Puppy vaccinations...

12480 Views 42 Replies 23 Participants Last post by Turi, Feb 16, 2012

Turi

Discussion Starter · Feb 11, 2012

Hi all,

With the imminent arrival of Saffi I called our vet for a chat regarding vaccinations. I thought I'd share my conversation - and concerns - with you all.

Saffi will receive her first vaccination at eight weeks with our breeder's vet who uses Nobivac. Our plan was to take Saffi for her second vaccination at our vet at ten weeks.

However, our vet told us that the brand that they use, Vanguard 7, isn't compatible with Nobivac and the combination of two different brands wouldn't provide as strong a protection as two vaccinations of the same brand. At this point in the conversation I remembered a Jukee Doodles post from months before where Stephen had said that if we asked our vet to purchase a particular brand they would be able to use the rest of the batch with other dogs that came into the practice. So I asked our vet if they'd be prepared to buy Nobivac - short answer was 'no'

. She provided me with a number of options:

1. To go ahead with Nobivac then Vanguard 7 and risk the lower protection

2. To ask our breeder to purchase the second Nobivac vaccination from her vet which we'll take home with us and give to OUR vet to administer.

3. To ask the breeder to let us take Saffi home unvaccinated and we will do both the first and second vaccination with our vet.

4. To drive back to the breeder's vet so that they can administer the second vaccination - which would involve a five hour round trip!

5. To vaccinate her three times - i.e. 1st Nobivac vaccination with the breeder's vet and then with Vanguard 1st and 2nd vaccinations with our vet.

I have shared these options with our breeder who is going to speak to her vet and see what option he is most happy with.

My vet also said that although we are in a low-risk Parvo area (Richmond/Barnes) there had been an outbreak of Parvo a couple of years ago in Kingston which is about 5 miles away. As a result of this outbreak they now advise that puppies receive their second vaccination at 12 rather than ten weeks, letting them out and on the ground/in contact with unknown dogs at 13 rather than 11 week respectively.

My questions are:

- Is our vet's belief that the combination of two brands of vaccinations is less effective founded?
- What would you do?
- What proportion of you did your vaccinations at ten rather than 12 weeks?

Thanks in advance for your help - I think I'm going to be a neurotic dog owner as I came off the phone with the vet all concerned and worried about a puppy we don't even own yet!

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embee

· #2 · Feb 11, 2012

First things first - relax

I did option 3 with Flo and she had Nobivac at 9 weeks and 11 weeks as the vet wanted her to settle for a week before 1st vacc.

I did option 5 with Remy. 1st vacc Eurican with breeder then 2nd Nobivac at 10 weeks and 3rd Nobivac at 12 weeks with vet. Although Nobivac and Eurican are compatible vets advice was that Nobivac wouldn't guarantee complete protection unless their product was full administered. This kind of backs up your statement "vet's belief that the combination of two brands of vaccinations is less effective".

Option 2 sounds like the best idea to me

Which ever way you go Saffi will be just fine.

Reactions: 3

JulesB

· #3 · Feb 11, 2012

Wow so much to think about and things i had no idea about when i got Betty, looking back i so wish i'd known more.

Betty had her first vaccination at 7.5 weeks and the second at 9.5 weeks and i was able to take her out at 11 weeks.

I don't know about the effectiveness of two different brands. However if you look into vaccinations there are concerns that we over vaccinate these days. I also know that a vet nurse at my vets took her dog out when it hadn't had its second vaccination as they have some natural immunity still from their mum apparently. I'm not condoning or promoting her actions but it does make me feel maybe we are all over cautious and being vigilant for changes in our pets health and acting quickly if they don't appear well is often the best course of action.

I would see if you can get your breeder to get you the second dose as at least you can then start walking Saffi. I think its good to be aware of local parvo outbreaks but getting them out and about and socialising is important too. To be honest, i was desperate to be able to take Betty out for a walk by the time she was 11 weeks!!

xx

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M&M's mummy

· #4 · Feb 11, 2012

I would do option 3.

Mrs Hippiechick

· #5 · Feb 11, 2012

We also went with option 3. Archie had his first jabs at 9 weeks, 2nd at 11 weeks along with his microchip. Then he had his parvo jab at 15 weeks.

Pollypiglet

· #6 · Feb 11, 2012

Hattie had Nobivac at 8 weeks with breeder and 10 weeks with me. To be honest it never occoured to check the vet did compatible vaccines! She had kennel cough when she was microchipped at 15weeks. I must confess I took her out a bit early with no probs but that is just the risk I took. One other option for you is to try another practice to see if they have compatible vaccines but don't get too hung up on it, I certainly wouldn't drive all the way back to the breeders vet.

wellerfeller

· #7 · Feb 11, 2012

I done the same as Pollypiglet. Weller had his first jab with breeders vet and second with mine. My vet never even mentioned non compatibility and I trust him 100%
Is there independant evidence to show the differing brands are not compatible, does any one know?

