George....again

[Cleaverton]

Hi guys, it's me again....another George question

George is 13 weeks old today and is settling in quite nicely. He's still out to get Meg, the Pom, but we are working on that. My question is about vaccinations.

George got a parvovirus shot at 5 weeks and a 5 way shot at 7 weeks from his breeder (she even put the stickers from the shots on his shot record). He got parvovirus, distemper, pairnovirus shot at my vets at 9 weeks and 12 weeks. He's scheduled for another set of shots at 16 weeks. I asked why so many??? Vets office said they don't count shots given by breeders because they can't be 100% sure they were stored appropriately or actually given. I totally trust my vet (been using him for years and years), but I'm confident my breeder gave the shots as she indicated.

How much is too much? If he were your Newfie would you go ahead with the 16 week shots or be confident he was appropriately vaccinated already?

Thanks!
Christi

 

[Jeannie]

First thing, I read somewhere I think it was in a article from Dr Jean Dobbs, that any vaccines given to a dog under 8 weeks of age depletes the immune system instead of building it up. I own a boarding kennel and I do not accept owner or breeder given vaccines because I have no proof the vaccines actually went into the dog or it was a good vaccines. A sticker on a paper is nothing.

An example. My sister just got a GSD puppy. The breeder supposedly gave the first set of shots. My sister took the dog to the vet for the 'second' set of shots on a Wednesday. By Sunday the dog was sick. By Monday when the vet opened the dog was vomiting more with loose stool. The puppy tested positive for parvo even though my sister had the dog for 3 weeks and had taken the dog no where. The vet said he does not think the dog had the first set of shots since puppies can get parvo from their first shot not the 2nd. Anyway the puppy was critical and put on IVs with meds. Luckily my sister was diligent and caught the parvo early. The puppy survived.

I'd question any breeder who gave vaccines at 5 and 7 weeks, but that is just my opinion.

 

[Cleaverton]

Thanks Jeannie. I trust my vet, but scared of over vaccinating and what kind of problems that might cause. Wonder why breeders even give shots (especially at such an early age) if most vets don't acknowledge & count those shots. Seems like undo stress on puppy!

 

[CathyC.]

Could you ask for titres?

 

[Franksmum01]

It's different over here, but I'm sure that if your vet is aware he may have been vaccinated by the breeder the vet will not do anything to harm George. If the vet is trustworthy I would go with their recommendation.

 

[Puppypeoplenj]

We followed a very limited vaccination schedule, the least allowed by Dr. Dodds. I too was very concerned about over-vaccination. I did 12 weeks (at breeder's) and 16 weeks at home.

 

[Sound Bay Newfs]

Be careful not to over vaccinate! Vets love to do that! If you trust your breeder then go with that. Rabies should not be given before 5 or 6 mo of age and not with ant other vaccinations. First shots should be around 8 weeks, then 12, then 16 weeks ( 4 weeks apart).

 

[chumleysma]

Good question. The biggest markup for a vet is vaccinations. I'd never let them double up on vaccinations just because they've not shown proof of priors. Protect his immune system from overload as he's also getting dewormed as well.
I've watched a puppy dying of Parvovirus at an animal hospital until I couldn't stand it anymore. I begged the vets to put him down as ownership was signed over. Thankfully, they did as no animal should have to go through that just to see if they'll survive. That's why I was so excited to see this news clipping...

 

[Cleaverton]

Thank you everyone! I need to study up on this and ask about titer.

 

[Jeannie]

Usually titers are given after the dog has completed the puppy shots and one set of adult shots. I've never had a dog not titer.

 

[speaker]

I would be a bit careful with titers. Thus far I haven't found a single pet day camp that will take them, and none of the therapy organizations I looked into will accept them either.

 

[fall3n-ang3l]

In the uk, there is different brands of vaccernstions,so if the breeders use one and the vets use a different brand, they say it won't protect the dog or if the vets don't use that brand, so they do say it's better not to get them done by the breeder

 

[dreamchaser456]

Where I am in Virginia, USA shots not given by the vet are not considered given. My vet also bears the cost of treatment should one of my dogs "catch" something that they have been vax for and shots not given by a vet won't count. I got a rescue at 6 months and she had been given some shots, the vet started her over and we've had no problems from them. When I had the shot records (from a vet) for my other rescue those were counted and didn't need to start over.