Dr. W. Jean Dodds Latest Vaccination Schedule

[Kris L. Christine]

Here is Dr. W. Jean Dodds' Latest Recommendation Vaccination Schedule for those of you who are interested.

 

http://www.weim.net/emberweims/Vaccine.html

 

Dr. Jean Dodds' Recommended Vaccination Schedule

 

Distemper (MLV)

Initial (e.g. Intervet Progard Puppy) 9 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 - 20 weeks

1st Annual Booster At 1 year MLV Distemper/ Parvovirus only

Re-Administration Interval None needed.

Duration of immunity 7.5 / 15 years by studies. Probably lifetime. Longer studies pending.

Comments Can have numerous side effects if given too young (< 8 weeks).

 

Parvovirus (MLV)

Initial (e.g. Intervet Progard Puppy) 9 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 - 20 weeks

1st Annual BoosterAt 1 year MLV Distemper/ Parvovirus only

Re-Administration Interval None needed.

Duration of immunity 7.5 years by studies. Probably lifetime. Longer studies pending.

Comments At 6 weeks of age, only 30% of puppies are protected but 100% are exposed to the virus at the vet clinic.

 

Rabies (killed)

Initial 24 weeks or older

1st Annual BoosterAt 1 year (give 3-4 weeks apart from Dist/Parvo booster) Killed 3 year rabies vaccine

Re-Administration Interval 3 yr. vaccine given as required by law in California (follow your state/provincial requirements)

Comments rabid animals may infect dogs.

 

Vaccines Not Recommended For Dogs

 

Distemper & Parvo @ 6 weeks or younger

Not recommended.

At this age, maternal antibodies form the mothers milk (colostrum) will neutralize the vaccine and only 30% for puppies will be protected. 100% will be exposed to the virus at the vet clinic.

 

Corona

Not recommended.

1.) Disease only affects dogs <6 weeks of age.

2.) Rare disease: TAMU has seen only one case in seven years.

3.) Mild self-limiting disease.

4.) Efficacy of the vaccine is questionable.

 

Leptospirosis

Not recommended

1) There are an average of 12 cases reported annually in California.

2) Side effects common.

3) Most commonly used vaccine contains the wrong serovars. (There is no cross-protection of serovars) There is a new vaccine with 2 new serovars. Two vaccinations twice per year would be required for protection.).

4) Risk outweighs benefits.

 

Lyme

Not recommended

1) Low risk in California.

2) 85% of cases are in 9 New England states and Wisconsin.

3) Possible side effect of polyarthritis from whole cell bacterin.

 

Boretella

(Intranasal)

(killed) Only recommended 3 days prior to boarding when required.

Protects against 2 of the possible 8 causes of kennel cough.

Duration of immunity 6 months.

 

Giardia

Not recommended

Efficacy of vaccine unsubstantiated by independent studies

 

There are two types of vaccines currently available to veterinarians: modified-live vaccines and inactivated ("killed") vaccines.

 

Immunization Schedules

 

There is a great deal of controversy and confusion surrounding the appropriate immunization schedule, especially with the availability of modified-live vaccines and breeders who have experienced postvaccinal problems when using some of these vaccines. It is also important to not begin a vaccination program while maternal antibodies are still active and present in the puppy from the mother's colostrum. The maternal antibodies identify the vaccines as infectious organisms and destroy them before they can stimulate an immune response.

 

Many breeders and owners have sought a safer immunization program.

 

Modified Live Vaccines (MLV)

 

Modified-live vaccines contain a weakened strain of the disease causing agent. Weakening of the agent is typically accomplished by chemical means or by genetic engineering. These vaccines replicate within the host, thus increasing the amount of material available for provoking an immune response without inducing clinical illness. This provocation primes the immune system to mount a vigorous response if the disease causing agent is ever introduced to the animal. Further, the immunity provided by a modified-live vaccine develops rather swiftly and since they mimic infection with the actual disease agent, it provides the best immune response.

 

Inactivated Vaccines (Killed)

 

Inactivated vaccines contain killed disease causing agents. Since the agent is killed, it is much more stable and has a longer shelf life, there is no possibility that they will revert to a virulent form, and they never spread from the vaccinated host to other animals. They are also safe for use in pregnant animals (a developing fetus may be susceptible to damage by some of the disease agents, even though attenuated, present in modified-live vaccines). Although more than a single dose of vaccine is always required and the duration of immunity is generally shorter, inactivated vaccines are regaining importance in this age of retrovirus and herpesvirus infections and concern about the safety of genetically modified microorganisms. Inactivated vaccines available for use in dogs include rabies, canine parvovirus, canine coronavirus, etc.

 

W. Jean Dodds, DVM

HEMOPET

938 Stanford Street

Santa Monica, CA 90403

310/ 828-4804

fax: 310/ 828-8251

 

Note: This schedule is the one I recommend and should not be interpreted to mean that other protocols recommended by a veterinarian would be less satisfactory. It's a matter of professional judgment and choice. For breeds or families of dogs susceptible to or affected with immune dysfunction, immune-mediated disease, immune-reactions associated with vaccinations, or autoimmune endocrine disease (e.g., thyroiditis, Addison's or Cushing's disease, diabetes, etc.) the above protocol is recommended.

 

After 1 year, annually measure serum antibody titers against specific canine infectious agents such as distemper and parvovirus. This is especially recommended for animals previously experiencing adverse vaccine reactions or breeds at higher risk for such reactions (e.g., Weimaraner, Akita, American Eskimo, Great Dane).

