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These are my views on Vaccine Protocols.
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The Vaccine Protocol that I use is based on the extensive research of Dr.
Jean Dodds and what I have found to be true about their overall health,
susceptibility to disease and immunity because of their diet, vaccines, exercise
and genetics. The healthy diet of a well exercised dog can be more meaningful in
maintaining them, free of disease, than vaccinations or medical intervention.
Please, see the diet portion for some suggestions for a nutritionally balanced
diet for a Swissy.
It is my belief that the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is sensitive to over
vaccination. All 27 Veterinary Colleges now encourage a more moderate regiment
of vaccinations. Each geographic area of the country has certain diseases are
more prevalent than others. In your area, your dog will need to be vaccinated
against those that would put your dog at risk. You will want to see to it that
your dog has sufficient titers to protect against them those. When your puppy is
born, the ‘first milk’ contains Colostrum which is full of immunity to a wide
range of infections and diseases. Without this first milk, a puppy would grow
sick and die within a few days of birth. After that, each puppy receives the
same immunity as their mother from their mother’s milk and that immunity wears
off around the 8th week, a few weeks after your puppy is weaned. Generally, your
puppy will need it’s first vaccination at 7-8 weeks and, afterwards, they will
‘shed’ those diseases for about 3 days, as they develop the titers that protect
them later. During that 3 day period, they should not be in contact with any
canine that has not been vaccinated since the unvaccinated can actually get the
disease from the newly vaccinated puppy.
They should be vaccinated at again at 12 and 16 weeks after the first shot given
at 8 weeks. It is of no benefit to vaccinate more frequently than every 3-4
weeks. Vaccinating them after 16 weeks only wipes out the present titers and
replaces them with new titers and is, therefore, unnecessary.
They will need a Rabies vaccine at 6 months or later. It has been found that
once they have sufficient titers against Rabies, they may never need another
Rabies vaccine. I recognize that most areas require Rabies Vaccines be given
every 1 to 3 years. If you draw blood and submit it the local Veterinary lab to
check for sufficient titers, you’ll get a statement that your dogs has titers
which will prevent them from getting or having Rabies. I have done this and been
prepared to present this statement if approached by the authorities about Rabies
protection. I am not suggesting that you break the law, only you consider an
alternative approach to prove that your dog has been vaccinated recently enough
to have sufficient titers against Rabies. More over, there hasn’t been a case of
Canine Rabies in my area for over 50 years. The last large animal to have Rabies
in the NW was a Llama 20 years ago. We saw 3 cases of Rabies in bats in the last
few years but we don’t have a lot of bats and if you and your dog aren’t
spelunking at dusk, the chances of getting bitten by a bat are remote. The
Rabies Vaccine is very strong and over vaccinating or vaccinating too young can
make your dog extremely body sensitive, painful and ill. I’ve heard of organ
dysfunction and hyperthyroidism because of over vaccinating.
Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are often allergic to the Leptosporosis vaccine if
given at a young age. If a young puppy is vaccinated with the Lepto vaccine,
they can ‘puff up like a tick’, have labored breathing and even go into a
respiratory depression and possibly die. Do not vaccinate your puppy with Lepto
until they are a year or older and only if the area you live in has Cattle and
Lepto is prevalent. I live in the Pacific NW, near Seattle, and there hasn’t
been a case of Lepto here in many years. There is no reason to vaccinate a dog
here for Lepto. Unless you and your pup live in cattle country and your area has
had some incidences of Lepto, you may not need to vaccinate for Lepto either.
The Corona Vaccine is very severe and this is a disease that is rarely fatal. If
your puppy or dog has a strong immune system and is generally healthy, it’s
unlikely that your dog will be catching the Corona Virus. Since the vaccine is
more harmful than the disease, and the disease isn’t usually fatal, I do not
vaccine for Corona on my own dogs.
The Bordatella Vaccine protects the dog vaccinated from about 25 of the 125
Bordatella strains that are present in most populated areas. Bordatella, put
simply, is a dog cold, and is not as serious as a sinus infection. They sneeze,
get nasal discharge, icky eyes and may feel puny for a couple of days. They can
catch Bordatella at the park, doggy daycare, training class…and some of those
places often require that you immunize against it before your puppy is allowed
to attend. If that is the case, Bordatella Vaccine that is given as a Shot is
preferred over the Bordatella Vaccine that is ‘sckooshed in the Nose. The
benefits of enrolling your 12-16 week old puppy at Puppy Kindergarten far out
way the risks of vaccinating for Bordatella. The Midwest has a very severe
strain of Bordatella that can kill, if you live in an area where that strain is
present, I strongly recommend that you protect your dog against it.
In Summary:
Each puppy from here has gotten a DPV Shot three days before they leave at 8 weeks.
I recommend that you vaccinate your puppy at:
At 12 weeks: Give DPV. ________________
At 16 weeks: Give DPV or DA2PPV _______
After 6 months: Rabies _____________ Check Titers and only vaccinate if needed
Mfg.__________ number______________
Each puppy from my house is dewormed several times on this schedule:
Strongid-T: at 2, 4 and 6 weeks ___________, __________, __________
Panacur: 8 weeks _____________
De-worm your Swissy once a year and more frequently, if needed. A ‘fecal sample’
examined by your Vet may be required to get the prescribed Dewormer. There are
several types of worms. Some need a specific Dewormer to be killed and expelled.
Proper nutrition and good exercise is a key to their overall health, immunity
and longevity. Please, talk to me about your puppy's diet and condition as it
matures.
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