Here is Dr. W. Jean Dodds' Latest Recommendation Vaccination Schedule for those of you who are interested.

Vaccination Schedule Recommendations For Dogs

Dr. Jean Dodds' Recommended Vaccination Schedule

Distemper (MLV)
Initial (e.g. Intervet Progard Puppy) 9 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 - 20 weeks
1st Annual Booster At 1 year MLV Distemper/ Parvovirus only
Re-Administration Interval None needed.
Duration of immunity 7.5 / 15 years by studies. Probably lifetime. Longer studies pending.
Comments Can have numerous side effects if given too young ( 8 weeks).

Parvovirus (MLV)
Initial (e.g. Intervet Progard Puppy) 9 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 - 20 weeks
1st Annual BoosterAt 1 year MLV Distemper/ Parvovirus only
Re-Administration Interval None needed.
Duration of immunity 7.5 years by studies. Probably lifetime. Longer studies pending.
Comments At 6 weeks of age, only 30% of puppies are protected but 100% are exposed to the virus at the vet clinic.

Rabies (killed)
Initial 24 weeks or older
1st Annual BoosterAt 1 year (give 3-4 weeks apart from Dist/Parvo booster) Killed 3 year rabies vaccine
Re-Administration Interval 3 yr. vaccine given as required by law in California (follow your state/provincial requirements)
Comments rabid animals may infect dogs.

Vaccines Not Recommended For Dogs

Distemper & Parvo @ 6 weeks or younger
Not recommended.
At this age, maternal antibodies form the mothers milk (colostrum) will neutralize the vaccine and only 30% for puppies will be protected. 100% will be exposed to the virus at the vet clinic.

Corona
Not recommended.
1.) Disease only affects dogs 6 weeks of age.
2.) Rare disease: TAMU has seen only one case in seven years.
3.) Mild self-limiting disease.
4.) Efficacy of the vaccine is questionable.

Leptospirosis
Not recommended
1) There are an average of 12 cases reported annually in California.
2) Side effects common.
3) Most commonly used vaccine contains the wrong serovars. (There is no cross-protection of serovars) There is a new vaccine with 2 new serovars. Two vaccinations twice per year would be required for protection.).
4) Risk outweighs benefits.

Lyme
Not recommended
1) Low risk in California.
2) 85% of cases are in 9 New England states and Wisconsin.
3) Possible side effect of polyarthritis from whole cell bacterin.

Boretella
(Intranasal)
(killed) Only recommended 3 days prior to boarding when required.
Protects against 2 of the possible 8 causes of kennel cough.
Duration of immunity 6 months.

Giardia
Not recommended
Efficacy of vaccine unsubstantiated by independent studies

There are two types of vaccines currently available to veterinarians: modified-live vaccines and inactivated ("killed") vaccines.

Immunization Schedules

There is a great deal of controversy and confusion surrounding the appropriate immunization schedule, especially with the availability of modified-live vaccines and breeders who have experienced postvaccinal problems when using some of these vaccines. It is also important to not begin a vaccination program while maternal antibodies are still active and present in the puppy from the mother's colostrum. The maternal antibodies identify the vaccines as infectious organisms and destroy them before they can stimulate an immune response.

Many breeders and owners have sought a safer immunization program.

Modified Live Vaccines (MLV)

Modified-live vaccines contain a weakened strain of the disease causing agent. Weakening of the agent is typically accomplished by chemical means or by genetic engineering. These vaccines replicate within the host, thus increasing the amount of material available for provoking an immune response without inducing clinical illness. This provocation primes the immune system to mount a vigorous response if the disease causing agent is ever introduced to the animal. Further, the immunity provided by a modified-live vaccine develops rather swiftly and since they mimic infection with the actual disease agent, it provides the best immune response.

Inactivated Vaccines (Killed)

Inactivated vaccines contain killed disease causing agents. Since the agent is killed, it is much more stable and has a longer shelf life, there is no possibility that they will revert to a virulent form, and they never spread from the vaccinated host to other animals. They are also safe for use in pregnant animals (a developing fetus may be susceptible to damage by some of the disease agents, even though attenuated, present in modified-live vaccines). Although more than a single dose of vaccine is always required and the duration of immunity is generally shorter, inactivated vaccines are regaining importance in this age of retrovirus and herpesvirus infections and concern about the safety of genetically modified microorganisms. Inactivated vaccines available for use in dogs include rabies, canine parvovirus, canine coronavirus, etc.

