Parvo shots

[Marty]

All of a sudden, my Vet is not looking good in my eyes....Winnie has had 16 parvo shots in her 10 years, and I just found out once every 3 years is enough. His recommendation has been every 6 months...I am really ;upset right now...

[davet]

i think he/she beleives the parvo vac is not as long lasting,,will wait for traci's response here...but one thing about your own private pet--you have the right to say yes or no...there is no rules that says you have to follow your vet or MD's advice....if you have a show dog that is going to shows all the time he/she may be right...if it is just a household pet pet then he/she is wrong...wait for traci...

[Traci]

All of a sudden, my Vet is not looking good in my eyes....Winnie has had 16 parvo shots in her 10 years, and I just found out once every 3 years is enough. His recommendation has been every 6 months...I am really ;upset right now...

Even if your vet was using the old standard, this figure should only be 13, technically, 3 puppy boosters, one annually up until now (some vets prefer 4 puppy boosters). Not sure if I understand you correctly, but if your vet suggests a parvo vaccine every six months, he either doesn't have much faith in the parvo vaccine he is administering, or he is overzealous.

Either decline any more new parvo vaccines or get a new vet. In adult dogs, the vaccine can be given every three years, some vets prefer annually if they feel their client's dog is heavily exposed to infected pups, or is constantly around other unvaccinated dogs or that the dog has a lowered immune function. Even if she were exposed, chances are it would be mild and self-limiting with minimal treatment. It's a lowered immune function or immunosuppression or other primary disease state that you would worry about, because immunosuppressed dogs are more susceptible to the virus or any other viral.

[Rachel]

website about parvo:

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/canine_parvovirus.html

Here is that same website's discussion of the parvo vaccination protocol:

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/vaccina ... ntion.html

where they say:

There has been some thought that predisposed breeds should be vaccinated every 6 months. Vaccinating every 6 months was common in the early 1980’s when the virus was new and in some clinics this policy has simply persisted. Others like to vaccinate certain breeds every 6 months (as mentioned, predisposed breeds include American pit bull terriers, rottweilers, and doberman pinschers). Others prefer to run vaccine “titers” to determine if a vaccine should be given or not.

There has also been some thought that annual vaccination is not necessary, especially for a disease where adult dogs are considered low risk. Many university teaching hospitals have switched to an every 3 year schedule for adult dogs. There is still controversy regarding this practice, especially given possible financial impact to most veterinary hospitals. Do not be surprised if your veterinarian has chosen to follow the university and begin recommending a 3 year vaccination protocol for this virus.

Maybe your Vet is just not current on the most recent protocols and is still "stuck" on the 1980's belief that dogs should get a parvo vaccination every six months, as quoted above.

I think if I suspected that my own Vet was not up on the latest vaccination protocols, I would consider switching to a Vet who is more current on the most recent protocols and information.

[Traci]

There has been some thought that predisposed breeds should be vaccinated every 6 months. Vaccinating every 6 months was common in the early 1980’s when the virus was new and in some clinics this policy has simply persisted. Others like to vaccinate certain breeds every 6 months (as mentioned, predisposed breeds include American pit bull terriers, rottweilers, and doberman pinschers). Others prefer to run vaccine “titers” to determine if a vaccine should be given or not.

Even then, that theory was faulty, I can't imagine they were referring to adult dogs, those breeds stated are still the breeds most commonly to suffer parvo (add labs, malmutes, huskies, small breed dogs, etc), but in puppyhood or early adulthood when boosters were not timely or the owner failed to get them up-to-date. Also, the vaccine has been improved since then.

And until titers are perfected, I wouldn't rely on them soley to measure immunity.

[Marty]

She goes in once a year for check-up and booster, then at the 6 mo. mark we get a notice for another parvo only. She is a house dog, not a show dog, rarely leaves the back yard. He knows this. I have heard bad stories about some other Vets in town, and there is only one other clinic I would consider...and my Vet actually rotates weekends and emergencies with them.Guess I will just have to have a talk with him....

[Rachel]

And until titers are perfected, I wouldn't rely on them soley to measure immunity.

I agree 100%, was just quoting the marvistavet website on that.

My Vet has told me that nobody really even knows for sure what level of antibodies actually confers immunity for any specific disease, so titers cannot be relied upon to conclusively prove that the dog does have immunity.

[Rachel]

She goes in once a year for check-up and booster, then at the 6 mo. mark we get a notice for another parvo only. She is a house dog, not a show dog, rarely leaves the back yard. He knows this. I have heard bad stories about some other Vets in town, and there is only one other clinic I would consider...and my Vet actually rotates weekends and emergencies with them.Guess I will just have to have a talk with him....

That is a bit of a dilemma if you did want to change Vets so maybe you do just need to talk to your Vet and discuss the vaccination protocols with him.

Here is a website you should have a look at. There is info there you can print out and bring to your Vet so you won't just be saying "I heard from somebody on the Internet that vaccinating for Parvo every six months isn't neccessary".

http://www.vin.com/proceedings/Proceedi ... 2&PID=2614

This is an article written by a Professor of Veterinary Medicine who is also a Boarded Internal Medicine Diplomate (note the DACVIM initials after his name)

In particular re: Parvo vaccination he says this:

Canine Parvovirus. Canine parvovirus-2 (CPV-2) vaccines are available as inactivated or MLV products. MLV products offer better protection against shedding of virulent virus following challenge than inactivated vaccines. For this reason, older dogs that will be housed with younger susceptible animals should be vaccinated with MLV vaccines. In case of an outbreak, MLV vaccines should always be used. MLV CPV-2 products are consistently shed in the feces of vaccinated dogs and will infect contact animals and may cause weak positive reactions on fecal parvovirus ELISA tests. Duration of immunity of MLV CPV-2 vaccines is at least 7 years based on challenge studies; over-vaccination with this product occurs regularly. The duration of immunity subsequent to administration of inactivated (killed) CPV products has been shown to protect puppies from challenge for at least 16 months post-vaccination.

There is also a list (further down on the page) of the current recommendations for canine vaccination protocols.

re Parvo it says under "comments":

Although annual boosters are recommended by vaccine manufacturers, studies have shown protection against challenge up to 7 years post-vaccination with MLV vaccine.

I don't know which exact type of parvo vaccination your Vet is giving to your dog every six months, but I think you do need to have a talk with your Vet.

Hope this helps

[Marty]

I have read through all the links, plus many others,and this just doesn't seem right... I know there are different vacs, but are there different strengths which could account for this? Yes, he could still be working in the 80's, but it is an AAHA accredited hospital....the only one in town. I would assume that means he keeps up with things!

[Traci]

AAHA accredidation means the clinic has passed and provides certain standards of medicine and care. But, if your vet is still stuck in the old protocols, it's time for a change. You can discuss the issue with him or choose to find a vet who is more willing to adapt the new protocols. The choice must be yours, although I would start with a discussion with your vet first, because it's hard on a client to switch vets after having established that vet-client-patient relationship.