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Vets and Vaccinations! What a headache...

GM2009

Active Member
Ruth, I think you and I will be VERY good "online friends"! :D

Vaccines are not some "magical preventative jab" that will prevent your dog from getting the disease. The only thing it does is give an immune response to produce antibodies so when your dog contacts the disease it'll be able to fight it off quicker. That's basically it. I know so many owners who don't understand this concept and religiously vaccinate. Yet it isn't the owner's fault, it's the fact that many owners are uneducated due to "money grubbers" wanting the income still!

Just like the study that most vaccines are proven to show antibodies for 7 years is unknown to most dog owners because what would happen if everyone stopped getting yearly vaccines & only got them once every 7 years, or perhaps at all?

I'm not some "hippie" I just believe in questioning everything. And what I have learned through this as well as many mentors throughout all different breeds, there is definitely something "funny" about vaccines. Don't get me wrong, I would never put someone down for following a certain vaccine regime. Everyone has the right to do what they feel best for their dog! For my dogs, though, I will not overdose them on vaccines.

My vaccine schedule is I do distemper, parvo, rabies, and sometimes lepto. I only give distemper and parvo ONCE! I'm an undergrad for veterinarian school and one of my vet mentors shocked me with some information; The only reason we do 3-4 rounds of a vaccine as puppies is to make sure the vaccine "takes". Sure, I understand this concept maybe 20 years ago when there was no real testing to prove if it did or didn't. Therefore I give a single shot, do a titer, and if there are antibodies that's done. I also refuse to give more than one vaccination at once. It is tolling on the immune system, especially for a young puppy! Distemper first, parvo next, rabies last. I don't give shots again, only rabies every 3 years.

I'm also not claiming I "know this through facts". How could we possibly know or not know without testing? Quite frankly it'd be humane to test vaccines to prove "real results". We cannot vaccinate 50 dogs with rabies & not vaccinate 50 others then throw them together with some rabid dogs to see who gets it and who doesn't. The only thing we can do is individually educate ourselves and find these connects to decide what we feel best. Just as Apollo said, I've known MANY people saying through regular vaccination their dogs were a mess, but then redo the schedule to limited vaccines and their dogs are "all new". I also have one mentor in particular who only raw feeds & has never vaccinated a single dog of hers. Yet her dogs are living far beyond the breed "average", never contract illness, and are in excellent health. Never had a parvo puppy, either.

What I won't budge on for anyone is them unwilling to educate themselves. If you are going to give your puppy 15 vaccinations but without a why other than "the vet said so", I'm not buying it! At least read a book or have some reasoning for why you do so. Perhaps even a, "My vet recommended it and I've been with this vet for 30 years so they have allll my trust!".


I cannot believe the "horror" stories on this thread!! So horrible for all of you... Couldn't imagine if my vet ever treated me this way.
 

ruthcatrin

Well-Known Member
One of the links I posted above, they've confirmed that the AVERAGE dog has good antibodies for distemper/parvo for 7yrs. They note that it doesn't mean that the antibodies DON'T last the dog's whole life, just that that was the average. I don't object to testing more frequently because things happen, but yah, if you can afford to titer first, its SO worth it.
 
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ruthcatrin

Well-Known Member
GM, pretty much. If after reading the info I've posted, and doing your own research, you decide that following the vet's recommendations is correct for your dog, THEN DO SO. I'm ok with that. Just research first....to be fair, I can totally understand expecting the vet to KNOW, after all that is their job. But yah, they're human too, they have bias, they lack facts, they're human!

Oh, and My current vet even admitted that the whole reason for the multiple puppy shots was 'just in case' the first ones didn't take. I said I know, thats why we're titering.....
 
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GM2009

Active Member
Oh, and My current vet even admitted that the whole reason for the multiple puppy shots was 'just in case' the first ones didn't take. I said I know, thats why we're titering.....

Yep! That's why I'd rather test than jab em a few more times!!
 

babyjoemurphy

Well-Known Member
Awesome advise. Until this thread I didn't know any different. I will now be considering even 3 years after a titer test. I am so happy I clicked on this thread. Ruth and GM you both have awesome info and after reading what you have put I really feel no need to research for myself. I have already spoke to my husband about this and he agrees.
 

