Annual vaccinations

[BBP]

I hope I’m not opening a can of worms, but are annual vaccinations absolutely necessary for dogs? I’m only asking as my dog has become very vet shy since his jabs last year and with lockdown I haven’t been able to get him comfortable being handled by other people. A dog trainer told me it isn’t 100% necessary to do them annually. I can’t titre test as the same issue with the vets. In an ideal world I would wait til I can get him more comfortable there, do some socialisation visits to the vets, get other people handling him so he isn’t so afraid. I’m working on all the handling desensitisation myself, but it’s not the same as a stranger doing it. So just wondered if it would harm him to defer. (I’ll have a chat with my vet but I’m guessing they will say yes he must have annually otherwise he will have to start a course from scratch.)

 

[MurphysMinder]

The core vaccines only need doing every 3 years, lepto is the only one that needs to be done annually . If you feel your dog isn't at high risk, eg doesn't go in water or where there might be rats, then maybe you could delay it . Your vet is the best person to advise as they will know if there are any issues locally.

 

[Bellasophia]

I also follow the 3 year booster for base core vaccinations

i found this link,which may also be of interest...
WSAV have recently updated their links to reinforce their three year protocol for core vaccines...
but they also stress there is no recommendation to include any new vaccine for enteric coronavirus vaccine which is currrently being pushed by some vets...


https://wsava.org/wp-content/upload...-Prophylactic-Vaccination-during-COVID-19.pdf

 

[Clodagh]

As MM says the only needed one is lepto and unless you are in a rife area I wouldn't worry about that now, hopefully come the spring things will get easier.

 

[BlackadderUK]

To be sure, you need to know which brand of vaccine your dog has had. Nobivac/Canigen are 3 yearly but some of the lesser known/used are still annual. Vanguard is, I believe, one of those.

 

[BBP]

Thank you for all replies.

 

[misst]

Out of interest is anyone else's vet cancelling routine vaccinations. Ruby was booked for Monday but they are only doing emergency or important stuff again at the moment. They were great yesterday when Moti ripped a claw on a walk - saw him immediately so I'm not complaining but just wondering.

 

[Landcruiser]

Out of interest is anyone else's vet cancelling routine vaccinations. Ruby was booked for Monday but they are only doing emergency or important stuff again at the moment. They were great yesterday when Moti ripped a claw on a walk - saw him immediately so I'm not complaining but just wondering.

Vets have been advised to delay non essential work at the moment. At our practice we are rescheduling most vaccs until March. we are still doing first year boosters, or restarts and primary courses. We are also seeing pretty much all clinical cases, although strictly limiting clients actually coming into the building.

 

[meleeka]

Vets have been advised to delay non essential work at the moment. At our practice we are rescheduling most vaccs until March. we are still doing first year boosters, or restarts and primary courses. We are also seeing pretty much all clinical cases, although strictly limiting clients actually coming into the building.

Oh dear. My dog was due to restart her vaccinations because of last years lockdown. This sounds like she probably won’t able to have them yet. . I’m not too happy about the risk that puts her in.

 

[SOS]

It’s ultimately up to you, there is titre testing available which is the best option if you don’t want to vaccinate but want to ensure your pet is safe. We do the three year DHP and Lepto yearly. Having seen a case of leptospirosis when training I would always vaccinate my dogs against it. Avoiding rat urine is a very hard thing to do... they run across your garden if you’re rural and they definitely run down your street if you’re in a city.

We are still doing vaccinations that must be done within the lockdown. However any that won’t go past 15 months since last booster will be pushed to outside the lockdown. 1st vaccines are going ahead, restarts on a case by case basis.

We have had a huge outbreak of parvovirus locally and lots of poorly puppies and dogs so are keen to continue start up vaccines.

 

[PapaverFollis]

Mine are due. I'm going to double check dates but will probably hold off for a bit. They are 9 and 10 now so have had lots of vaccines and hopefully got some immunity hanging around. I worry about lepto because Spaniel, but he's going to be on controlled exercise for a bit anyway so will see where we are in a month or two. I think with dog vaccines you can go a bit past due date and he ok? Horses also due... going to let their flu slide as we aren't going anywhere and no horses nearby or passing by! And they had tetanus last year and I believe that lasts 2 years.... Will restart flu when the latest Covid wave has passed and try to get the tetanus and dogs timed in so annual vaccines are then due late summer I think.

I'll probably end up with a vet visit at some point anyway though because that would be typical!

 

[Meredith]

I rang earlier this week to book the annual jab for my dog.
I was told that there is a 3 month ‘amnesty’.

Dog needs his claws clipping. Although this is a difficult job and he has huge claws they won’t do it. He doesn’t wear them down at all.

However there is no problem in me going to the surgery to collect his arthritis medicine without the dog having a check up.

