We get shots every year. My cat is an indoor cat. The dog goes for almost daily walks.

If you are looking for less expensive shots, check around. I just found out our local farm supply stores get vets in twice a week and give shots for reduced rates.

I own a dog kennel in NY. Vets needed a way to make up lost money by not giving vaccines, so they tell client they need to run a titer to make sure animal protected. I have seen thousands of titers over the years I have NEVER seen one come back animal not protected. The only vaccine you have to give by law is rabies, all other are choice.

In Europe dogs are vaccinated as puppies, and protected for life.

Do some research. Most of the diseases that are treated with the series of puppy shots - distemper, parvo, kennel cough, etc. - will only require infrequent boosters, if at all. And depending on where you live, rabies may be an annual injection or every three years. Aside from the rabies (if applicable for your state), annual injections are seldom necessary. And as deeebert suggested, just moneymakers for the vet office.

It is not a matter of cost.......it is a matter of need. And the need is seldom ever justified for annual injections.

My vet price gouges. I only use them in case I need boarding, they can handle our special needs rescue dog.

But, when they recommend various immunizations etc. I always say, "Is this really required?" Usually, the answer is no. I do only what is necessary. I understand that they are a business and want to make money, just not happening through me.

Most vets have one interest in you and your pet. How much you'll be spending there.

Google Dr. Ronald Schultz and lifelong immunity. He believes that pets may have lifelong immunity after initial vaccinations.

If I am remembering right, they have studies showing at least 6 years of immunity after rabies shots. Unfortunately, there is a lot of money to be made from vaccinations and none to be made from showing that fewer vaccinations are needed, so there are not many studies being done.

I think vaccinating is important, so we do what what our Vet suggests, but our dog is outdoors and in doggie daycare fairly often, so her needs may be different from your little one’s. I agree with Brushworks, for a lot of Vets it’s all about their bottom line but a good vet will take the time to educate you about the vaccines he/she recommends so you can make an informed decision.

Regardless of what you do about the shots, please please ask your vet about heartworm testing and medications because depending on where you live, they can be vital.

Also, the laws have not been updated, and yearly rabies vaccines are required in most of the U.S. Titers can be done to prove immunity and the laws really need to change to protect our pets. Vaccine related sarcomas are fairly common in cats and It's terrible to have to make the choice between doing what's best for your pet and following the law.

EDIT - It may be that the 3 year vaccine is required now instead of the 1 year one. See Anglophilia's message below.

We lost two elderly dogs about a week after they received annual boosters. Both got sick almost immediately after receiving the shot and died within a week. I always felt that their older bodies couldn't handle the stress the boosters put on their systems. This happened about two years apart. After the second dog died, we had a long talk with our vet and he agreed that our remaining dogs didn't need annual boosters (except for rabies) in the future. It was right about the time that new guidelines were coming out about how often boosters needed to be given.

Dawn, I am so sorry for your poor dogs and for you.

Rabies vaccinations come in a 1 or 3 year formulation. We could never take a chance with our dogs by skipping distemper or parvo, because we've had past experience with dogs that contracted those diseases, although we had no idea whether those two were immunized or not. We got them when they were sick already. Our vet offers low cost vaccination on days that he does surgery (Tues and Thurs) because we can just see the vet tech and avoid his office fee. We save 50% by going on those days and with 4 animals, we'll take all of the discounts that we can get.

My question wasn't about not getting my dogs their vaccines. It was about the safety of them after reading a few things. Of course I want my pets protected.

Dawn after Lil had the 3 in one shot years ago she started acting strange about 2 hours later. She went under a bed refusing to come out, she's never done this. I called the vet who told me to watch her. I had to get her out from under the bed and keep close to her. She only wanted left alone and refused food and water for two days. The vet gave her some iv fluids the following day and some type of paste in a tube I was to rub a spoonful on her gums every few hours. I can't remember what it was called but it was a nutritional supplement that's given after surgeries for dogs that won't eat. Anyway the vet told me he thinks she had a reaction to one of the vaccines and he recommends Lil not get this vaccine again. Dawn I'm sorry for what you went through from getting your dogs vaccinated. Just terrible.

