Sabtu, 02 April 2011

Are Yearly "Booster Shots" Necessary?

Vaccinations do not magically lose their effectiveness 366 days after the last shot. In fact, studies have shown that the vaccines for parvovirus and canine distemper provide extremely good, long-term protection from the diseases for 8 to 10 years or more.


"Booster shots" do not increase a dog's immunity, but they do increase the risk of adverse reactions. There are no benefits and many risks to re-vaccinating for a disease your dog is already immune to.


If you want to play it safe, there is a blood test called determining the "titer". It can tell if your dog's antibody levels for parvovirus or canine distemper remain high enough to resist infection. However, even with a low titer, most animals will still retain enough immunity to fight off infection. Parvo and distemper are almost exclusively diseases affecting young puppies, so while puppies definitely need the protection of vaccines, adults do not.

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