Vaccinating as Your Dog Gets Older
It was once standard practice that the veterinarian needed to see your dog once a year after she was given her full range of vaccines. This was to administer booster shots as well as to give an overall evaluation so your dog's condition could be monitored as she aged. Now, it is understood that vaccines can continue to protect a dog for longer than one year, and that to overvaccinate is potentially harmful. Does this mean that if your dog is looking and acting healthy she may not need his annual veterinary visit? No!
Is a combination vaccine safe for my puppy or dog?
Now that leptospirosis is considered a non-core disease that not all dogs may need to be vaccinated against, fewer puppies and dogs are given what was once a standard combination vaccine: DHLPP (distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza virus — a contributor to kennel cough — and parvovirus). Ask your veterinarian if any of the shots your puppy or dog is scheduled to receive is a combination vaccine and what the advantages or disadvantages might be.
At her yearly checkup, the vet will examine your dog from head to tail, including her eyes, ears, mouth, feet, limbs, chest, back, and anus. He will ask you about any lumps or bumps he might detect, or any swellings or tender spots. He'll let you know if your dog's teeth need a scraping (as ours do occasionally), and he'll advise you about your dog's weight and overall condition.
If you live in an area with a high susceptibility to a particular kind of disease, or if you plan to board or travel extensively with your dog, your veterinarian may recommend a vaccine to protect your dog.
There is a lot of controversy about how frequently dogs (and people!)should be vaccinated, and how much of a vaccine to use. While you certainly want to protect your dog against potentially fatal diseases, you don't want to introduce an ailment by over-vaccinating. In trying to decide what is best for your dog, it's important to work with a veterinarian whom you trust. There is much conflicting information on the Internet, even though it's a handy source for investigating issues.
One thing that many veterinarians do before giving a vaccine is to perform a blood test to assess the level of antibody concentration in the blood. This test, known as a titer, can let the veterinarian know whether your dog is adequately protected or whether she needs a booster shot of any kind. This is especially helpful if you're concerned about something like Lyme disease or kennel cough in your area.
If you've been following the preventive measures described here, you will be proud to hear your veterinarian tell you how healthy your dog looks and acts. Way to go! That's a compliment to the kind of care you're giving your best friend. Keep it up.
