Vaccinations in Older Dogs

Puppies go through a series of vaccinations and after they are finished, annual vaccinations are given. What if your dog is an indoor dog and makes no other contact with other dogs? Should you still vaccinate every single year? This article will take a look at how many veterinarians are beginning to decrease their vaccination protocol based on the dog's exposure level. All vaccinations (except for the 3yr Rabies vaccination) can be modified based on the dog's exposure level and it is becoming more and more common for veterinarians to do this. Usually, the decreased vaccination protocol will begin at the ages of 5 and above. Older dogs are at a decreased risk simply because of their age and that they have had vaccinations all their life. They are at a much more decreased risk especially when they are primarily at home and encounter no other dogs.

However, if you do take your dog to a boarding facility, they will require that you are current on all vaccinations. Some of the boarding facilities may take a letter of adequacy that your pet is on a decreased vaccination protocol (typically a 3yr protocol). You may also take your pet in to have vaccination titers performed. These tests will show where your dog's current immunity level is at. Many veterinarians recognized that they were over-vaccinating their patients and began to decrease the frequency at which vaccinations were given in the older dog. Some veterinarians opt to no longer give vaccinations after a certain age. Rabies is the only vaccination that veterinarians have no control over, it is a state regulated vaccination and must be given every 3 years and the owner of the dog must register the pet for a license.

Some dogs have reactions to the vaccinations and are unable to receive them as a result. Some veterinarians will give a Diphenhydramine injection prior to giving the injection to prevent any type of allergic reaction. Reaction to the Bordetella vaccination is rare, but can occur. Your pet may then be required to be observed at the clinic for a couple of hours to make sure that no reaction will occur. You can also give a Benadryl prior to coming in to prevent an allergic reaction. Just remember to inform your veterinarian that you administered the Benadryl prior to the appointment so they can make note of that in the medical chart. The dosage for Benadryl is 1mg per pound of body weight. So if you have a 50lb dog, he/she can receive (2) 25mg tablets prior to coming in. Also, if your veterinarian does not discuss a decreased vaccination protocol with you and you are concerned about over-vaccination, ask him/her to put your dog on the 3yr vaccination protocol.