I do with my horses, but never really thought about it for dogs.
They have frequent vaccination clinics at our local Tractor Supply, so technically I could stagger my 2 year old’s vaccines, which are all coming due. Rabies, 5 in 1, Lepto, Bordetella.
Seems like a lot all at once.
My horses have had reaction, which is why I prefer to stagger theirs. Would it make sense for dogs also?
I do. All depends on when my dogs received their vaccinations from the shelters they came from and when I got them to my vet. Unfortunately both dogs are on different schedules so I make multiple trips to my vet during the year to keep them both on schedule. It seems to be easier on them when the vaccines are broken up.
I stagger my mares vaccines too.
Yes, I do. Mainly so that if a dog has a reaction, you know to which vaccine.
But I also try not to give too many at once; and my vet agrees that this is good practice. That is a lot of stuff to introduce to an immune system at once.
I always staggered my lab’s shots. The vet informed me he will only be vaccinating for Rabies this year due to her age. He is doing titers instead and whatever she needs, he will vaccinate for. Her immune system isn’t as good as it used to be. She turns 15 in 2 months.
We often split vaccines if we’re on a year where more than 3 are due. After the initial series, I do both Rabies and distemper combination as three years. Very few of my patients get bordetella
Yes - for all my animals - canine - feline - equine. .
January is when everyone gets their shots. I’ve never had issues with my dogs.
I split when I made my own schedule and lived two miles from my vet. Now, I’m not sure how feasible it will be to take time off for multiple days to drive 20 miles the opposite direction from work.
Another one who staggers.
My little dog will have reactions, so I plan to split hers. My big dog has never once had an issue.
I’ve never had a dog or horse react, nor have I ever had a reaction. So no, I don’t split them up. I suppose if I ever did have one that reacted then perhaps I would split them up.
However, what do all of you mean by reactions? I don’t consider soreness or light swelling a reaction, those are normal side effects.
Marshfield, I can’t quote, but why do so few of your patients get bordetella? I understand it is a lifestyle vaccine like lepto, but don’t your patients board or go to dog parks?
I have little dogs weighing between 9 and 20lbs, so the vets always recommend staggering. I don’t think they would do them all at once even if I asked, but I have never challenged their recommendation to find out.
I go to the vetco clinics at petco, so there are no extra appointment fees and it’s no skin off my back to go twice.
I wouldn’t even do titers in a 15 year old Labrador. I would give rabies, and that’s it, unless your lifestyle makes you concerned about lepto, Lyme, or Bordetella.
I give DAP q3 years and stop when the dog is 9-10 years old.
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