As no one is allowed inside I can’t see why the jab and claws can’t be done as I have to go to collect the stuff anyway.

My horse had his annual jabs on the 4th. The vet came and did them. I wish I had had the dog done at the same time but thought it would ‘waste’ a month.

 

[blackcob]

Please respect your vet’s decision, many have little idea what’s happening behind closed doors for practices to remain open. If bubbles burst and teams are lost to self-isolation then the remaining staff have to prioritise urgent and essential care. Capacity is going to be different from site to site and even day to day.

Small animal veterinary staff have not been granted key worker status this time round either which creates additional challenges.

A receptionist can arrange your meds collection and most routine boosters for adult dogs can be delayed by three months, for which they can advise you over the phone.

 

[Meredith]

Sorry quote is below.

The regime at the vets has not changed.
When Dog was poorly in the summer he was seen immediately. We took him to the car park where he was taken inside. We saw the vet in the car park.
If his claws are not clipped soon he will be lame and I will have to call them any way. They know this.
I don’t understand as the delay will make problems that will require extra visits to rectify.

Please respect your vet’s decision, many have little idea what’s happening behind closed doors for practices to remain open. If bubbles burst and teams are lost to self-isolation then the remaining staff have to prioritise urgent and essential care. Capacity is going to be different from site to site and even day to day.

Small animal veterinary staff have not been granted key worker status this time round either which creates additional challenges.

A receptionist can arrange your meds collection and most routine boosters for adult dogs can be delayed by three months, for which they can advise you over the phone.

 

[blackcob]

It really has changed for most practices, lockdown #1 was emergency and essential work only and the governing bodies were very clear on what constituted essential work. Staff not needed to provide that work were furloughed.

This time round vets are told they don't have to revert to emergency only but it's absolutely not business as usual, they must do their bit to prevent the spread of the virus by making responsible decisions on what work can continue, whilst not being given anything but vague and open to interpretation guidance on what that is. Plus a double whammy of not being able to access key worker school places too.

A poorly dog has always been urgent/essential, nail clipping is not, and at the moment many sites may only have capacity for the former - and if that sounds a bit overdramatic I promise you it really isn't, demand is insane at the moment.

 

[SusieT]

If his claws are not making him lame why would it be an essential journey at the moment? The whole idea at the moment is that we ar elocked down apart from essential interactions. The claws may grow a little, but if not causing a problem then clipping them should be delayed until the end of this lockdown. And I know it seems never ending but people are getting vaccinated, the vulnerable are being protected , so hopefully this is us seeing light at the end of the tunnel.
I'd be surprised if vets didnt see an overdue vaccine that was overdue from last lockdown (though I wonder why you didnt get it done when we had come out of the last lockdown ?)

 

[Tiddlypom]

If his claws are not clipped soon he will be lame and I will have to call them any way. They know this.

Can you either clip them yourself or take him for on lead walks on the road to wear the claws down?

I agree that vets are working flat to the boards atm keeping up with essential/emergency stuff. They saw the JRT straight away after she was attacked by a lab 12 days ago, though - she is ok.

 

[Meredith]

Can you either clip them yourself or take him for on lead walks on the road to wear the claws down?.

Thank you for all your suggestions however we have never been able to clip them ourselves. He is petrified of anyone holding his paws and is a strong dog. Believe me, over nearly 11 years, we have tried.
Regarding walking, all our walks are on forestry stone tracks and these do not wear the claws down. I cannot see the sense in driving to town to walk among more people to wear down his claws.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Ah, ok. We’re out in the sticks and have a network of mostly quiet roads suitable for on lead dog walking. No pavements but almost always a verge to walk on if you need to get out of the way of traffic, I wasn't intending anyone to drive to town to walk their dog .

ETA We were lucky and got her routine 12 monthly jab done at the end of Dec before lockdown #3 kicked in. Then days later she was back twice to be seen after the lab attack .

 

[Meredith]

Ah, ok. We’re out in the sticks and have a network of mostly quiet roads suitable for on lead dog walking. No pavements but almost always a verge to walk on if you need to get out of the way if traffic, I wasn't intending anyone to drive to town to walk their dog .

Thanks any way. Any new suggestions gratefully received.

 

[MurphysMinder]

As blackcob says , vets are trying to protect both their staff and clients . A local practice has had to close due to staff testing positive . I think some groomers are still able to operate for welfare issues , they may be able to trim nails for you .

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

My groomer did P dog this morning on welfare grounds. Due to her sister testing positive before xmas, she had to isolate and cancelled all appointments.
P dogs nails really really needed attention so she got a clip and nails done.
(I did a DIY part clip on P before xmas but it looked rubbish, but I'll not clip black nails..!)

 

[CorvusCorax]

Groomers can take vet referrals. If your dog will become lame, that would be grounds IMO.