GM2009

Active Member
I'm glad you've opened your mind, BabyJoeMurphy! There is so much information out there I encourage you to keep learning. I would love to get off vaccines completely one day but I'm in a very urban area and feel I don't have enough information to do this appropriately yet. Many of my mentors haven't vaccinated in decades, or never at all. It's really inspiring to learn we can do things through hard work! I know many owners that buy colostrum for the puppies during this "exposure" period (8-16 weeks) so while they gain antibodies naturally their immune systems are still boosted enough to properly fight off any of the diseases as well. It's amazing the extent owners will go to to make sure they are healthy in all aspects without damaging effects from vaccines!
 

musicdeb

Well-Known Member
Hey deb, would your vet happen to know of any vets in my area (grapevine) that are more knowledgeable when it comes to mastiffs?
He's in Cedar Hill, Dr. England. I have to go back within a week or 2, I'll ask him if he knows a vet in Grapevine that knows Mastiffs. Dr. England charges $30 office visit and usually doesn't charge for follow up visits to check a previous issue. He doesn't charge for putting dogs to sleep either. He's just a wonderful and knowledge vet and person. He does first come, first serve appointments. I waited 3 1/2 hrs to get into exam room last week and this week I waited 3 hrs. He's well worth the wait.

---------- Post added at 06:37 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:35 AM ----------

Got the flu shot once....and got the flu for the once and only time ever...was awfulll
I haven't had a flu shot in almost 5 years. My mother keeps telling me that I'm going to get the flu and die. Nice mother...I know...
 

musicdeb

Well-Known Member
Got the flu shot once....and got the flu for the once and only time ever...was awfulll
I haven't had a flu shot in almost 5 years. My mother keeps telling me that I'm going to get the flu and die. Nice mother...I know...

---------- Post added at 06:40 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:37 AM ----------

Ruth, I think you and I will be VERY good "online friends"! :D

Vaccines are not some "magical preventative jab" that will prevent your dog from getting the disease. The only thing it does is give an immune response to produce antibodies so when your dog contacts the disease it'll be able to fight it off quicker. That's basically it. I know so many owners who don't understand this concept and religiously vaccinate. Yet it isn't the owner's fault, it's the fact that many owners are uneducated due to "money grubbers" wanting the income still!

Just like the study that most vaccines are proven to show antibodies for 7 years is unknown to most dog owners because what would happen if everyone stopped getting yearly vaccines & only got them once every 7 years, or perhaps at all?

I'm not some "hippie" I just believe in questioning everything. And what I have learned through this as well as many mentors throughout all different breeds, there is definitely something "funny" about vaccines. Don't get me wrong, I would never put someone down for following a certain vaccine regime. Everyone has the right to do what they feel best for their dog! For my dogs, though, I will not overdose them on vaccines.

My vaccine schedule is I do distemper, parvo, rabies, and sometimes lepto. I only give distemper and parvo ONCE! I'm an undergrad for veterinarian school and one of my vet mentors shocked me with some information; The only reason we do 3-4 rounds of a vaccine as puppies is to make sure the vaccine "takes". Sure, I understand this concept maybe 20 years ago when there was no real testing to prove if it did or didn't. Therefore I give a single shot, do a titer, and if there are antibodies that's done. I also refuse to give more than one vaccination at once. It is tolling on the immune system, especially for a young puppy! Distemper first, parvo next, rabies last. I don't give shots again, only rabies every 3 years.

I'm also not claiming I "know this through facts". How could we possibly know or not know without testing? Quite frankly it'd be humane to test vaccines to prove "real results". We cannot vaccinate 50 dogs with rabies & not vaccinate 50 others then throw them together with some rabid dogs to see who gets it and who doesn't. The only thing we can do is individually educate ourselves and find these connects to decide what we feel best. Just as Apollo said, I've known MANY people saying through regular vaccination their dogs were a mess, but then redo the schedule to limited vaccines and their dogs are "all new". I also have one mentor in particular who only raw feeds & has never vaccinated a single dog of hers. Yet her dogs are living far beyond the breed "average", never contract illness, and are in excellent health. Never had a parvo puppy, either.

What I won't budge on for anyone is them unwilling to educate themselves. If you are going to give your puppy 15 vaccinations but without a why other than "the vet said so", I'm not buying it! At least read a book or have some reasoning for why you do so. Perhaps even a, "My vet recommended it and I've been with this vet for 30 years so they have allll my trust!".