Here is one link about longevity of vaccines. https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/lifelong-immunity-vets/

If you do some searching, you can find info on which vaccine formulas are safer than others.

I would no more give my dogs yearly shots than I would give my kids yearly polio boosters. Unnecessary. I was a vet tech for years. Yearly shots and neutering are the bread and butter. They continue as it pays the bills. My current vet is current on new protocols. We titer and only vaccinate when necessary. As already mentioned, check out Dr. Jean Dodd.

I have never heard of titer. I'm assuming its a test to check if the last vaccine is still active. My Lil gets the rabies every three years as per vets orders. So am I understanding she should be titer unless the rabies is given yearly?

I just want to mention we had a chiahuah & the breeder plus other breeders said no Lepto shot for Chiahuahs. My vet said he never ran into a problem but did try to convince me otherwise. I believe some toy breeds have had bad reactions to the Lepto.

No mamapinky0, a titer test would likely show that your pet needs the rabies vaccine LESS often than every 3 years. In fact, your pet would probably never need the rabies vaccine again in terms of immunity. Legally however you probably are required to do the one or 3-year vaccinations.

There is a lot of good information on the internet along with the suggestions you've been given above.

No, annual vaccinations are no longer recommended - even rabies is no longer required annually in any state.

For written "ammunition" for your vet, print out the following and take it with you.

<http://www.aaha.org/public_documents/guidelines/vaccination_recommendation_for_general_practice_table.pdf>;

Dr Ronald Schultz is the vaccination "guru" and his research has brought this about. Dr Jean Dodds was also a huge help in this change. He is now involved in the "Rabies Challenge Fund", that is doing research on how long the rabies vaccine actually works. I had no doubt that the 3 yr vaccine will soon morph into one that is believed to last far longer.

Yes, there are many vets who are still "recommending" annual vaccinations. Some do it out of total ignorance (have they read a veterinary medical journal in the past 20 years?), but many out of both a fear that pets will no longer come in for annual exams where problems may be picked up, and the reality that their income will go down substantially, both from the vaccinations and the annual exams. It's not a crass decision on their parts - veterinary medicine is not a particularly lucrative profession.

I have been following the 3 year protocol for over 25 years, from when Dr Jean Dodds first suggested that we are over-vaccinating our pets. My daughter's college roommate went on to vet school at Cornell and they were being taught the same. I'm lucky that my vet was willing to do this, long before it was being recommended by the various veterinary associations.

I live in Ga. Although the rabies innoculation is prbably overdone the state does not recognize titer testing for rabies. The protocols need to be overhauled.

I just do what the postcard says.

I would never trust titer testing for rabies. Rabies is a zoonotic disease and can be a public health issues. Depending on which state in which one lives, an unvaccinated pet can be at serious risk if it bites or scratches someone. CA is one of the strictest - they can require the pet be destroyed and its head sent to the state lab...at the owner's expense. Totally gruesome and quite costly.

It's not worth messing around with rabies vaccinations. They have few side effects and are for the public good. At some point when the research is completed, the vaccines will be used at greater intervals. Until that time, just vaccinate ones dogs and cats (yes, indoor cats as well).

I should clarify. I titer for everything but rabies. I am in Georgia so am required to do rabies vaccinations. I do 3yr rabies and titer for everything else.

Rabies every three years. I don't titer but I also don't over vaccinate. I spread out the vaccines further and further apart depending on the age of the dog. Puppy shots on schedule. The first boosters maybe 18 months later. Then I use my gut instincts and the advice of vet when if special circumstances appear like a local outbreak.

One reason vets tend to stick to the one year schedule is because some pet owners won't take the responsibility of bringing their pets in for an annual exam without a reason.

