I wrote a blog 6 years ago on over vaccinating: http://www.heartypet.com/blog/?p=409
This is a follow up to that blog.
I placed a pup in a wonderful home in Florida. When she was 4 years old her owner died suddenly and allowed his roommate to keep my Labrador knowing she was in the right place.
The new owner had never read my puppy instructions which were given to the original owner when he picked up his puppy. I never thought to give the new owner a copy because I assumed he had the dogs file and medical records.
Unknown to me this sweet girl was vaccinated at age 5, 6, 7 and 8 years of age with a 7 way vaccine. DHLPPC and Rabies all at the same time. Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parvo, Parainfluenza, Corona and Rabies.
This is overkill and such a huge load on the dogs system and very dangerous.
After the last series at age 8 the dog collapsed in the car when owner left the vet. He rushed her back and they saved her life.
Six months later she collapsed again and died in the car on the way to the emergency vet.
So devastating and totally preventable.
It is believed that all the vaccinating over the last 4 years of her life took its toll on her body and ultimately caused her death – most likely heart failure. I spoke with the vet at the emergency hospital and this was her thought.
I do not blame the owner – I cried with him over the phone. I blame his vet. The owner learned a hard lesson and left that vet practice after educating them.
Please, please head my advice to not over vaccinate. Titer test every 3 years to see if your dog even needs a core vaccine (Distemper or Parvo) and if you also do Lyme or Leptospirosis yearly these should all be spaced out by 4 weeks from d/p. (D/P is ok to give together if you even need it – titer first) but the others should be separate. Including rabies which is every 3 years by law in most states.
Follow Jean Dodds’ vaccination protocol for the sake of your dog.
Snowco’s Something’s A’Soot (Sooty)
