I took my 10 year old in for his yearly booster and MOT today.

Being the pitiful and disabled beast that he is, he got a lot of attention and sympathy on our walk into the village. One woman who was making a fuss asked me where we were going, so i said, to the vets to be vaccinated. Her reply didnt shock me, but it did get me thinking. She said she doesnt have her older dog vaccinated as he has built up resistance over the years, so its unnecessary. I just smiled and didnt reply, but this is not the first time ive heard someone with this opinion, and having worked in vet practice, i know theres quite a few people who stop vaccinating as the dog gets older.

Ive been taught that vaccinations are MORE vital/important as a dog gets older as, like with people, the body and immune system arent so efficient at fighting off disease and infection.

I was wondering what other peoples thoughts are on this? I know there has been great debate over vaccinations and how frequently they should be done, and im of the belief that a yearly booster does more good than harm.

I do not have my done when they turn eight as I believed (rightly or wrongly) that there immune system got stronger not weaker!!! maybe I am wrong - you can have them tested to see if the vacs are necessary
regards
DT

Don't want to cause a row here either - but having lost a dog to AI - which was triggered by vacs being given whilst the dog was not 100% when aged just 3 years old - I am very sceptical about vacs, there are however more and more vets agreeing that the boosters and not necessary annually! Even our referal vet at Cambridge agreed that our girl should never have had her last boosters
regards
DT

obviously all dogs need protection from lepto

We only have a puppy at the moment, but I have been thinking of this lately I think we will do it for a few more years and then maybe try the test they can do to see if they are covered still


we dont vaccinate our Oldest cat she had her kitten ones then no more mainly because in 6yrs shes never needed to go to the vets apart to have her teeth cleaned and two taken out But thats it. She is the picture of health im not keen in putting stuff in her that she doesnt need. she alos isnt a fighter or a wonderer. But our youngest is male and fights sometimes so he'll be done for a while yet.

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Owner to-
lots of rodents
2 monster dogs
1 slinky cat

when i used to work in a cattery we by law could only accept fully vaccinated cats,but alot of customers with older cats were advised by thier vets that cats over 10 didn`t need vaccination snaymore,so they didn`t get them done,therefore we couldn`t accept their cats,even when we explained this to environmental health inspectors that vets were suggesting this,they wouldn`t have it.
I have seen cats at my centre with felv/fiv/fip because they weren`t vaccinated the first and last being very nasty in thier final stages.
My dog is vaccinated yearly,but he`s only 3 at the mo,not sure about the future at the mo

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My name is Niccie and i work in rescue
National Animal Welfare Trust

Fudge,my American Cocker Spaniel

Thats interesting DT. I lost a cat to vaccine reaction once, and since then ive never had any of my 5 cats vaccinated. None of them really leave the garden, and there arent many cats in my area. They are all over 10 and in great shape. I figure that if they DO get something, then i will deal with that if and when it happens.

We have had a LOT of parvo in my area the past few years. We have a lot of pikeys and they dont ever worm/de-flea or vaccinate their dogs. In my last year of nursing we PTS about 15 dogs (mainly puppies) with parvo.

Do you think that vaccines are harmful if done on a yearly basis?

Yes I do as it happens - and weimys are more sensitive to them then some breeds obviously my youngest who is now
16 months old was due her boosters in March - I am dragging it to 15 month though! and shall have them done early June! and yes I do think these boosters are important - but I hope to go bi annually after these shots.
regards
DT
with the exception of lepto of course which I shall make arrangements for, because mine do swim and hunt I don't want to risk this.