BTW the one year rabies vaccine and the 3 year are the exact same thing. There is no difference other than the labeling. it is to satisfy state law. First rabies at 4 - 6 months, then first booster after a year. After that makes no difference.

It has been mentioned here that the vets use this as a money maker. Glad to say I have a great one who would never do this. Years ago one of the cats we had (3 sisters) just collapsed. It took a couple of blood transfusions (bless my vets office cat for donating so she made it to the specialists) and bone marrow biopsy to figure out Auto Immune Disease. It was likely brought on by the rabies shot a week earlier (or so I was told) She didn't get another one after that. I had the paper to be clear with the law, but was still uncomfortable.

For those of you mentioning the 3 year rabies vaccine, I don't believe it is the same thing or the same dosage. It is far more expensive to purchase the 3 year than just 3 annual vaccines.

Texas does require annual rabies vaccination unless you use the 3 year vaccine.

http://www.dshs.texas.gov/idcu/disease/rabies/vaccine/domestic/faqs/

Just curious, how would an indoor only cat contract rabies?

My dogs have a better office to go to than I do when I see my doctor. It's plush with large screen TVs, coffee machines and tons of seating and magazines. I take my two dogs in once a year. Thankfully they have never needed an in-between visit. It's always a close to $300. One gets a rabies shot this time in a few weeks and they get tested for heartworm every year. I give them Sentinel half the year and don't even like giving that. My cats never see the vet. They are rescues and are neutered and have their first shots and that's it. I am NOT giving them rabies shots when they have never been outside in their lives(except for Bernie, the Maine Coon who I rescued from the alley 19 months ago). Before I rescued my dogs, I had to take the cats for rabies shots or else I could not get the dogs. It's a racket.

Just curious, how would an indoor only cat contract rabies?

I agree that immunizations are many times, a racket. But I don't think, either, that it is impossible to get rabies indoors. Below is a story about a person, not a cat, but I could see where a cat chasing a bat that accidentally flew in a window might be bitten.

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/06/02/480414566/bats-in-the-bedroom-can-spread-rabies-without-an-obvious-bite

Probably is a lower risk of getting rabies with indoor only kitties but not impossible. I'd think there's a higher risk of kitty scratching or biting someone maybe a child who pulls its tail than wants proof of rabies vaccine which you better produce. Its in the best interest of kitty and yourself to vaccinate against rabies.

Yes, the bats thing is a real thing. Ask me how I know - husband and I had to have the entire series of rabies shots and all pets had to be RE-vaccinated due to a dead bat found in my bedroom in Maine. The shots were VERY expensive - about $7000 for each of us. Our insurance refused to pay as the shots had to be done at an ER walk-in clinic - said it was a repeat visit. When my husband threatened to sue the school (this happened in a faculty apt in a school dorm), magically the insurance company paid up. A bat bite is about the same as a mosquito bite - one will typically not wake up or know one has been bitten. Re-vaccinating all 7 cats/dogs was rather expensive as well, but necessary.

The problem with an indoor-only cat is if it scratches or bites someone and they make an issues of it's lack of proof of a rabies vaccination. It can be a huge risk for your kitty. Far better to just get the shot. Rabies is something to take VERY seriously as it's almost always fatal and a horrible way to die.

Anglo back in Oct of 2008 I decided to go into the attic and root thru some boxes. When I pulled my hand out of the box I noticed a bit of blood on my thumb (I was on blood thinners) I didn't feel anything and never would have guessed a bat except when I looked back in the box I saw it. Thinking about going through the rabies shots I reached in thinking to wrap a hankie I pulled out of my pocket around the bat and catch it. Well it bit me again and took off. Again a bit of blood but I didn't feel it. Obviously I had to go to the ER. I had no insurance but was told the Board of Health would donate the shots. I'll say the shot itself wasn't to bad but the after affects were horrible. Within 2 hours of getting the shot I had high fever and every inch of my body ached. By the time I started feeling well again it was time for another shot. The doctors told me untreated they could almost guarantee rabies. It was a very bad experience and one I hope to never experience again.