W. Jean Dodds, DVM
HEMOPET
938 Stanford Street
Santa Monica, CA 90403
310/ 828-4804
fax: 310/ 828-8251

Note: This schedule is the one I recommend and should not be interpreted to mean that other protocols recommended by a veterinarian would be less satisfactory. It's a matter of professional judgment and choice. For breeds or families of dogs susceptible to or affected with immune dysfunction, immune-mediated disease, immune-reactions associated with vaccinations, or autoimmune endocrine disease (e.g., thyroiditis, Addison's or Cushing's disease, diabetes, etc.) the above protocol is recommended.

After 1 year, annually measure serum antibody titers against specific canine infectious agents such as distemper and parvovirus. This is especially recommended for animals previously experiencing adverse vaccine reactions or breeds at higher risk for such reactions (e.g., Weimaraner, Akita, American Eskimo, Great Dane).

Another alternative to booster vaccinations is homeopathic nosodes. This option is considered an unconventional treatment that has not been scientifically proven to be efficacious. One controlled parvovirus nosode study did not adequately protect puppies under challenged conditions. However, data from Europe and clinical experience in North America support its use. If veterinarians choose to use homeopathic nosodes, their clients should be provided with an appropriate disclaimer and written informed consent should be obtained.

I use only killed 3 year rabies vaccine for adults and give it separated from other vaccines by 3-4 weeks. In some states, they may be able to give titer test result in lieu of booster.

I do NOT use Bordetella, corona virus, leptospirosis or Lyme vaccines unless these diseases are endemic in the local area pr specific kennel. Furthermore, the currently licensed leptospira bacterins do not contain the serovars causing the majority of clinical leptospirosis today.

I do NOT recommend vaccinating bitches during estrus, pregnancy or lactation.

W. Jean Dodds, DVM
HEMOPET

__________________
Kris L. Christine
Founder, Co-Trustee
THE RABIES CHALLENGE FUND
www.RabiesChallengeFund.org

*PARVOVIRUS (MLV)
-Initial- (e.g. Intervet Progard Puppy) 9 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 - 20
weeks
-1st Annual Booster-At 1 year MLV Distemper/ Parvovirus only
-Re-Administration Interval- *None needed.*
DURATION OF IMMUNITY 7.5 YEARS BY STUDIES. PROBABLY LIFETIME*. LONGER
STUDIES PENDING.
-COMMENTS -AT 6 WEEKS OF AGE, ONLY 30% OF PUPPIES ARE PROTECTED BUT
100% ARE EXPOSED TO THE VIRUS AT THE VET CLINIC.

Any references on these duration of immunity studies? For
Parvo/Rabies/Distemper etc. I'd like to read them and decide what I think of
them.

LEPTOSPIROSIS
Not recommended
1) There are an average of 12 cases reported annually in California.
-----
LYME*
NOT RECOMMENDED
1) LOW RISK IN CALIFORNIA.
2) 85% OF CASES ARE IN 9 NEW ENGLAND STATES AND WISCONSIN.
3) POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECT OF POLYARTHRITIS FROM WHOLE CELL BACTERIN.


Bear in mind that this is going to vary by region. (I don't give either of
these to my guys, due to low risk)

*BORETELLA
(Intranasal)
(killed) Only recommended 3 days prior to boarding when required.
Protects against 2 of the possible 8 causes of kennel cough.
Duration of immunity 6 months.

3 days? That seems awfully short. Do you know if there is any reasoning
behind 3 days? Or was it 'pulled out of the air. If the average duration of
immunity is 6 months (not going to argue there), then wouldn't a slightly
longer 'lag' time be more appropriate to ensure that full immunity is
achieved by the time they go in to the kennel?


GIARDIA*
NOT RECOMMENDED
EFFICACY OF VACCINE UNSUBSTANTIATED BY INDEPENDENT STUDIES

The studies I've read seem to indicate that it stops them getting symptoms,
but not necessarily from shedding the bug. I don't give it to my guys, but
depending on your situation, it may, or may not make sense.


Another alternative to booster vaccinations is homeopathic nosodes.
This option is considered an unconventional treatment that has not been
scientifically proven to be efficacious. One controlled parvovirus
nosode study did not adequately protect puppies under challenged
conditions. However, data from Europe and clinical experience in North
America support its use. If veterinarians choose to use homeopathic
nosodes, their clients should be provided with an appropriate
disclaimer and written informed consent should be obtained.

