mobile van. Call the ASPCA to ask whether they will vaccinate if you bring the animal to them.

 
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May 7, 2011

I bought my niece a puppy and he doesn't have any vaccinations. Where should I go for free vaccinations, if that is a possibility?

By Nayda

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Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 226 Feedbacks
May 9, 20110 found this helpful

Petco has a program where you bring the pet in for vacinations. They are not free but much less expensive that the vet. Dont wait on vaccinactions...some puppy viruses are deadly.

 
May 9, 20110 found this helpful

The pup's vaccination should have been current before he was sold and with no disrespect if you can't afford this why leave leave him in the same state he was when he came to you?

 
May 9, 20110 found this helpful

I go to my town animal shelter for free rabies shots & many of them do vaccinations for a very reasonable fee. You should give yours a call. Even the SPCA offers services at a minimal fee. I strongly recommend you keep him indoors and away from other animals til this puppy is looked at. Parvo is a deadly & as well as highly contagious disease. Don't hold off having him checked. Many of these places buy their dogs from pet mills where 9 out of ten 10 puppies are horribly ill. Good Luck and remember a healthy pet is a happy pet.

 
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I am planning to adopt my boyfriend's puppy. He was born on June 25, 2015, the puupy, not my boyfriend lol. When should I get him vaccinated and who provides those services for free?


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Bronze Answer Medal for All Time! 220 Answers
July 18, 20151 found this helpful

Medical care of any type is expensive and must be considered in adopting a pet. You must be able to provide regular veterinarian preventive medical care, emergency medical services etc., in your decision.

Are you prepared to care for a pet financially? Your question asking about free vaccination services is definitely not a good start in deciding to adopt a pet. Many people adopt pets but are not financially able or do not want to provide veterinarian services for their pets. Then, when the pet needs regular preventive vet services or emergency medical help, the owner may abandon the pet, forcing it out into the world unprepared, or does not provide medical help, letting the pet suffer and possibly die as a result. You must consider the pet's current and future medical and financial needs and your ability to provide them in deciding to adopt.

Some animal shelters provide reduced cost vaccinations but there are very few animal medical service providers anywhere that provide free anything.

 
July 21, 20150 found this helpful

I wouldn't suggest adopting this pet.
You will need a license, tags and money for neutering surgery. Most clinics don't vaccinate for free, either.
Even if they did, suppose the dog became ill, ate a toy or got bit by another dog. You could not afford the veterinary care.

 
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July 20, 2016

This is a page about when do puppies need shots?. There is a generally agreed upon schedule for giving your puppy his or her shots.

Puppy getting shots

June 16, 2020

Some communities such as New York City have ASPCA mobile vaccination services. In other areas you may have to search to find similar services for your pets. This page offers some suggestions for finding this type of service in Fort Worth, Texas.

A kitten getting a vaccination shot.

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