Gosh I sympathise and it's such a hard one to call. Apparently titre testing isnt that accurate as if they are using said immunity, the test will give a low reading - what you are supposed to do about that, I dont know.

Years ago it was a must for them to be vaccinated annually yet now 3yrs is the case for some. That said, why were we doing it every year? I know some people who have only had puppy vacs done and no more, others that have puppy and first year, then no more. Are we to assume that in the grand scheme of things that will become the norm. Our immunisation is all done it childhood so she they be the same???

I really dont know the answer but because Heidi had ongoing tummy probs I wasnt prepared to risk the vaccs and have gone down the homeopathic route. I will probably be shot down in flames for it but that's how little faith I have in the current system

Hope you manage to sort something that you will be happy with

 

Gosh I sympathise and it's such a hard one to call. Apparently titre testing isnt that accurate as if they are using said immunity, the test will give a low reading - what you are supposed to do about that, I dont know.

Years ago it was a must for them to be vaccinated annually yet now 3yrs is the case for some. That said, why were we doing it every year? I know some people who have only had puppy vacs done and no more, others that have puppy and first year, then no more. Are we to assume that in the grand scheme of things that will become the norm. Our immunisation is all done it childhood so she they be the same???

I really dont know the answer but because Heidi had ongoing tummy probs I wasnt prepared to risk the vaccs and have gone down the homeopathic route. I will probably be shot down in flames for it but that's how little faith I have in the current system

Hope you manage to sort something that you will be happy with

Thanks

I daren't just blindly vaccinate him because he seems a bit of a sensitive thing who can get thrown off balance quite easily and with his ears as well I want reason to vaccinate him

As far as I'm away titre tests test the memory cells which go into production when a known micro organism is present and they have the capacity to remember the antibody required to fight such an organism hence its the best kind of immunity that could be tested for, and at least with those results it gives me more of a reason to feel its either OK to vaccinate or not to.

I couldn't just *not* vaccinate him but at the same time I can't just book him in either. I want to know what I need to be asking for before I even speak to the vets about it...

What homeopathic route is it that you have gone down?

 

There have been lots of discussions here regarding this and Katiefranke is the best one to chat with. She has loads of interesting info.

I felt compromised by the "running out of time" pressure and vet's deadline that if I crossed would mean starting a fresh.

Having used homeopathy previously I felt happier with this route. I went into it at great length and was offered two types one was a complete remedy and the other gives each remedy separately. The complete needs boosting each year and the individual given at varying strengths is more complex but doesnt need boosting. Altho it is handy to have the individual remedies to used should there be an outbreak. My homeopath uses the latter with her dogs and in 25years of showing, breeding etc. has had no problems.

At the end of the day it's up to you what you choose as the best course of action. I am aware lots will disapprove of Homeopathy as unproven and feel that I am behaving stupidly and leaving Heidi at risk. However, I have done what I feel best and dont want to get into any debates on your thread re the pro's and con's of homeopathy.

If you wish I can PM you the contact details of my Homeopath for you to get some information.

 

There have been lots of discussions here regarding this and Katiefranke is the best one to chat with. She has loads of interesting info.

I felt compromised by the "running out of time" pressure and vet's deadline that if I crossed would mean starting a fresh.

Having used homeopathy previously I felt happier with this route. I went into it at great length and was offered two types one was a complete remedy and the other gives each remedy separately. The complete needs boosting each year and the individual given at varying strengths is more complex but doesnt need boosting. Altho it is handy to have the individual remedies to used should there be an outbreak. My homeopath uses the latter with her dogs and in 25years of showing, breeding etc. has had no problems.

At the end of the day it's up to you what you choose as the best course of action. I am aware lots will disapprove of Homeopathy as unproven and feel that I am behaving stupidly and leaving Heidi at risk. However, I have done what I feel best and dont want to get into any debates on your thread re the pro's and con's of homeopathy.

If you wish I can PM you the contact details of my Homeopath for you to get some information.