Have you read anything about nosodes? Unless someone can give me a remotely
plausible method by which they might work, they *scream* snakeoil salesman
to me.

Dale

"Dale Atkin" wrote:

Re Lymes and Lepto:

Bear in mind that this is going to vary by region. (I don't give either of
these to my guys, due to low risk)


I find it odd that the OP didn't bother to specify in the subject that Dr.
Dodds is *only* making recommendations for her own area.

Bordetella - which is spelled wrong in the original post, btw

3 days? That seems awfully short. Do you know if there is any reasoning
behind 3 days? Or was it 'pulled out of the air. If the average duration
of immunity is 6 months (not going to argue there), then wouldn't a
slightly longer 'lag' time be more appropriate to ensure that full
immunity is achieved by the time they go in to the kennel?

I find it odd that there's no mention of risk to dogs who frequent dog
parks and similar areas, nor those who travel to competitions. Bordetella is
the only vaccine my dogs get annually, since they're routinely around many
other dogs.
A few years back, literally dozens of dogs I know contracted kennel cough
over an approximate 2-week period; what they had in common was being walked
on the trails at a local park. Without exception, the dogs who'd been
inoculated were mildly ill for approximately 24 hours, the dogs who hadn't
been got extremely sick for 3-8 days. Morag was one of those who got deathly
ill - the SPCA had neglected to inoculate her.

Dale Atkin wrote:
*PARVOVIRUS (MLV)
-Initial- (e.g. Intervet Progard Puppy) 9 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 - 20
weeks
-1st Annual Booster-At 1 year MLV Distemper/ Parvovirus only
-Re-Administration Interval- *None needed.*
DURATION OF IMMUNITY 7.5 YEARS BY STUDIES. PROBABLY LIFETIME*. LONGER
STUDIES PENDING.
-COMMENTS -AT 6 WEEKS OF AGE, ONLY 30% OF PUPPIES ARE PROTECTED BUT
100% ARE EXPOSED TO THE VIRUS AT THE VET CLINIC.

Any references on these duration of immunity studies? For
Parvo/Rabies/Distemper etc. I'd like to read them and decide what I
think of them.

LEPTOSPIROSIS
Not recommended
1) There are an average of 12 cases reported annually in California.
-----
LYME*
NOT RECOMMENDED
1) LOW RISK IN CALIFORNIA.
2) 85% OF CASES ARE IN 9 NEW ENGLAND STATES AND WISCONSIN.
3) POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECT OF POLYARTHRITIS FROM WHOLE CELL BACTERIN.


Bear in mind that this is going to vary by region. (I don't give either
of these to my guys, due to low risk)

No kidding.

There are 12 reported cases of Lepto every
year just in my *neighborhood*.

I still don;t give the vaccine to Annie, but
then I don't hang out with her in higher risk
areas.

The Lyme I don't give *now*. While incidences
of it occuring within NYC are rising rapidly,
but its still low enough to take my chances.
However, if I move us up to Rhode Island as I
may do in a few years....where the property
is surrounded by long grasses and deer...I
will be seriously considering it.


*BORETELLA
(Intranasal)
(killed) Only recommended 3 days prior to boarding when required.
Protects against 2 of the possible 8 causes of kennel cough.
Duration of immunity 6 months.

3 days? That seems awfully short. Do you know if there is any reasoning
behind 3 days? Or was it 'pulled out of the air. If the average duration
of immunity is 6 months (not going to argue there), then wouldn't a
slightly longer 'lag' time be more appropriate to ensure that full
immunity is achieved by the time they go in to the kennel?

I didn't see who posted this, but I'm
assuming its an anti vax-er. (could be wrong
of course).

But, giving a dog a vax mere days before
thrusting them into an environment that would
further tax their immune systems seems like a
really bad idea.

If I were to do it, I would definitely give
the dog more time to recover from the vaccine
than 3 days.


GIARDIA*
NOT RECOMMENDED
EFFICACY OF VACCINE UNSUBSTANTIATED BY INDEPENDENT STUDIES

The studies I've read seem to indicate that it stops them getting
symptoms, but not necessarily from shedding the bug. I don't give it to
my guys, but depending on your situation, it may, or may not make sense.

