Vaccinating as Your Dog Gets Older
It was once standard practice that the veterinarian needed to see your dog once a year after he was given his 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 he aged. Now, it is understood that vaccines can continue to protect a dog for longer than one year, and that to over-vaccinate is potentially harmful. Does this mean that if your dog is looking and acting healthy he may not need his annual veterinary visit? No!
Is a combination vaccine safe for my puppy or dog?
Now that leptospirosis is considered a noncore 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 his yearly checkup, the vet will examine your dog from head to tail, including his 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, 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. He or she can also perform a blood test to assess the level of antibody concentration in the blood (a titer). This test is helpful if you're concerned about something like Lyme disease or kennel cough in your area because it will show whether your dog is adequately protected or needs a booster shot.
