Dog vaccinations, like so many other things in our society, are woefully out of date. A great deal of progress has been made over the years, but the uninformed public doesn't know about it. Unfortunately, many humans become deceived and their dogs become ill. Staying up to date before vaccinating your dog is the greater part of wisdom.
Vaccines and vaccinations should only be given to healthy dogs, because it's been found that vaccines may not be harmless to them. There doesn't seem to be one governing board that makes this decision, so it's up to you to decide if the risks are too high. Cancer, skin problems, allergies, organ disease are some of the results of unneeded vaccines, which should not be administered without a proven need.
We think that some vets are recommending vaccination too frequently. It is thought that only the rabies vaccine needs to be repeated approximately every three years. It's been decided that a Parvo vaccine may last as long as seven years, and for some dogs, a lifetime.
As a pet owner, you are entitled to full disclosure so that you can make an informed decision. Oftentimes, there is no adverse reaction to a dog not receiving a vaccination. The idea of keeping dog's vaccinations is considered a fraud by Dr. Jean Dodds, DVM and she says an annual checkup and blood test is all that is truly required before any kind of vaccination update. Dr. Dodds considers vaccinations as a marketing tool for some vets and are not necessary for the health of your dog.
The USDA doesn't follow up on reported misuse of vaccinations and most vets don't report any adverse reactions to them. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) suggests all adverse reactions should be reported, much as the Federal Drug Administration gathers information about human health.
A titer test can be given to determine the strength of the antibodies of parvovirus or distemper to determine if the previous vaccine was effective. It's thought that a strong titer test result is the indication of a lifetime of immunity for your dog.
The bottom line is this: if the individual recommending vaccination is profiting from the vaccination, exercise your own decision-making ability after you do the research. We place a strong value on vaccinating our English Golden Retriever puppies, and we'd be happy to share our vaccination protocol if you'll contact us.

Dog vaccinations, like so many other things in our society, are woefully out of date and could be unnecessary.