And here we go ...
Submitted by Bluebird Gal on November 18, 2016 - 5:48pmLooking for thoughts from all of you more experienced bully owners.
We just received all the paperwork / health records for our girl Amelia from her prior owner. Since I consider myself an informed owner of pets, I'm not a huge fan of vaccines in general.
Amelia, of course, had the standard round of puppy shots and boosters. One thing I'm not familiar with in canines is whether, on the rabies shots, as required by law - do you want the live or killed virus? I've never allowed my cats anything but the 1yr live virus shots.
I'm sure, based on the health records that the former owner went along to get along with Amelia's former vets in both IL and CO. The most recent vaccines she received were:
1/20/16 - DIST/ADENO2/PARA/PARO VAC
1/20/16 - BORDATELLA ORAL VAC
1/20/16 - 3YR RABIES (KILLED VIRUS)
8/27/15 - HEARTWORM TEST (NEGATIVE)
8/27/15 - INTESTINAL PARASITE TEST (NEGATIVE)
and she did have a Lepto shot back in 11/2014
While I realize these questions are highly individualized, based on your particular dogs' reaction, or not, to vaccines I'm hoping someone can at least confirm what I "think" I understand.
1) On the Bordatella, although she will not likely ever be boarded, all of us working and living at an RV park, she will be exposed to many, many other dogs. Is it better to err on the side of caution here? I'm more inclined to allow the injected vaccination rather than the oral dose she already had. On the other hand we actually had a dog owner here for the entire 6mo season who's male dog had kennel cough. By the time he finally listened to all
of us who knew what it was, a strong round of antibiotics finally made that sweet boy better in about a week. I'm more concerned about this little bully
and her flat face, and how that bad of a cough that would be for a bully.
2) Again on the rabies, live or killed? One year or 3yr. I'm just not a fan - at least in the feline world - of allowing the killed virus for anything. I will speak to our new bet about titres as well.
3) On the Lepto shot. We do, and will continue, to hike the local trails around our area here so I'm a little torn about this. She won't actually be wandering around in the woods unattended. We stay on well groomed hiking trails but there are varmits that use those trails too. *Sigh*
4) Heartworm Preventative. Where we live, we have about a 2wk stretch of mosquitos. I've never used Frontline again after it left a small bald spot on my youngest cat. Broke my heart because I know that had to hurt! Neither of my cats are treated with heartworm preventative, and a lot of threads I've
read here, folks don't seem to use it much either. The former owners had Amelia on the Heartgard Green chewables which I might feel better about but could use some encouragement here.
And last but not least, although we could not care less because she's just an amazing little soul, we knew in our heart of hearts that we would ultimately
find out that Amelia was a pet store/puppy-mill product (lord have mercy I'm embarrased for them for what they paid for her!) .. I'm wondering what other tests might be in order down the road to look for any genetic defects to be ahead of the curve before they appear? The former owners did have her hips x-rayed once as they said "she gets a little limp on her left rear leg if she plays too hard" He even sent her to us with what he called Doggie Asprin just in case. She has played with many dogs here, runs and chases her toys like a madman, and we have yet to see a limp of any sort so I'm hoping what they had looked at was a mild sprain instead.
Thanks in advance for any and all thoughts or suggestions!
Let's see if I can help some:-)
Ok, first of all, I would defintely keep your pup on a good Heartworm preventative, I use Heartguard. No sense even giving the possibilty of heartworm a chance. It is a silent killer that your dog just shouldn't have to deal with. A monthly chew ends my worries of them getting it, plus it keeps other parasites away as well.
I do not give Lepto, even though we own a large ranch and my dogs are out and about a lot, and there are plenty of wild animals here. I have heard too many horror stories of Lepto shots going wrong. If you live in a very cold environment, I would worry less about Lepto. Here is some info: http://www.2ndchance.info/leptospirosis.htm
Kennel Cough. Obviously if there is a neighbors dog who carried it for 6 months before being treated for it, then all the other dogs in your area are in danger of catching it. That was so irresponsible of that other owner!! I would be furious if I lived there! So, that being said, yes, the Bordatella vaccine is going to be a good idea for you. Watch your girl carefully for signs of the illness though as she has been exposed.
I can't say anything about live or killed, but I do 3 year shots at our place. I simply can't haul my ranch dogs to teh vet every year for shots/worming, etc, so I go with long lasting vaccines as much as possible.
My Sophie girl came from a pet store. She arrived at teh store very ill, and was sent to a vet in our area that I know. When she was finally able to leave the vet again, tehy wound't give her back to the pet store, but called me to take her as a foster, and she never left my home after that:-). I can honestly say that she was very, very healthy all of her life after that initial illness. I put her on 1000 mg Glucosamine Sulfate, she lived a long and joint pain free life. Don't worry about your girl being a pet store baby, just love her anyway:-)
Amy and Sophia
Thanks much Amy!
We will love her forever no matter .. but I've lectured all my friends and family over eons of years as to why you absolutely must find a reputable breeder (if they wanted something specific) and if not, rescue, rescue, rescue and never, ever buy anything bird, fish, puppy or kitten from a "pet store." In all honesty though, we do have full insurance on her should she ever develop anything serious so I probably just need to relax. Haha!
I'm glad to read about your not going with the Lepto in a ranch setting. I have read up on it in the past as the vet we first took our oldest cat to recommended it since he was a semi-feral when we rescued him Quite frightening in cats or dogs it seems -- the vaccine that is. I don't want to either so that helps resolve any thoughts I've had on the matter :)
Oh, I was absolutely livid about the kennel cough pup. I love that dog and had already had numerous conversations with the guy regarding why his 2yr old Lab-mix was NOT neutered! I do have to temper, working with the public/customers, my intense love of animals and wanting to go upside a few heads each season. LOL Once I saw poor Charlie coughing up fluid twice, I had the chat with him and we walked Amelia 1/2 way around the park back to our site rather than let her interact. But yes, I advised so many other customers to keep their dogs away unless they had recently been vaccinated for Bordatella. I too think it's a good idea to have her vaccinated against it as I just can't control what other dogs owners refuse to do, or acknowledge, with their own pets. Sad, but true.
I will definitely keep her on the Heartgard she's already familiar with, especially since they did have her tested and it was negative.
Totally understand on the ranch pups. We have a ton around here since we are surrounded on all sides by cattle ranches who's familys date back to the 1800s. So even if I can't personally offer what a woring dog needs as an owner I can still love on all the border collies and cattle dogs I can hug!
Thanks for your input!