Ali79

· #8 · Feb 11, 2012

Our breeder sent us home with Beau without vaccinations as she too had problems with differing vaccines in the past. We brought Beau home on the Sunday and kept her indoors for a couple of days as the vet said to let her settle into her new surroundings and then she had her jabs at just over 8 weeks then 10 weeks and was able to go out at 11 weeks for a walk. We did take her out a lot after the first jabs but carried her everywhere as wanted to socialise her. We would also take her to Pret in the middle of Norwich and sit holding her though with hindsight I should have put a hat on the floor as with the amount of people who stopped to ask about her and cuddle her I would have made a fortune

Good luck and don't worry as you are not a neurotic owner just a very caring one who wants the best for her puppy

x

Julie Clark

· #9 · Feb 11, 2012

I had this conversation with my vet too, but he uses Nobivac so theres no issue. I fully understand your concern. I think maybe I'd be inclined to go with option 3, or maybe phone around a few other local vets and have the second jab done somewhere different.

Hfd

· #10 · Feb 11, 2012

Hi - we actually had our 8 week and 10 week nobivac done at our own vets but Billy had a parvo vacc and microchip done at the breeders vet.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
H x

MillieDog

· #11 · Feb 11, 2012

Now I understand why Millie had two vaccinations with the vet, despite having had one with the breeder. Couldn't let her out until 12 weeks. My vet didn't really explain it to me, you've obviously got a more thorough vet.

I'd go with option 3 if you can. Seems easiest.

Turi

Discussion Starter · #12 · Feb 11, 2012

Hi folks,

Thank you for your help!

Will let you know what we decide to do

lola24

· #13 · Feb 11, 2012

Hey Turi,
I would either ask your breeder to purchase a vaccination and have your vet administer it or have her done 3 times (2 with your own vet).
The compatibility thing is a tricky one- the different vaccine brands have not been tested together to guarantee compatibility and it is not something the drug companies would pay to have done as it is not in their interest.
Does it make a difference- honestly i don't know, it may well be fine.
Would i risk it? No. For the sake of and extra vaccine or the faff of taking one from one vet to another i think it is worth being safe.
Another option is to check with other local vets which brand they use. There is nothing to say you couldn't register her there to take her for her second vacc and then use the vets you originally chose for her aftercare.
Give me a shout if i can be of any use

Reactions: 1

Turi

Discussion Starter · #14 · Feb 11, 2012

Hi Katie,

Thank you for the words of wisdom. I've found an alternative vet an am waiting to see if they have Vanguard 7... will keep you posted

mariag

· #15 · Feb 11, 2012

Hi Turi

Thirza doesn't vaccinate because of the compatability issues so we had Oakley done with Nobivac at 8 weeks (the day after we brought him home) & at 10 weeks. There has been parvo in our area (about 2/3 miles away) so our vet said that Oakley would be OK in our garden but not to go out for a walk for 2 weeks after the 2nd jab.

Reactions: 1

Turi

Discussion Starter · #16 · Feb 11, 2012

Thanks Maria, will bear that in mind

. This whole vaccinating malarky is well complicated isn't it?!

mariag

· #17 · Feb 11, 2012

I agree especially as there is so much conflicting advice from vets. I must admit to being very impressed by my vets practice. They have been so helpful & not in the least bit pushy

Turi

Discussion Starter · #18 · Feb 11, 2012

Generally we've been really pleased with our vet - all three cats are registered with them and when I called to speak about puppy vaccinations the receptionist put me straight through to the vet so we could have a proper chat. I told her my cats are registered at the surgery, including my cat Elmo who we though had cancer of the eye and she said, 'oh yes of course. your mum brought him in'. I was pleasantly surprised that she remembered him

She must see so many animals!

Ollie's "mom"

· #19 · Feb 12, 2012 (Edited)

Turi:
I treat people and not dogs. I'm not a breeder either. My field is specialized, and since i can 't keep up with everything-- I'll tell you what I do (it applies to people I don't treat too-- e.g. Family). I ask my Vet what she would do for her dog (or cat, or what a doc would do for her mom etc.). So far it has worked out fine.
I learned this technique some years ago from a good friend who was a physician. George would ask our interns if whatever treatment they proposed was "good enough for their 'uncle Charlie,' and if it wasn't, then it wasn't good enough for our patients. I have found it has not failed yet (add emphasis to YET). If for some reason our dogs or cats' vets recommendation doesn't sit quite right with me then I'll call our veterinary surgeon and just ask him straight out. (I learned early on to find an expert to trust, I figure I have to trust someone).
My hunch is to trust folks here, evidenced by discussion, i note that those with experience and evidence backed opinion do not hesitate to raise issues for further discussion and clarification and overall there is a general consensus.
Best,
Monica

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ali-s.j.

· #20 · Feb 12, 2012

Sound advice Monica - I did that same thing when I had to decide whether or not plate and pins from my son's arm should be removed. The only time I find this method tricky is when 2 experts have differing opinions, but as you say, find someone who knows, and you trust, and trust them

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