Anglo did you get any symptoms from the shots?

I feel very, very lucky in that our current vet is not a one-size-fits-all vet. Our current cat gets 3 yr rabies (as required by law, and he's also required to be registered with the county), he also gets a 3 yr... 5way? 6way? I'm not sure, but I trust the vet. At a point, they will probably stop giving the secondary vaccinations and only give rabies.

My old sick kitty got no vaccinations, and the vet wrote her a waiver for the county so she did not receive a rabies vaccine either. That did not mean she had a get out of jail free card. If something were to happen that brought up rabies- a bat in the house, she bit someone who was trying to give her meds and they went to the doctor- that would have been it for her. It was very stressful to not have her vaccinated as required by the law.

There was a person here at the GW a few years ago who had a couple of indoor cats in an apartment and a bat got in. He went to the emergency room as a precaution, which triggered the health department getting involved and caused a lot of trouble with his unvaccinated cats. He managed to make an agreement to save the cats where they were quarantined at his local vet's for something like 6 months, but it cost him a lot of money. If I recall correctly, his older cat got sick while in quarantine (age related issue) and passed away during that time. It was so devastating to him and he said, "Why didn't I just take them for $10 rabies shots? This would never have happened." His experience was that he would never forgo the law required vaccines unless a vet instructed it. After chatting with him during his time of trials, I would not either.

I should mention that I had a cat who died from a rabies vaccination site sarcoma. I know first hand some of the serious problems that can arise from vaccinating.

I suppose pet vaccines share a commonality with children's vaccines. Both have the potential for serious side effects but the risk is less than contracting the disease.

Thank you for the condolences, PKponder and MamaP. It was a very sad thing to go through twice, made even harder by thinking we were doing the right thing when what we really did was shorten their lives. I didn't make the connection until the second dog got sick and died, but by then it was too late for both of them.

Regarding rabies: A few years ago in my area, there was a man bitten by a bat, but he wasn't aware of it as he didn't feel the bite (like Mama P). I don't know how it was determined that he was bitten by a bat since he wasn't aware of being bitten. A few weeks later he contracted rabies and died, so it's a very real thing to be cautious and vigilant about, especially if you live in an area that is rabies prone.

A couple of years ago I was interested in fostering a kitten or two. The requirement was making sure that our cats are up-to-date on their vaccines.

I will not vaccinate them unnecessarily. Since they are indoor-only cats, it's unnecessary.

Has no one noticed the amount of allergies that dogs have now?? I've never, ever heard of so many sicknesses and allergies in the past. I believe it's from over-vaccinating as puppies through to adult-hood. Worming, etc doesn't need to be done every year. It stays in the pets bodies.

Mama, I only remember that the first shot was actually two first shots, both in the buttocks and both hurt like the devil. I don't remember any side effects - think I would have if there had been any as we went to Amelia Island that weekend to celebrate my DH's 60th with our children - had to go straight to the hospital for the next shot on Sunday night late after we flew back to Maine.

Being of an age when I got all the childhood diseases and remember them well, I am very much in favor of vaccinations. Chicken pox, mumps, measles, German measles - got them all. Missed out on whooping cough and rheumatic fever, thank heavens! With most mothers working today, if children still got all these things, they would quickly run out of sick leave and lose their job, especially with multiple children who get then sequentially.

In PA there is a law that all pets need rabies vaccinations EXCEPT farm cats. Excuse me? My cats never go outdoors(even though seven years ago they did get rabies vaccine so I could adopt a rescued dog), but farm cats which have every opportunity to come in contact with a rabid animal are exempt? I had a friend who Siamese cat died from a rabies vaccination.

In PA there is a law that all pets need rabies vaccinations EXCEPT farm cats.

That sounded like nonsense to me too, lily316, so I looked it up.

