How frequently should I vaccinate my dog?
The veterinary profession has spent the past six to seven
years reexamining and discussing vaccine duration of immunity and revising
vaccination protocols accordingly to make sure that companion animals get care
that is tailored to their lifestyles. The goal is to make sure that an
individual’s vaccine protocol is protecting them from risks they face, without
vaccinating unnecessarily.
For example, in veterinarian practice we ask dog owners
to describe whether their dogs ever go outdoors or whether they are exclusively
indoors and what other animals they might come in contact with. If a dog is
exclusively indoors, we design a different vaccine protocol than if it goes out
regularly or “escapes” with any frequency. Dogs that go to boarding facilities,
grooming parlors or doggie daycares will have different recommendations than
dogs that do not. The days of designing a single vaccine protocol for an entire
species are over.
Good communication is the best tool in designing
programs that are proper for your pets. I suggest having a discussion with a
veterinarian in your area, giving all of the information you know about your
pets’ lifestyles. With that information, your veterinarian can explain what
vaccinations he or she would recommend, at what frequency and why. At that point
you can make an informed decision on a vaccination protocol designed
specifically for your pet.
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