Please do send me a PM with their details, I think its worth looking into! I don't use proper flea treatments like front line etc anymore, I opt for Neem which is so far proving itself well. Going to look at herbal stuff for worming eventually too not sure how successful some are but apparently they are relatively good already

Thanks

 

I am against the annual vacs! And fortunately have a vet who has just come round to 'my' way of thinking (I lost a four year old dog to AI by the way who had boosters when she should never have been given them) I had a very long conversation with him back in June where he went into details as to which boosters to have, which needed doing every three years, and which would not need doing again! Certainly I would not miss any in the first year as these are vital!

I would NOT under any circumstances miss the lepto we have this yearly with the parrinfluenza. And as far as I remember thats it! BUT!!! every three years will still have the other boosters including, parvo, hepititis, and I think maybe distemper!! (was talking to BBM about that the other day and we were saying we never hear of it these days!) thank god!!

and yep! have heard it said that the titre testing is not reliable.
DT

 

I am against the annual vacs! And fortunately have a vet who has just come round to 'my' way of thinking (I lost a four year old dog to AI by the way who had boosters when she should never have been given them) I had a very long conversation with him back in June where he went into details as to which boosters to have, which needed doing every three years, and which would not need doing again! Certainly I would not miss any in the first year as these are vital!

I would NOT under any circumstances miss the lepto we have this yearly with the parrinfluenza. And as far as I remember thats it! BUT!!! every three years will still have the other boosters including, parvo, hepititis, and I think maybe distemper!! (was talking to BBM about that the other day and we were saying we never hear of it these days!) thank god!!

and yep! have heard it said that the titre testing is not reliable.
DT

So by you/your vet's thinking, with Rupert being 2 and having had puppy shots and boosters, he will be 3 next year, and 4 the one after, so I wouldn't vaccinate him against anything bar parrinfluenza and lepto annually until he is 5, when he would get the full course, and then only those two again annually until he was 8?

 

So by you/your vet's thinking, with Rupert being 2 and having had puppy shots and boosters, he will be 3 next year, and 4 the one after, so I wouldn't vaccinate him against anything bar parrinfluenza and lepto annually until he is 5, when he would get the full course, and then only those two again annually until he was 8?

That is how we are doing it, yes! I am looking for the stickers that were given to me in june! Lepto was a definate and I sure the other was parrainfluenza!

also if you dog is even lightly off colour you should delay any boosters, as this can throw out the immune system.
DT

 

That is how we are doing it, yes! I am looking for the stickers that were given to me in june! Lepto was a definate and I sure the other was parrainfluenza!

also if you dog is even lightly off colour you should delay any boosters, as this can throw out the immune system.
DT

Yeah thanks. Have you ever heard of anyone having distinct problems skipping the ones you do for a couple years before then doing another full course?

I'm terrified he's going to die early on me whatever I do and I'd never ever forgive myself :nonod:

 

I get Ollie vaccinated every year but each year, there are different ones. Some of them don't get done for 3 years, some get done yearly. I can't remember which ones they are, but each booster is different, depending on which disease it is and how long each one lasts.

 

Yeah thanks. Have you ever heard of anyone having distinct problems skipping the ones you do for a couple years before then doing another full course?

I'm terrified he's going to die early on me whatever I do and I'd never ever forgive myself :nonod:

Absolutely NONE! and I have even heard it on the grapevine that one of the major manufacturers has now ammended there recoomendations - hence the vets now following the ammended doseage! BUT! this is not all only one I believe! it may be worth you have a chat with your vet, or maybe doing some research into this and then asking his opinion!

DT

 

Absolutely NONE! and I have even heard it on the grapevine that one of the major manufacturers has now ammended there recoomendations - hence the vets now following the ammended doseage! BUT! this is not all only one I believe! it may be worth you have a chat with your vet, or maybe doing some research into this and then asking his opinion!

DT

With having just moved I don't neccessarily trust the vets Roo is registered with immensely. I have registered him with whom is recommended to be very good by friends/family and it was a must for me that I registered him somewhere asap due to his ear issues. I will ring them up and have a chat next week but I wont take anything they say as gospel because as of yet I have no experience with them at all.

