Vaccinations For Dogs

Now that you have had a chance to see the core and non-core vaccinations available for dogs; it is easy to see the difference.  Core vaccinations are necessary for maintaining a healthy dog.  Non-core vaccinations are needed if your dog has potential exposure to those diseases or if the disease is more prevalent in your geographical area.  To sum up; core vaccines should be given to your dog, non-core vaccinations are your choice(seek your veterinarian's advice on which of the non-core vaccines should be used for your particular situation.)  If your dog is not at risk for contracting the non-core diseases, then it really isn't necessary to use them and more people are making that choice today.  Responsible pet owners do not want to over-vaccinate their furry companions. 

Vaccinating our dogs is something that will continue to evolve.  The general rule from the past was once your puppy had received their regimen of puppy vaccinations that an annual booster was necessary.  Some individuals feel that every 3 years would be more appropriate than annually.  There are even those that feel once the puppy regimen is completed then they are protected for life.  Many feel it is not necessary to vaccinate our elderly dogs; the line of thought being their systems have plenty of antibodies for protecting them against these diseases.  Some people are opting to have a titer test done annually.  A titer test is a blood test to determine the level of immune defenses in your dog; if the level is sufficient then the thought is a vaccination is not needed.  I would advise that you do research on your own regarding vaccinations and then discuss your concerns with your veterinarian. 

(provided by Brandykegs Saint Bernards)
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