doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Dog vaccinations?

Can anyone run down the recommended list of vaccinations for a hunting dog. I thought I had all of the reasonable ones covered but a guy at work asked about giardia lamblia or "beaver fever".

Now I'm wondering if I have all the necessary vaccinations for Jas. West Nile?

I have had beaver fever myself. It passes when you get around age 55. No cure that I know of. (you knew this would happen)

Chuck,
I don't think Giardia infection can be prevented through vaccination.

Edit: Wrong Again. There is one since 2000ish, see the bottom of this web page. By now there might be something better.

http://www.beaglesunlimited.com/beaglehealth_giardiasis.htm

Chuck,

What little I know of this it is treated when it occurs and as Yeti said I don't believe there is a vaccination for it. I vaccinate my dogs for all of the usual things but also for Lyme Disease and kneel cough. Kennel cogh is good since your dog likely comes in contact with numerous other dogs so it can't hurt. I don't know how bad lyme is out on the left coast but back here it is quite prevelant.

DT - It looks like I have another 9 years of suffering to go.

Bill G.

Chuck,

It will vary a bit depending on location and activities. As for Giardia, I have never had dog vaccinated for it. Here is some basic info on Giardia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giardia

Here is some general info on canine vaccinations: http://petcare.suite101.com/article.cfm/dogandpuppyvaccinations

Not all of them are necessary or needed by every dog. For instance Bordetella is usually required if you are going to board your dog, at least in this area. I have my dogs vaccinated for Lyme Disease. This is only because of the high tick population here and in northern Wisconsin where I hunt grouse. If I was not hunting my dogs, I most likely would fore go the Lyme shot.

There is a growing body of information that seems to say the old "annual update" shots are not always a good thing.

Talk it over with your vet.

If you really want to "get into" the whole sporting dog medicial information arena... you might be interested in this.
http://www.sportsvet.com/Newslet.html Auburn used to offer the newsletter for free on the web. It contained a lot of very informative articles.

Pete

I am not trying to stir the pot here. I do agree that there is an emerging number of vets and owners who are going the titre route. This means an annual blood test and a search for antibodies for all of the ususal suspects. If the antibodies are present in sufficient volume the vaccinations ar forgone. The thinking here is that the dogs immune system can then focus on things that attack it not the vaccinations stimulating additional and possibly uneeded immune response.

That said my vet has also said that "good " levels for lyme antibodies are not well known (or at least were not last year when we titered). He also says that he loses dis-proportionately more Labs and Beagles early in the Lyme disease cycle due to kidney failure. So my opinion is don't take chances, vaccinate for lyme and consider titreing for the other normally vaccinated for diseases/health issues.

This could be a long topic so I'll do my best to keep it as short as possible.

Vaccinations, over recent years, have gotten a lot of attention due to suspected side effects and a couple of known problems. In cats, it was found that certain vaccines caused fibrosarcoma, ie cancer. This caused a serious debate as to whether we are indeed vaccinating too much. Some have tied certain immune mediated diseases like immune mediated hemolytic anemia and skin disease to vaccine administration. The push recently has been to try and reduce the amount of vaccinations given to our pets by evaluating risk and reward.
If you review the recent challenge studies performed by various groups and individuals, you will find that some components of the Distemper vaccine last longer than a year when given. The Distemper vaccine, for those unaware, is composed of several different diseases including: Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza, Coronavirus, and in some cases Leptospirosis. Not every vaccine will contain the same diseases depending on what your Veterinarian carries. The challenge studies I alluded to previously, targeted Parvovirus, Hepatitis, and Distemper. Previously, these vaccines were only labeled to be effective for 1 year. The challenge studies, spurred by the over vaccination problem, revealed that these diseases were found to be protected against for at least three years. Dogs were tested after recieving vaccination and titers were performed at specified times to determine if they would have protective immunity. The studies determined that a single vaccine was good for a least three years. So some vaccines have been relabeled to be good for that duration.
As far as what is considered core vaccines, or those vaccines recommended, the American Animal Hospital Association puts out a vaccine protocol every year. Those interested in reading can visit the site at AAHA.com. The long and short is this: Each pet is going to be different depending on geographic location, risk for contracting disease, age, etc, so each is going to have a different set of vaccines. For adult dogs, Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvo are recommended yearly to every three years. Rabies depends on state law, but generally yearly to every three years. The rest is really based on exposure.
For sporting dogs, I would recommend Distemper, Parvo, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis. Depending on loaction, Lyme. Obviously, Rabies is required. The other vaccines would be based on a good history and exposure to disease.

Hope this helps!