What do you guys think about old dogs getting their vaccs every year? I have heard some people say it is more neccisary and others say that it is bad to vaccinate old dogs. The reason I am asking is because my parents 15 yr old poodle X is due soon.
I did not give my annual shots, last January. They are way overdue, but there is a great deal of controversy over whether they need to be given every year. I suppose that I would judge each dog by it's susceptability. I am not taking the dogs to the park and about, until they get the shot [I have the needles setting in front of me all these months, just waiting for the mood to hit me]. My Megan gets a severe Lepto reaction, so I will have to give her Benedryl, first. That is part of the reason I did not just up and do it. Her head swelled up like a basketball when she got the last shot, over a year ago. I guess I have some real potent shots, don't mind letting them sit a bit...
i have heard that dogs dont need shots after they reach a certain age.i have also heard that thats not true. i give harley, our gsd a yearly booster just to be on the safe side.
i am curious about something though. harley got parvo when he was just about 6-7 weeks old. he was real bad. spent a week in the vet on i.v's and meds. he survived it. the vet we had at the time has the highest survival rate for parvo around. he told me that harley wouldnt need anymore parvo vaccines because he already had the disease and is immune to it now. have you ever heard of that ? i have never vaccinated for that since then and he is 10 and going strong.
Sophie had her yearlys on 10/29/04 and I haven't taken her to the vet to get them again. I don't think it's necessary, humans get them once and they're done. Joe's had his on 4/08/05 and he's about 13 years old, I don't think I'll take him anymore, he didn't get yearlys from 97-2005 and had no trouble. Plus, I don't take my dogs to parks and stuff all that much. I'm not risking their lives by over vaccinating. Sophie and Joe's rabies are due in December and April, of course I'll keep up with those. :)
