Senior Dog Vaccinations

[Margaret]

I am sure this topic has been discussed before but I would appreciate your input. My two senior dogs are due for their yearly vaccinations. I am wondering if I should discuss with my vet the possibility of not vaccinating this year. Our miniature schnauzer is 13 and except for a grade 1 heart murmur is in excellent health. She has a geriatric blood panel done every 6 months. She has been vaccinated yearly. Our cocker spaniel is 16. She has pancreatic insufficiency, inflammatory bowel disease and a grade 4 heart murmur. Despite these conditions she is a happy girl. We adopted her 3 years ago from the Humane Society so we don't know her vaccination history before that time but we have had her vaccinated yearly since we got her. Our dogs are generally vaccinated for distemper, parvovirus, bordetella, hepatitis and rabies (every 2 years). Fortunately lyme disease and heart worm are not a problem where we live in western Canada. We do not 'have' to vaccinate for rabies unless we are travelling out of the province. Is it time to assume that these two gals have had enough vaccinations to protect them?

[Traci]

If they are not exposed to other dogs who haven't been vaccinated, they are probably protected beyond the norm, in which you could cease their vaccination schedules. However, vaccinations are based on the individual dog and his/her environmental risk, so do discuss any of those potential risks thoroughly with your vet. If there is even the slightest risk, then perhaps vaccinating every 3 years would be better than none at all. In your case, and only based on your post, I would say further vaccinations are not necessary, unless you plan to travel, in which case a health certificate including proof of rabies vaccination would be necessary. (unless you can get a waiver based on a concurrent health condition from your vet)

[KathyLynn]

Please, by all means, check into vaccination protocols. There is documented literature by some Universities as well as some veterinarians on this highly controversial issue. Of course, there is always 2 sides to every issue and ultimately the decision will be up to you, the dog owner.