How often do dogs need distemper shots?
AVMA now endorses a schedule of up to 3 years between vaccinations, though distemper is thought to be effective for at least 5 years. Talk to your vet about your own dog's lifestyle and risk. EDIT: There's not a single core vaccine (Distemper, Parvo, Hepatitis (Adenovirus2), Parainfluenza that is not good for at least 5 years. Lepto, Bordatella, and some other non-core vaccines won't last as long, but the "combo" vaccines are all good for MUCH longer than a year.
Do dogs need booster shots every year?
it depends on the shots she had on the last visit. some vaccines are 1 or 3 years. if your not sure call your vet. if you are worried about over vaccination, you can request a titres test. not all vet have these so check with yours. but what they do is test the blood to see how much of the vaccination is still in the blood. if its high enough to be effective, you wont need it. i have known people that only had to give the dog rabies every 6 years. BUT THAT DEPENDS ON THE DOG. she is simply cautious because she did lose a dog to over vaccination.
Is it necessary to have your dog vaccinated every year?
You've asked a question that is VERY controversial right now. The AVMA (Am Vet Med Assoc) has actually changed it's vaccine recomendations to every three years. Check their website for more info. However, that doesn't mean your vet is willing to be up to date, or even knows about the changes. I have shown my vets all the info and they are unwilling to change. It is a big income generator for them. But--researchers are now beginning to cite overvaccination for the massive rise in cancer and allergies/ immune system disorders in our pets. Also, Dr Jean Dodds DVM is currently doing rabies challenge studies to see if rabies vacs are needed as often as we give them. Her website: http://www.hemopet.com/ links to her study. She also has a more minimal vaccine protocol plan she has developed. If you search her name and "vaccines" on the web, you will find a ton of info (including her direct contact info... I've emailed her for help and advice. She is very knowledgeable and quite willing to help!) Even if you choose not to vaccinate yearly, it is still important to go for a yearly "wellness" check-up. Just be prepared for lots of pressure to "get those yearlies updated". Unfortunately, others on here are right... if you want to board your dog, travel by plane, or attend some training classes you will be required to have the "yearly" bit. I also discovered another potential difficulty... a child adoption homestudy. You might want to look into receiving a magazine called Whole Dog Journal... it discusses this issue, plus health, nutrition and training, and other readers have advice on how to deal with the issue, and what to do if vaccines make your dog sick and getting them is too much of a health risk.
How often do dogs need rabies shots?
Once at the age of 3 months , folllowed by a booster one month later and then annually . this is the schedule followed in India mostly . depends on the brand of the vaccine shot your vet uses .
Why is it cats and dogs need yearly vaccinations, I mean why can't they be vaccinated once for life?
Vaccinations work by essentially infecting your animal with a little bit of a pathogen (the pathogen may not exactly be the real thing, it may be an altered form or a very close relative). Your pet will then form an immune response against this pathogen. The pathogen will display its membrane surface antigens. Once the pathogen is phagocytosed (by a macrophage or neutrophil), the antigens are processed and displayed proudly on the surface of the immune system's cell. B and T cells bind to these antigens and produce antibodies against this pathogen. A subset set of B and T cells are memory cells. B and T memory cells, essentially, remember antigens by being able to produce antibodies against the pathogen that displays them. Over the course of a year, these memory cells die. Once all the memory cells that were present at the time of vaccination (or 'initial infection') have all died, the vaccination has worn off. in order to ensure the immune system is able to respond to the pathogen if infected for real; boosters are given so that more memory cells can be produced.
What happens if a dog skips its booster shots?
can they be given at more than 1 month after the initial shots? my dog's booster shots are due by january 13th, but i will be out of the country until about the 17th.
How often does a dog need a rabies shot?
once a year