I'm wondering how often you vaccinated and at what ages. I read a bit of interesting research a moment ago: http://www.weim.net/emberweims/Vaccine.html

Apparently you should vaccinate at 9, 12 and 16 weeks and then one year booster. After this, no more vaccinations need to be given because the dog's immunity is strong enough. I've personally always followed the vet's recommendation and my dogs were vaccinated at 6, 9 and 12 weeks. I give yearly boosters every year.

This research has proven this system to be inaccurate. We are paying for useless vaccinations when they could harm our dogs? Does anyone else know about this? All the Americans seem to believe this...

I was wrong: boosters should then be given every third year instead of every year!

I will ask my vet this week when I take Trigger in for his next injections and see what he thinks

I just want to clarify: after initial puppy shots and one year booster, only rabies needs to be given every 3 years. I sent my vet an email and he told me to stop reading nonsense online - I emailed him the study (Journal of Veterinary Medicine of America) and haven't heard back.
I am maybe changing vets

We also gave Ciara a Rabies shot one a year so far and I checked this weekend and according to her booklet she is due Next year Feb again? I will also read up on this.

I doubt the vets like to be challenged on these things! I also get told not to believe everything i read but a lot is true so who DO you believe?

On the topic of fees (I know its the wrong post, but can remember under what topic we were discussing it!!)

We pay about R150 per visit and the rabies shot included brings our Vet charges to R230. Which is not too bad. We are at the Tygerberg Animal Hospital in Bellville. SO far I was happy with their services.

Just remember America is very different to South Africa! I know they only give rabies at the age of 16 weeks and that their rabies last up to three years. Just remember they are much more advanced than us! I think if we had similar products here they would have offered it to us but as far as I know our whole country works like that!

When I exported puppies to Canada, one of the requirements were that the puppy had to have his rabies shot at 12 - 14 weeks of age so I think it is just the way our country works.

I've heard that the companies who produce the vaccines, like Bayer for example, trust their products so much that they will give you a refund and pay all your vet bills if your dog was vaccinated against a certain virus or illness, but still got it!

I'm sure the people in America pay much more for that three year vaccination than we do for a one year vaccination so don't worry! Like your vet said Marilize, you read too much crap on the internet!! NO I'M JUST KIDDING!!!!! It's good that you expand your knowledge about these things! This will make you an excellent breeder some day!

Trigger is having his 5 in 1 and rabies this week and he is 13 weeks only. he was supposed to have it last week but cash is tight this time of the month so he has had to wait an extra week.

I remember our vets always sending us an annual reminder for boosters. Rabies im not sure about though.

Taylorwoods, don't let the vet give Trigger all of that in one session!! If you have to do the 5 in 1 (which covers diseases that he won't be exposed to unless he is boarded or goes to the groomer), ask the vet to give rabies two weeks later. He has a big chance of having a reaction if the vet gives him everything at once.

The 5 in 1 covers Parvo, distemper, adenovirus, bordetella, corona or parainfluenza. Bordetella and parainfluenza is for kennel cough and if your dog isn't boarded, it isn't necessary.

All puppies should be vaccinated against parvo and distemper because every time you go to the vet, your dog will definitely be exposed to these. Rabies should be given at about 24 weeks, again 6 months later and then a one year booster. Thereafter, only rabies every three years.

Bellapetit, I understand your point completely! America is definitely a lot more developed and knowledgeable when it comes to pet care. But I think the reason for that is not because they have vaccines we don't. I think it is because they have more informative animal magazines and they stay on top of the latest research. We don't have such ready access to the information.

But... I found the parvo (single) vaccine on a local vet supply site, so it isn't a case of them not having the meds. Also, the one year and 3 year rabies vaccine are the same thing! They are labeled differently to satisfy all markets. That's one of the big things: how can you give a 3 year vaccine every year? That's crazy.

I try to make up my own mind when it comes to things like this. A lot of the vets here haven't kept up to date with the latest research because they are not required to. They are also not required to inform you as owner. Like Amoureux said, there is a place for a vet in any pet owner's life, but no one will know more about a specific breed than its breeders.

I will definitely run that past the vet. It's a new vet so it was the old one who jotted down that he was due for that. I know with taylor theygave rabies seperately in case of a reaction which she got in the form of a lump which has taken over 6 months to disappear.

Even with the worming he said to take it home and give it in a few days time so that they can tell what is causing the reaction if the dog happens to have any.

I just plan on giving him the vaccination book so that he can see what has been given and can advise.

Anyone know about heart worm treatment? I never see it mentioned in these lists of what the injections cover. does the dewormer cover that? I always watch those animal planet programs and it seems heartworms are a big issue in America but Ive never had it mentioned to me by a vet before.

For me, even though I have had pets all my life, I was always a child and my parents dealt with the vet issues and we just took them in for whatever was advised by the vet. Now for the first time the dogs are mine and completely MY responsibility and Im big on giving the best. I havent learned so much in such a short space of time before!

You can say that again Kristin!!!

I have learned so much on this site!!!!

Doing it myself and being such a perfectionist in my day to day life it has become an obsession to give them only the best. I don't really have much desire to be a mother any time soon so my dogs are my furkids and whatever they need they get...even if it means not paying an important account to make sure they are looked after 100%