I cannot believe the "horror" stories on this thread!! So horrible for all of you... Couldn't imagine if my vet ever treated me this way.
We have to be willing to trust our vets as we do our own medical doctors. There is so much information available about vaccinations that the normal person can become quite overwhelmed and confused, like myself. Our "horror" stories can help someone else. For example, Ruth giving us a great explanation as to why we shouldn't vaccinate our dogs. I trust Ruth's opinion. Do not judge those of us who do not have your training and knowledge. Help us but do not judge.
 

musicdeb

Well-Known Member
Ruth, I think you and I will be VERY good "online friends"! :D

Vaccines are not some "magical preventative jab" that will prevent your dog from getting the disease. The only thing it does is give an immune response to produce antibodies so when your dog contacts the disease it'll be able to fight it off quicker. That's basically it. I know so many owners who don't understand this concept and religiously vaccinate. Yet it isn't the owner's fault, it's the fact that many owners are uneducated due to "money grubbers" wanting the income still!

Just like the study that most vaccines are proven to show antibodies for 7 years is unknown to most dog owners because what would happen if everyone stopped getting yearly vaccines & only got them once every 7 years, or perhaps at all?

I'm not some "hippie" I just believe in questioning everything. And what I have learned through this as well as many mentors throughout all different breeds, there is definitely something "funny" about vaccines. Don't get me wrong, I would never put someone down for following a certain vaccine regime. Everyone has the right to do what they feel best for their dog! For my dogs, though, I will not overdose them on vaccines.

My vaccine schedule is I do distemper, parvo, rabies, and sometimes lepto. I only give distemper and parvo ONCE! I'm an undergrad for veterinarian school and one of my vet mentors shocked me with some information; The only reason we do 3-4 rounds of a vaccine as puppies is to make sure the vaccine "takes". Sure, I understand this concept maybe 20 years ago when there was no real testing to prove if it did or didn't. Therefore I give a single shot, do a titer, and if there are antibodies that's done. I also refuse to give more than one vaccination at once. It is tolling on the immune system, especially for a young puppy! Distemper first, parvo next, rabies last. I don't give shots again, only rabies every 3 years.

I'm also not claiming I "know this through facts". How could we possibly know or not know without testing? Quite frankly it'd be humane to test vaccines to prove "real results". We cannot vaccinate 50 dogs with rabies & not vaccinate 50 others then throw them together with some rabid dogs to see who gets it and who doesn't. The only thing we can do is individually educate ourselves and find these connects to decide what we feel best. Just as Apollo said, I've known MANY people saying through regular vaccination their dogs were a mess, but then redo the schedule to limited vaccines and their dogs are "all new". I also have one mentor in particular who only raw feeds & has never vaccinated a single dog of hers. Yet her dogs are living far beyond the breed "average", never contract illness, and are in excellent health. Never had a parvo puppy, either.

What I won't budge on for anyone is them unwilling to educate themselves. If you are going to give your puppy 15 vaccinations but without a why other than "the vet said so", I'm not buying it! At least read a book or have some reasoning for why you do so. Perhaps even a, "My vet recommended it and I've been with this vet for 30 years so they have allll my trust!".


I cannot believe the "horror" stories on this thread!! So horrible for all of you... Couldn't imagine if my vet ever treated me this way.
We have to be willing to trust our vets as we do our own medical doctors. There is so much information available about vaccinations that the normal person can become quite overwhelmed and confused, like myself. Our "horror" stories can help someone else. For example, Ruth giving us a great explanation as to why we shouldn't vaccinate our dogs. I trust Ruth's opinion. Do not judge those of us who do not have your training and knowledge. Help us but do not judge.
 

ruthcatrin

Well-Known Member
We have to be willing to trust our vets as we do our own medical doctors. There is so much information available about vaccinations that the normal person can become quite overwhelmed and confused, like myself. Our "horror" stories can help someone else.

We OUGHT to be able to, on the other hand I look up everything my doctor tells me too lol.
 

Hank DDB

Well-Known Member
NO other vacinations are required apart from - this, It's simple , 1 shot at 12 weeks of age, then rabies vaccine at 16 weeks. When you go back for rabies shot at 16 weeks get them to do titters blood test. If blood count is low then get a booster shot.