Thanks for your answers

 

My malamute only had his puppy vacs and 4years on his antibody levels are fine. The mak sibe cross had her puppy vacs whilst in rspca and i had her done at year and they were fine. I just asked my vet to do all the viral based ones that they would be vaccinated against. The lepto is bacterial infection and going from memory the vacs dont cover all the strains anyway. Plus i think they have proved its 3 to 6mths cover if your lucky. Yes your right lepto is main one that can cause side effects. Google jean dodds dvm and also her sites hemopet and hemolife. Jean is a leading authority in endocrine disorders and autoimmune and immunemediated diseases. Also catherine o'driscolls site canine health concern i think its called.

 

My malamute only had his puppy vacs and 4years on his antibody levels are fine. The mak sibe cross had her puppy vacs whilst in rspca and i had her done at year and they were fine. I just asked my vet to do all the viral based ones that they would be vaccinated against. The lepto is bacterial infection and going from memory the vacs dont cover all the strains anyway. Plus i think they have proved its 3 to 6mths cover if your lucky. Yes your right lepto is main one that can cause side effects. Google jean dodds dvm and also her sites hemopet and hemolife. Jean is a leading authority in endocrine disorders and autoimmune and immunemediated diseases. Also catherine o'driscolls site canine health concern i think its called.

Jean Dodds is amazing! She was a fantastic help with my misty! Also there is another vet (UK based) Called Jackie Gould she too is top in AI related areas!!

DT

 

My malamute only had his puppy vacs and 4years on his antibody levels are fine. The mak sibe cross had her puppy vacs whilst in rspca and i had her done at year and they were fine. I just asked my vet to do all the viral based ones that they would be vaccinated against. The lepto is bacterial infection and going from memory the vacs dont cover all the strains anyway. Plus i think they have proved its 3 to 6mths cover if your lucky. Yes your right lepto is main one that can cause side effects. Google jean dodds dvm and also her sites hemopet and hemolife. Jean is a leading authority in endocrine disorders and autoimmune and immunemediated diseases. Also catherine o'driscolls site canine health concern i think its called.

Our of interet have you had reason to consult with Jean Dodds? Only there are places (normally peoples homes) where you can go in the UK to get the bloods done - there are then forwarded to JD for her advice!

DT

 

I have spoken to jean dodds yes shes a lovely lady. Ive spoken to her when i had probs with hypothrold problems with one of my dogs. I also faxed the lab reports and she looked at them for me. Dont know about going to houses to have blood taken here though. Jeans based in the states so is hemopet and hemolife. Think it tells you procedure for submitting bloods on either one or the two. I send my bloods to cambridge specialist labs for my hypothyroid tests. My vet takes the blood and sends it off. They do a full thyroid function test. Dont know if they do titres tho. Its an endocrine and hormone testing lab.

 

I have spoken to jean dodds yes shes a lovely lady. Ive spoken to her when i had probs with hypothrold problems with one of my dogs. I also faxed the lab reports and she looked at them for me. Dont know about going to houses to have blood taken here though. Jeans based in the states so is hemopet and hemolife. Think it tells you procedure for submitting bloods on either one or the two. I send my bloods to cambridge specialist labs for my hypothyroid tests. My vet takes the blood and sends it off. They do a full thyroid function test. Dont know if they do titres tho. Its an endocrine and hormone testing lab.

Yep! you can get it done here! normally it is arranged in advance - often at one of the support members houses, the bloods are taken and the slides send over to JD there is no need to go to your own vet!
My vet would not confere with JD that is how I know - I had the option to go to one of the sessions, but it was too far away.
DT

 

Cheers for that dt. They say you learn something new everyday. It was a few years ago i spoke to her so maybe they werent doing it then. Ta very muchx

 

Cheers for that dt. They say you learn something new everyday. It was a few years ago i spoke to her so maybe they werent doing it then. Ta very muchx

it were three years ago that we were

 

It was at least 6years ago because it was concerning my laska siberian and she was 11 at the time. She liued to 14 and i lost her just over 3yrs ago so yes 6yrs.

