Olive's 2 year annual vet visit/vaccination questions

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

Hi all, 

Olive is due for her " DA2PP+ Bordatella booster, the Lyme Booster, and Leptospirosis vaccine," according to her vet. They're also doing a Heartworm Antigen Batch. Our appointment is tomorrow, but it seems like a lot of vaccines for one day and I'd like to ask to separate out some. Do you know the best way to sort these? Is it bad that our vet does the (combined?) DA2PP+Bordatella? I vaguely remember reading something about this. 

Olive hasn't before reacted to her vaccines but I'm just wanting to keep her all good. Also if you recommend any other testing or anything, please lmk.

Thanks for your feedback as always.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm hoping the DAP shot the 3 year version; otherwise I would have to say you need to find a different vet. No adult dog should be getting annual shots. DAP is distemper/adenovirus(hepatitis)/and parvo. They are typical given together in one vaccination every three years. That's what Olive should have gotten at one year old, and obviously she didn't or she wouldn't be due again now. 
I do not do Lepto or Lyme; those are NOT core vaccines and each individual owner needs to weigh risks/benefits for their particular dog whne making decisions about whether or not to give these. Some factors will include life style and location. In any case, if you do opt to do Lepto, make sure it is the newer version of the vaccine which is given in two shots about 3-4 weeks apart. The newer version carries a much lower risk of side effects. 

Bordatella can (and should, IMO) be given intranasally, not as a shot. And it can be given any time, without a vet appt; a tech can give it. We generally go in for a tech visit a week or two after our annual check-up and pay for nothing other than the vaccine, given by a tech. 

[Tammy Leiter]

Karen,

Could you give examples of lifestyle and location, concerning when you would give Lepto and Lyme?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

For example, if you live in CT (the epicenter of Lyme disease), you give the Lyme vaccine, period. No discussion or debate necessary, lol. Here is a map of the worst areas for Lyme disease; while these are based on human statistics, it's the same disease, so if you're in an area that is solid white, you probably don't need to give the Lyme vaccine. (You still do have to protect against ticks, though. Colorado for example is very low in cases of Lyme, but has a very high level of cases of other tick-borne illnesses.) 
https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/stats/maps.html

With Lepto, it's more related to things like, does your dog ever come into contact with natural bodies of water- lakes, streams, rivers, ponds, etc? If so, you want to vaccinate for Lepto.  If your dog never spends time outside an urban area, you may not need it. 

Since many of us are in between extremes, it's often a gray area, and depends on our trust in our vet's recommendations and our own comfort level. 

Risk versus benefit. :) 

[Tammy Leiter]

I'm in MD and live right beside a Lake.  My dogs don't go in the lake but it's there.  I get my dog the Lyme vaccine but was considering stopping the Lepto.  Any thought?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

If you like and trust your vet, I'd discuss it with him/her. Ask how many cases of Lepto in pet dogs with lifestyles similar to yours their practice is seeing recently. Sometimes, they will have seen a big jump in cases, in which case they'll probably recommend the vaccine. There are a lot of factors to consider, not least of which is your own comfort level with either choice.  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Of course, for those who are concerned about vaccinating, the safest way to go is to do a titer rather than give the DAP vaccine at all. But it's much more expensive. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Oh, and that second "P" in the vaccine your vet is recommending is for parainfluenza, which can be given intranasally with the bordatella. The fact that it's included with the distemper/parvo shot makes me think that is indeed a one-year shot; don't do it. 

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

Thank you for responding, Karen. Should I ask for the 3 year DAP and if they dont have it, go somewhere else for that? Maybe they can give her only the intranasal bordatella and parainfluenza tomorrow then, and I can find the 3 year vaccine elsewhere... hm. Everyone touts this vet but I will see what they say.

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

Also, why other than convenience/cost for the 3 year shot versus the annual? Thanks!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Because you are over vaccinating if you give it every year. Every time you give a vaccine you are stimulating the immune system; over-vaccinating can result in a hyperactive immune system, which in turn is believed to contribute to the development of many immune-mediated inflammatory diseases including Atopic Dermatitis and IBD, both of which are on the rise in pet dogs. Every three years is probably even overdoing it; many of us who titer rather than vaccinate have found that our dogs show good immunity to the diseases in question for many years after they have a received a vaccine. And there is always a risk of a reaction to a vaccine, as well as the possibility of inflammatio at the injection site; there have been dogs and cats who developed cancers at the injection sites as well. 

Be aware that there is absolutely no difference between a three year DAP shot and a one year shot other than the price. The strength and amount of vaccine given is exactly the same. 

I would definitely ask for a three year DAP shot, even if that means going elsewhere.

[Cindy and Olive (Ollie)]

Oh my gosh, good to know!!! Thank you. 

Based on what you're saying, she probably doesn't need the DAP shot this year, since she received the DA2PP last July. Perhaps instead I should ask to titer - in which case, 2 questions: what can I expect for the cost to titer, and how often to re-titer? 

Thank you Karen!!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Unfortunately, the vaccines are labelled as to usage, and even though it's the exact same thing, if the shot she got last July was a "one year" version, technically she will be considered past due on vaccines; this would only matter if you needed to show proof that she is UTD, such as if you signed up for a training class or applied to adopt a dog from a reputable rescue. 
Titering is a great idea but I'm not sure when that can start. Ask your vet. 

Cost for titers is going to vary; I want to say it was around $100 to do a DAP titer on Jack, and that would have been 2-3 years ago.