Vaccination Protocols

There are a lot of misconceptions about vaccinations. Vaccinating your dog is not a foolproof way of insuring they will not become sick or not get the disease being vaccinated for. The reason for vaccinating is to decrease the chances of the dog acquiring the disease, and/or reducing the effects of the disease should the dog become sick. They are not a 100% guarantee that your dog will not contract a disease.

There are many variables that affect the effectiveness of a particular vaccine, such as the individual immune system of the dog, the type of vaccine (killed, modified live, manufacturing process), how it is stored, method and place of injection site, and the prevalence of disease in the area or the dog's risk of exposure. Some dogs will also react poorly to vaccinations, or, in the case of internasal bordetella occasionally, may actually experience full symptoms of the disease.

There are two basic views on vaccination schedules. One, is to vaccinate at a slightly older age (between 7 and 9 weeks) when theoretically the maternal antibodies are declining and the vaccination can start to take over. Then vaccinate about every three weeks until 15 or 16 weeks. Typically the standard combination shots take three weeks to reach a peak effectiveness, so at about the time one would be topping out, you would give another, etc. This gives the immune system a little breathing time because as the second shot is on the upside, the first is leveling off. The other common method is to vaccinate every two weeks from 6 weeks of age. The idea here is to over vaccinate them so if you are at a time when maternal antibody interference occurs, you will catch it early basically by overpowering the maternal antibodies, and the puppy’s immune system is hopefully always on the upside as a result of the vaccination. The problem is, usually the puppy's immune system is on the upside and in overdrive all the time in reaction to the vaccines. This has been thought to be the cause of some allergies and other issues as the dog gets older. Many dogs as they reached adulthood developed skin and food allergies. Many dogs have also been diagnosed with autoimmune hemolytic anemia, linked to the 'blast' vaccinating as a pup. The immune system is so 'busy' responding to the vaccinations it has little time to react to normal environmental things. In either method you run the risk of vaccinating at a time when the maternal antibodies will cancel out the vaccination response leaving the puppy totally unprotected. All vets are also different, and remember your concerns are what your vet should consider when setting up a vaccination schedule. If they are vaccinating every puppy that comes through the same way like an assembly line, you need to consider what your current situation is and reach a compromise. It is your puppy you are concerned about, not some 'standard' schedule, and your vet should be willing to work with you. Not all vaccination brands and types are created equal. Make sure you know what your dog has received.

A couple of years ago, the Colorado State University, Texas A&M, and the University of Wisconsin, to name a few, have implemented what started at Colorado State as “Program 1701". This vaccination protocol recommends three standard vaccinations for puppies in a series three to four weeks apart, a booster at one year, and vaccinations every three years thereafter. An article written by Dr. Susan Thorpe Vargas suggests splitting the early first vaccine to better coincide with maternal antibody drop off.

At Stahlrosenhof Kennels we have begun using nomographs to determine the best time to begin vaccinating puppies. More information on this process can be found HERE.

We strongly encourage you to consult with your vet on developing a vaccination schedule after the puppy series for your dog that is suitable for your area as well as your training and travel schedule. You may also find more valuable information at your nearest veterinary teaching hospital. You can use the checklist that will come with your new puppy packet to help guide you with a vaccination protocol appropriate for your situation.

When your puppy leaves us he/she will be accompanied by a certificate of vaccination by the kennel listing what was given, and relevant information regarding the vaccination type, or the date a vaccine should be given based on the nomograph. We will also provide you with tentative dates for the future vaccinations. They should be vaccinated at one year after their last puppy vaccine, then every three years(*).You can also titer your dog in lieu of vaccinations.

We have the ability to personalize vaccination schedules for each dog, and although a bit more work, seems to have proved very successful. This of course also allows us to vaccinate our puppies in a much safer and controlled way.
Please read the vaccination information that accompanies your puppy carefully. Any same type antigen vaccine given less than 3 weeks apart, or any distemper vaccine given prior to 14 weeks will void your contract.

References:

Colorado State University’s Small Animal Vaccination Protocol *
(this unfortunately is an updated less detailed version than the original I was given)

“The Vaccine Controversy” Dr. Susan Thorpe Vargas MS, Ph.D.

“Overcoming Maternal Antibody Interference with Canine Parvovirus Vaccination” Pfizer Animal Health Technical Bulletin

Kirk’s Current Veterinary Therapy XIII “Vaccines and Vaccinations: Issues for the 21st Century” pp 250 - 258

Interesting vaccination article on a Rottie rescue site can be found here

Questions / Comments

If you have any questions at all about the vaccinations, our process, or what your puppy will need after you take him / her home, please ask. Some of your contract guarantees are dependent upon proper vaccination of your puppy.

Please email us with any questions you may have.