Are all vaccines created equal?

[Roy]

Good morning everyone,

Nickie is due for her 2nd round of shots anytime after March 14th. I'm doing a little research on the vaccinations vets around me have to offer. The breeder suggested that we use Neopar 5-1 because it's one of the best to protect against Parvo. Do you guys recommend one brand over the other or should I just grt the vvaccinations done at any clinic?

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

 Sorry, I don't really know anything about that specific product. But many of us have learned that it is not always best to just go with what the vet recommends as far as vaccinations are concerned.   So I'm glad you are doing some research.  In case you're not aware of it, once your puppy is vaccinated it is possible to do titer testing in later years to confirm immunity rather than just repeating endless unnecessary and potentially harmful vaccinations.  Here is a link to a post I made about Tara's immunity and titer testing:

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/tarabear-s-titer-tests

I realize it's not relevant right now but may be in the  future.

When she was a puppy I was told to use individual vaccines as opposed to the 5 in 1 type where multiple viruses are delivered all at once. I was told it is less challenging for their immune systems  to have one at a time. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful with your original question.

[Pat, Mary & Cooper]

Ricki, that comment was really helpful for me I will have Cooper tested next time ...

Great advice

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Thanks. Mary. :)

[Roy]

Thank you for your advice, Ricki! I think I will have to do the titer testing in the future.

[Oliver & Elizabeth]

My breeder vaccinated Oliver using Neopar too, but none of the vets around me used Neopar. If I remember correctly, I think my vet said Neopar is used mostly by shelters in high parvo areas. Since I live in an area with very low Parvo it seemed unnecessary, and Oliver got the regular vaccine.

[Roy]

Hi Elizabeth,

Thank you so much for the info! I called around to other vets and they didn't offer Neopar. I live in San Francisco and it doesn't look like Parvo is prevalent here.

[Roy]

Hi everyone,

I think I'll just go with the puppy pack that one of the local vets with great Yelp review is offering. The DHPP shot is the Vanguard Plus. I think I'll skip out on the Bordetella. What do you guy think?

• 1 Exam
• DHPP Vaccination (Distemper, Hepatities, Parvo, Parainfluenza vaccination) done as a set of 3 boosters
• Bordetella Vaccination (Kennel Cough vaccination) done as a set of 2 boosters
• Rabies Vaccination done as a single dose at approximately 4 months of age
• 1 fecal parasite exam
• Deworming for roundworms done as a series of two doses
• Initial one month of flea control application
  

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

Hi Roy.  Here's something else to consider.  You can ask your vet to separate out the vaccines into multiple visits. I do this, so as not to overtax my dogs with multiple vaccines at one time.  Rabies, in particular, is often given without other vaccines.  The doctor must give the Rabies shot, but the others can be administered by vet technicians.  Our Boston vet charges for the technician's time and the cost of the vaccine, but our Cape Cod vet charges only for the vaccine.  

[Roy]

Thanks for the tip!

[Roy]

Hi everyone,

I'm little confused on the vaccination schedule.

I looked at Nickie's vaccinations she received from the breeder and she got Parvo vaccine (twice) at 5 weeks and 7 weeks old.

Yesterday at 11 weeks old, we brought her to the vet to do the 5 in 1 and Bordetella vaccination. My vet think we should do the standard 3 rounds of vaccinations (4 weeks apart) even though she receive 2 vaccinations for the breeder.

Would 5 total rounds of vaccinations be too much? His explanation was that the 2 previous ones don't count because the mother's antibodies cancelled it out.