 

Another alternative to booster vaccinations is homeopathic nosodes. This option is considered an unconventional treatment that has not been scientifically proven to be efficacious. One controlled parvovirus nosode study did not adequately protect puppies under challenged conditions. However, data from Europe and clinical experience in North America support its use. If veterinarians choose to use homeopathic nosodes, their clients should be provided with an appropriate disclaimer and written informed consent should be obtained.

 

I use only killed 3 year rabies vaccine for adults and give it separated from other vaccines by 3-4 weeks. In some states, they may be able to give titer test result in lieu of booster.

 

I do NOT use Bordetella, corona virus, leptospirosis or Lyme vaccines unless these diseases are endemic in the local area pr specific kennel. Furthermore, the currently licensed leptospira bacterins do not contain the serovars causing the majority of clinical leptospirosis today.

 

I do NOT recommend vaccinating bitches during estrus, pregnancy or lactation.

 

W. Jean Dodds, DVM

HEMOPET

[MaggieDog]

Kris - can you locate the studies showing 7.5 yr immunity for parvo and distemper? I'd be incredibly interested to read them myself and would like to talk to my vet about them.

[Journey]

Erin, I think that study is from 1999 and was published back then too done by Dr. Schultz.

[Kris L. Christine]

Kris - can you locate the studies showing 7.5 yr immunity for parvo and distemper? I'd be incredibly interested to read them myself and would like to talk to my vet about them.

 

Erin,

 

You can access the information through the The 2003 American Animal Hospital Association's Canine Vaccine Guidelines (accessible online at http://www.leerburg.com/special_report.htm) which have a table showing the known durations of immunity of the canine vaccines and which state on Page 18 that: “We now know that booster injections are of no value in dogs already immune, and immunity from distemper infection and vaccination lasts for a minimum of 7 years based on challenge studies and up to 15 years (a lifetime) based on antibody titer.” They further state that hepatitis and parvovirus vaccines have been proven to protect for a minimum of 7 years by challenge and up to 9 and 10 years based on antibody count.

 

Also, you can look at Duration of Immunity to Canine Vaccines: What We Know and Don't Know, Dr. Ronald Schultz http://www.cedarbayvet.com/duration_of_immunity.htm and

 

World Small Animal Veterinary Association 2007 Vaccine Guidelines http://www.wsava.org/SAC.htm Scroll down to Vaccine Guidelines 2007 (PDF)

 

The 2006 American Animal Hospital Association's Canine Vaccine Guidelines are downloadable in PDF format at http://www.aahanet.org/PublicDocumen...s06Revised.pdf .

 

Kris

[Lenajo]

Could you please clarify the titer issue Kris?

 

Per Dr Dodd's recent seminar I understood repeat titers to be unnecessary because once response to a vaccine (immunization) has occured, no greater response ("booster") can be obtained. Therefore repeating titers is simply a waste of money, just a boosters are. At least I would say, the titers do not risk health like boosters though.

[nancy in AZ]

Rabies (killed)

Initial 24 weeks or older

1st Annual BoosterAt 1 year (give 3-4 weeks apart from Dist/Parvo booster) Killed 3 year rabies vaccine

Re-Administration Interval 3 yr. vaccine given as required by law in California (follow your state/provincial requirements)

Comments rabid animals may infect dogs.

 

Can someone clarify this for me? What is the point of the vaccine if rabid animals can still infect dogs?

[Mark Billadeau]

Because without the vaccine, once there are clinical signs of the infection it is 100% fatal.

[kiwibc]

Thanks for posting this information.

[Kris L. Christine]

Could you please clarify the titer issue Kris?

 

Per Dr Dodd's recent seminar I understood repeat titers to be unnecessary because once response to a vaccine (immunization) has occured, no greater response ("booster") can be obtained. Therefore repeating titers is simply a waste of money, just a boosters are. At least I would say, the titers do not risk health like boosters though.

 

Personally, I agree that repeat titers for the MLV's (distemper, hepatitis, and parvo) are unnecessary after confirmation that the initial vaccinations had elicited an immunological response in the dog. They are very useful for boarding your dogs at facilities that require proof of annual vaccination, the kennels we use accept titers.

 

Many dog owners do not have the confidence in veterinary vaccines that they have in human vaccines and need reassurance that their pet still has sufficient antibodies to distemper, hepatitis, and parvo. I don't know anyone who has ever requested a polio, measles, or mumps titer to see if they or their children have adequate antibody levels after the childhood series of vaccinations, and none of our physicians has ever suggested our family members to have them.

[Denise Wall]

Here is Dr. W. Jean Dodds' Latest Recommendation Vaccination Schedule for those of you who are interested.

 

Leptospirosis

Not recommended

1) There are an average of 12 cases reported annually in California.

2) Side effects common.

3) Most commonly used vaccine contains the wrong serovars. (There is no cross-protection of serovars) There is a new vaccine with 2 new serovars. Two vaccinations twice per year would be required for protection.).

4) Risk outweighs benefits.

 

I don't have any problem with these recommendations except the part I've quoted above. I realize these are general recommendations and she has a disclaimer but many of us on this list have dogs at risk for contracting Lepto because of what our dogs do (i.e., working stock) and also the area you live in is very important regarding the risk. I hate to keep beating a dead horse but when my dog got Lepto three years ago, my own vet had seen four cases within a few weeks including his, and he was the only one of those four that lived. Also two other *vets* in the area had gotten it from treating lepto dogs. Here's a good link for relatively updated info on Lepto and the adverse reactions and coverage in the newer formulations of vaccines:

 

lepto link

 

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