 

I just want to add to this thread because I too took the decision to have my one year old lhasa's titre tested. My vet at vets4pets supported my decision and the results were alarming.
Gemma - the one who seemed well most of the time - had a very low immunity to Parvovirus, Distemper and Leptospirosis. However Joey - the one who has allergies - came out top trumps.
On this basis Gemma was given a full booster and Joey only given a Lepto one.
I moved areas but stayed with vets4pets in the new area and when I was asked if my two were immunised I gave them the answer yes.. they were titre tested and this is what they last had. They knew absolutely nothing about titre testing which brings me to worry 'will I be able to get them titre tested next year?'.. I finally spoke to a nurse at the surgery and she said they Gemma may only need a lepto this year and Joey a full booster... does she know what she is on about??!!
I've also found doggy day care and boarding wont allow Joey in because he didnt have the full booster. Will my insurance be valid???!!!
Anyhow... Another thing is that I didnt know that some vaccinations were given at different intervals (one, three years).
This is something else I intend to look up!

 

Wish I could help but unfortunately I got bogged down with it all too

I had misgivings going down the homeopathic route but so glad that I did.

 

I'm still waiting for my vet to get back to me before I do anything be it titre test or booster etc.

I'm confident he will tell me to booster, but he has to pick apart our previous vet notes which are 1) very long and 2) hand written before he can recommend anything.

But either way the fact its been a few weeks since we saw him leads me to think he obviously doesn't think Rupert is in immediate danger from anything *crosses fingers*.

 

Without knowing what he has (brand-wise) it is difficult to confirm exactly what duration of immunity they are licensed for.

However, the following is the standard for most now...it is only the old ones (bar lepto) that are licensed for annual. Most vets are moving across to the less regular ones now, although some are still clinging to annual for no valid reason, as they are no more effective, they are just licensed differently as the manufacturer has not carried out lonoger DOI tests.

Vets in the UK consider the following core vaccines:
Parvo - every 3 years
Distemper - every 3 years
Hepatitis (adenovirus) - every 3 years
(all the above are viral and the ones where a titre would be useful)

Lepto - annual booster - longest licensed for 18 months I think. This is a bacterial disease so immunity works differently to the viral ones above.
(titres not normally useful)

Non-core: KC - usually annually, but not considered a core vaccine.

There are a lot of misconceptions about titres and they are not exactly inaccurate - its just that the you need to know what you are doing to interpret the results.

Lepto titres are not really useful though as it doesnt work in the same way as the others so you cant tell much. You either have to have the booster annually as recommended, or you have to make the decision to go without it and treat anything that could happen.

Maggie had her combined puppy vaccinations. She was due everything about 7 months ago and has not had them. She will not be getting any more.

My next puppy will not be vaccinated at all.

Slightly off topic, but just wanted to add that I know some people may think this is mad, but it has not been undertaken lightly.

I feel that by feeding a raw species appropriate diet, not using chemical treatments on her or giving any drugs which suppress symptoms instead of healing the main root of the illness, makes for a very healthy immune system and body. Anything that comes up I will treat as it happens naturally wherever possible. As mum2heidi said, having weighed up the options this is what I feel is best and what I am most comfortable with.

You can search for homeopathic and holistic vets here:
http://www.bahvs.com/findavet.htm

 

My malamute had his puppy vaccinations and every year since has been titre tested instead of boosting for all the viral infections that would be in the vaccinations. Each year hes tests have come back with adequate antibodies and my vet has agreed that he doesnt need his boosters.

Same with my Sibe Mal cross she had her puppy Vacs and I had her titre tested when the boosters were due. She had adequate antibodies for protection and again didnt need boosters.

The lepto is bacterial infection and all strains are not covered in the vaccinations apparently. It is believed that the protection only lasts 3 to 6mths on average anyway.

I chose to do this instead because of the link to immune mediated diseases and auto immune mediated diseases. If the titres do not prove adequate then I would vaccinate.

If you google Jean Dodds vaccinations and immune mediated and autoimmune diseases or her companies hemopet and hemolife there is a lot of information on there. Jean Dodds DVM is a leading authority on these and thyroid problems.

 

I will give her a google.

My new vets said everything they have is recommended on an annual basis.

The thing is technically you shouldn't booster a sick dog it says in the manuals, but I know when we visited a few weeks a go if I said to booster him the vet would have done it there and then despite him having an ear infection and his other ear being quite sore.

I was going to tell you what my vet recommended when he got back to me katiefranke as you've been so helpful but as of yet I've not heard anything