Does My Dog Need Annual Vaccinations?

Understanding the Immune Process

When it comes to immunity, vaccines are a topic that can't be avoided. And when discussing vaccines, one must mention Louis Pasteur, the father of modern vaccines. This remarkable man not only developed the rabies vaccine but also inadvertently invented the pasteurization process.

In simple terms, immunity is like introducing the 'corpse' of a virus into your body. This allows your cells to remember the virus's appearance. When the real virus attacks, your cells can quickly recognize and destroy it, thanks to their memory of the virus's look.

Once your cells have this memory, it's game over for the virus.

Understanding Vaccination Intervals

Decades ago, you might have thought it odd for a dog owner not to vaccinate their pet annually. However, today, there's a growing debate about how often dogs should be vaccinated. In fact, the discussion about vaccines has been ongoing since the mid1990s.

1995

As early as 1995, 25 years ago, researchers were already questioning this issue. Some studies even suggested that overvaccination could significantly increase a dog's risk of illness. Dr. Fred Scott, a renowned scholar in the field of veterinary medicine, proposed in 1995 that we should shift from annual vaccinations to annual health checkups.

1997

The topic of vaccination frequency was so prominent that in 1997, the American Veterinary Medical Association held the first "VetMed and Diagnostics Summit." At this gathering of over 500 top veterinarians from around the world, most agreed that "the interval between vaccinations should not exceed three years."

However, not everyone agreed with this theory, and the following year's test would challenge these beliefs.

1998

In 1998, Dr. Fred Scott initiated a study involving 122 dogs. They vaccinated the dogs and then tested their antibody titers. These dogs had been vaccinated between 1 to 5 years prior. Logic would suggest that revaccination would enhance the vaccine's effectiveness. However, the results were surprising: 27% of the dogs had parvovirus titers below the minimum protective level, and 21% had canine distemper titers below the minimum protective level.

This study proved that the antibodies produced by dog vaccines are not lifelong, and regular vaccinations are necessary, but not necessarily at the shortest interval.

1999

Dr. Carole A. Michael, another leading scholar in the field of veterinary medicine, found that vaccinating dogs every 3 to 5 years is the most suitable schedule.

2004

Pfizer, a worldrenowned vaccine manufacturer, discovered that most dogs exhibit an antigenic response that lasts for over four years after vaccination. This means that annual vaccinations may not be necessary.

2006

Dr. Schultze, a veterinarian immunologist at the University of Wisconsin, suggested that core dog vaccines (parvovirus, canine distemper, adenovirus) provide protection for at least three years, and there is a chance that new vaccinations may not be effective due to interference from existing antibodies.

In conclusion, before vaccinating adult dogs, it's advisable to first conduct an antibody titer test at the vet. This test is more costeffective than a full vaccination series and can simultaneously detect antibody titers for canine distemper, parvovirus, and adenovirus.

If the cost of the antibody titer test at your hospital is higher than a full vaccination series, consider switching to another hospital.

Personal recommendation: young adult dogs should have their antibody titers tested every three years, while middleaged and older dogs should have the test every two years.

Some may ask why rabies is not included. While there is no specific research on rabies vaccines in these academic reports, hospitals can also perform rabies antibody titer tests, which may require an additional fee.

What is antibody titer, you might ask?

Antibody titer is a measure of the lowest concentration of antibodies needed to recognize a specific antigenic epitope. In simpler terms, it's a gauge of how much of the antibody is still present in the dog's body. So, vaccines don't necessarily need to be administered every year.