There's a crapload of giardia around here. No
vet I know recommends the vax for it.


Another alternative to booster vaccinations is homeopathic nosodes.
This option is considered an unconventional treatment that has not been
scientifically proven to be efficacious. One controlled parvovirus
nosode study did not adequately protect puppies under challenged
conditions. However, data from Europe and clinical experience in North
America support its use. If veterinarians choose to use homeopathic
nosodes, their clients should be provided with an appropriate
disclaimer and written informed consent should be obtained.

Have you read anything about nosodes? Unless someone can give me a
remotely plausible method by which they might work, they *scream*
snakeoil salesman to me.


There's a lot of controversy about nosodes,
even among homepathic followers. I've read
various versions of using them, and most
versions contradict the other versions.

I've seen self defined online homeopathic
followers (much like one we have here) try
and tell people how to use them, only to have
them make the opposite recommendations of how
nosodes are traditionally used.

I guess they're often trying to take the
vaccination "model" and apply it somehow to
nosode use, when they're not even remotely
used the same way.

Do they work? Who knows. I don't. A lot of
the difficulty in using them is that you have
to know when there has been exposure. That's
tough to stay on top of, when you're passing
people and their dogs in the park.....how
you're supposed to know that your dog was
just exposed to parvo if the other dog isn;t
wearing a sign, or the owner doesn;t call you
(a perfect stranger) is something I've often
wondered.

And most old school homeopaths that I've been
aware of believe that using nosodes at any
other time than after recent exposure is the
absolute wrong way to use them.

So, its a conundrum either way....and that's
working under the assumption that they do
work. If they don't, then that adds a whole
nother layer of difficulty (or wheel
spinning, if you view it that way).

sionnach wrote:
"Dale Atkin" wrote:

Re Lymes and Lepto:
Bear in mind that this is going to vary by region. (I don't give either of
these to my guys, due to low risk)


I find it odd that the OP didn't bother to specify in the subject that Dr.
Dodds is *only* making recommendations for her own area.

Bordetella - which is spelled wrong in the original post, btw
3 days? That seems awfully short. Do you know if there is any reasoning
behind 3 days? Or was it 'pulled out of the air. If the average duration
of immunity is 6 months (not going to argue there), then wouldn't a
slightly longer 'lag' time be more appropriate to ensure that full
immunity is achieved by the time they go in to the kennel?

I find it odd that there's no mention of risk to dogs who frequent dog
parks and similar areas, nor those who travel to competitions. Bordetella is
the only vaccine my dogs get annually, since they're routinely around many
other dogs.
A few years back, literally dozens of dogs I know contracted kennel cough
over an approximate 2-week period; what they had in common was being walked
on the trails at a local park. Without exception, the dogs who'd been
inoculated were mildly ill for approximately 24 hours, the dogs who hadn't
been got extremely sick for 3-8 days. Morag was one of those who got deathly
ill - the SPCA had neglected to inoculate her.



Interesting. That's the kind of vaccine that
I probably *wouldn't* ever give. But then I
don't get flu shots either.

If I'm going to have strange things injected
into my charges, then its going to be for
something that they have a likelihood of
dying from, or that will negatively impact
them for an extremely long time (like Lyme,
if in a very high risk area).

I get the flu every year like clockwork. Its
annoying, but its over in a week. I'm more
comfortable with that than with putting
preservatives into my body along with
whatever virus I'm being "protected" from.

(warning: old lady rant follows)

When I was a kid (any good Old Lady Rant
starts this way :-), there were just the
basic few vaccinations for things that would
either kill you or maim you. I can count on
one hand the number of vaccines that were
required.

Someone I know was just complaining about how
many vaccines his grand daughter was required
to have before she was even a year old.

36


The hospital talked the mother into
vaccinating her for several more as well.
Things she probably won't ever come into
contact with. And they made the mom feel as
though she was negligent if she didn't allow
them to do ALL of them. That's a bit frigging
much, as far as I'm concerned.

I'm not a huge conspiracy theorist, nor do I
think the link between Autism and vaccines is
all that strong (I think the genetic
connection has been shown a LOT more
persuasively than the vaccine connection has,
IMO). But I do see the value in keeping the
things we inject into a child's body (whether
human or other species) to a real minimum.

And I think the over-reactive zealots (can't
think of any off the top of my head, for some
reaon ;-) are a natural off shoot of these
over the top requirements.