Per Pennsylvania Code:

§ 16.41. Rabies vaccination required.

A person living in this Commonwealth owning or keeping a dog or cat over 3 months of age shall have the dog or cat vaccinated against rabies under the act and this chapter.

Just had my 2 13 year olds in for their yearly physical and refused vaccines. I'm glad I had a new vet, looked to be about 18 years old, and he didn't argue with me. I'm sure the more seasoned vets would have. Also found out my little Dusty boy doesn't have an enlarged prostrate, which I was worried about since he can't make it through the night sometimes without urinating. My vet had his brother from the same litter and he passed away a few years ago from prostate cancer, so I was doubly worried.

If you don't think your vet offers adequate skill and advice or treatment approaches reflecting accepted best judgement and practices for the health and well being of your pet, find one who does. As with other health care providers, like dentists, physicians, etc., there's a range of what you'll encounter. For most, it's patients and their welfare that come first but unfortunately there are exceptions because of those who are greedy or less capable. And much too frequently, it's both of those.

Indoor cats can escape and become exposed, and a few years ago there was a discussion on this forum of a rabid bad that entered the home. My indoor cat has access to an outdoor kennel and I choose to get her a rabies shot due to exposure to other cats coming thru the yard and bats. Only one county in Oregon requires cats to have a rabies vaccination.

Each State Laws

Here, euthanasia isn't the first option: Oregon law requires that unvaccinated pets that may have been in contact with rabid animals to be vaccinated and quarantined for 4 months (dogs and cats) or 6 months (ferrets), or euthanized.

Not rabies but could other deadly things get tracked in on our feet like parvo? And a unvaccinated pet contract it that way?

Rosy goes in Monday for next round of vaccines. And I applied and was approved (((YaHooo))) for a discount on Rosys Spay. My amount out of pocket will be 55$. Vet does not want her under anesthesia yet. He wants a bit more weight on her first.

Many people will say spaying should after she matures more

Deeebert, I know, the time to spay is very controversial. My Vet thinks Rosy will be at least 6 months old before her weight makes the Vet feel comfortable enough to do it. Hopefully there won't be any problems when it is done. I waited until Little Lil was over a year before having her spayed. The day I picked her up to bring her home while still in the vets office (day after spay) I noticed a small bigger than a pea smaller than a marble lump at the insision which I brought to vets attention. He said it was normal. Next day it was much much bigger so I took her straight in to the Vet. He said I must have let Lil jump up and down off of furniture and it was now herniated and she had to go straight into surgery at a cost of 350.00. I kept my mouth shut but afterwards I told him to look at the chart from day before..it was clearly herniated before she even went home. I was not charged afterall. Wonder how common it is to herniate after a spay.

Mama-you have a point about parvo. Someone on one of my cleaning sites was having to clean her house after her dog died of parvo. I know this is heresay, but she said it can last on a surface for a year. I trust my vet and do what he recommends, If I didn't, I'd go elsewhere. We adopted a dog in March that is heartworm positive, her owners were told that when she was picked up running loose in November. Apparently they opted to do nothing and she was picked up again in Feb as a stray, still heartworm positive and they didn't claim her. Lucky for me her treatment is being sponsored by a local firm who had asked the shelter a few years back what was the best thing they could do to help get more dogs adopted. The answer was to provide treatment for heart worm positive dogs who get adopted. Treatment is about $400 without complications. Treatment is not fun, and takes months with restrictions on running and playing, Vaccines are recommended for a reason and I don't think its all about money. I did once have a cat with kidney failure. He was exempt from all shots. I never got a written waiver (different vet at the time-I eventually fired them). He lived a lot longer than they thought-5 years! Here's the dog last week getting an ice cream next door to the vets.

Lisa, what a sweet dog!

A beauty! Is your dog a female, Lisa?

Thank you. We named her Penny. The shelter said she was 7 years old. The vet thinks she’s 5. Hurray!

She has a sweet 'girl face' :-)