Comments on: Are Pets Being Over-Vaccinated?

By: Billie

Billie — Thu, 14 May 2009 12:05:41 +0000

I titer every year. Send them to Dr Dodds, so far all very high immunity.

By: JJ

JJ — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:59:55 +0000

Yearly shots are as out-dated as wringer washing machines, but vets always believe in vaccinating every dog for everything every year.
I think that you should get the shots when they’re puppies, but get a separate Parvo, Distemper, Rabies etc shot instead of the 5-way or 7-way combo shots, then titer test every year instead of vaccinating.
My old JRT and my current dog have gotten their yearly rabies shot (Because its required by law and titering for rabies is too expensive for us, and our vet doesn’t support it) but have only gotten their distemper/parvo shots when they were puppies and have never gotten sick.
Vaccinating for everything, every year is not good, its actually detrimental, but not vaccinating at all is just as dangerous.

By: Dr. Eric Barchas, DVM

Dr. Eric Barchas, DVM — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 01:16:20 +0000

Ann, the answers to everything you mention are in my post. The answer to the titer question is in the second paragraph. I addressed the question of yearly vaccinations in the first paragraph. To reiterate: nobody knows if pets are being over vaccinated. Nobody knows how to interpret titers. Those are my most honest answers.

Also, remember that I encourage civil discourse on this blog. Please refrain from insulting your fellow comment writers and me.

By: ANN

ANN — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 20:49:54 +0000

I don’t think he answered the question! Do puppies need Parvo and distemper Vaccinations. – Yes. they do. but that was not the question. the question was are we over vaccinating our dogs, are yearly booster necessaryo, and Shouldn’t drawing titers be
better???.
This vet is very glib a he needs to answer the question, I’d hate to be his patients guardian! He won;t give me a straight answer!!

By: Teddy

Teddy — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:13:52 +0000

After seeing only a few dogs succumb to parvo, it’s a vaccine I think anyone with a pup is an idiot to ignore. Parvo is a puppy killer. I am all for titre testing, but for my babies, it’s the puppy shot and one year follow up.

I had spent a lot of time volunteering for the local SPCA and we had to face a parvo outbreak usually about once a year. I hope we can educate more people on the ways HUMANS transmit the virus. It’s just important for everyone to know the vaccine is not an impenetrable shield — but it will protect a dog that’s been in contact. We have to be careful ourselves in where we walk, what we can track home, etc.

By: Anne

Anne — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:26:38 +0000

I work in a vet clinic in El Paso, TX. We see at least 4 cases of parvo positive dogs EVERY DAY. In most cases, the owners just didn’t get their pets vaccinated. I guarantee that vaccines are not just a “cash cow” as some may think. At $20 a shot, we are not getting rich. If we really wanted to just make money, we would tell people not to vaccinate their pets…treatment for parvo is at least $250 for a small dog. Also, our clinic only vaccinates every 3 years after the initial shots, another piece of evidence that we are not trying to stiff the hard working animal lovers out there. I personally would rather see a perfectly healthy pet once a year than the sick and suffering animals I see on a daily basis.

By: larry

larry — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:54:52 +0000

what a strawman. everyone knows puppies need shots for parvo. but the overvaccination for rabies is also clear. state law should conform to modern science. but vaccines are too big a cash cow for vets to do the science.

By: jdw

jdw — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 19:14:50 +0000

Thank you for posting this story!

By: Kessandra

Kessandra — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 01:21:48 +0000

when i grow up i want to be a vet soo i read the vet blog. and i have fun reading.