(/end Old Lady Rant/)

Interesting. That's the kind of vaccine that I probably *wouldn't* ever
give. But then I don't get flu shots either.

If I'm going to have strange things injected into my charges, then its
going to be for something that they have a likelihood of dying from, or
that will negatively impact them for an extremely long time (like Lyme, if
in a very high risk area).

I get the flu every year like clockwork. Its annoying, but its over in a
week. I'm more comfortable with that than with putting preservatives into
my body along with whatever virus I'm being "protected" from.

On a population level, there may in fact be some real science to support
these recommendations. Had a prof a couple of years back for evolution who
exposed me to some interesting models of disease evolution in the presence
of imperfect vaccination. Interestingly, (it seems as though) vaccination
will tend to select for the more virulent/pathogenic strains of a disease.
In other words, by vaccinating everyone against 'the flu', the nasty strains
of the flu have an advantage over the 'benign' ones and tend to increase
within the population.

On an individual level of course the situation is a little different.
Personally, I'll vaccinate about 10 days before I bring my dog in to a
'higher risk' situation, but I don't worry about the day to day 'random'
exposure.

Dale

I didn't see who posted this, but I'm assuming its an anti vax-er. (could
be wrong of course).

It was originally posted by Kris Christine. She periodically posts re.
rabies laws in different areas. Don't know if she is explicitly
"anti-vaccination", or more for 'tempered' vaccination.


GIARDIA*
NOT RECOMMENDED
EFFICACY OF VACCINE UNSUBSTANTIATED BY INDEPENDENT STUDIES

The studies I've read seem to indicate that it stops them getting
symptoms, but not necessarily from shedding the bug. I don't give it to
my guys, but depending on your situation, it may, or may not make sense.

There's a crapload of giardia around here. No vet I know recommends the
vax for it.


I don't know anyone who recommends it 'carte blanche' in general, but I do
know a few people who will recommend it, in very specific circumstances.
(things like where periodic reinfection may be unavoidable, and you're
mostly concerned about controlling the symptoms).

Do they work? Who knows. I don't. A lot of the difficulty in using them is
that you have to know when there has been exposure. That's tough to stay
on top of, when you're passing people and their dogs in the park.....how
you're supposed to know that your dog was just exposed to parvo if the
other dog isn;t wearing a sign, or the owner doesn;t call you (a perfect
stranger) is something I've often wondered.

My feeling (and its just a feeling, not based on any research) is that any
success people have had with them is likely no better than a reasonably
picked control group. A lot of people will go to using nosodes after using a
conventional vaccine, and given that the suspected duration of immunity
following the typical vaccinations is on the upswing, well one might assume
that animal was being protected by the nosode, when in fact they were still
being protected by the vaccine.

My understanding of nosodes (please correct me if flawed...its been a while
since I looked them up) is that they are meant to somehow infuse the
recipient with the 'energy pattern' from an infected individual, and use
that to train the immune system. In general, no actual particles (of
anything) are transfered. So essentially, you are injecting 'sterile' water,
and hoping that will have an effect.

I have a bit of a hard time swallowing that.

Dale

Reference on Duration of Immunity below. I am not "anti-vaccine" but advocate against overvaccination. Dr. Ronald Schultz says that his studies using nosodes showed less protection against disease than using saline injections.

Duration of Immunity to Canine Vaccines: What We Know and Don't Know, Dr. Ronald Schultz Duration of Immunity

What Everyone Needs to Know about Canine Vaccines, Dr. Ronald Schultz
What Everyone Needs to Know About Canine Vaccines

Vaccination: An Overview Dr. Melissa Kennedy, DVM360 Vaccination: An overview (Proceedings) - Veterinary Healthcare

World Small Animal Veterinary Association 2007 Vaccine Guidelines - WSAVA - Scientific Advisory Committee Scroll down to Vaccine Guidelines 2007 (PDF)

The 2003 American Animal Hospital Association's Canine Vaccine Guidelines are accessible online at Special Report .

The 2006 American Animal Hospital Association's Canine Vaccine Guidelines are downloadable in PDF format at About AAHA .

Veterinarian, Dr. Robert Rogers,has an excellent presentation on veterinary vaccines at Home

__________________
Kris L. Christine
Founder, Co-Trustee
THE RABIES CHALLENGE FUND
www.RabiesChallengeFund.org