Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Do you vaccinate your other dogs?

I totally get not vaccinating Calypso since she was diagnosed with IMHA, although it does make me nervous since she is such a young dog and has not had multiple vaccinations. However it is making me reconsider vaccinating my other dogs who are older. Wondering what others do? Thanks!

Wendi Ohio

Wendi, I have two other dogs - both 2.5 years old. I recebtkt decided to continue to vaccinate them. When Millie was diagnosed, I swore I would never vaccinate the other two. They were both overdue for vaccinations, but I was going to let it go. About a month ago, I read that there was an outbreak of parvo virus in Geelong. I weighed up the risks, and decided that Misty and Harry were more likely to get parvo than IMHA from their vaccination. They are both fine. I could never live with myself if they caught parvo and didn't make it. Samantha.

Samantha Geelong

Sorry, that should read ' I recently decided to vaccinate them'.... (I had my fingers on the wrong keys!).

Samantha Geelong

Hi Wendi, It is a tough call to decide whether or not to vaccinate the other dogs. My dog Benson's IMHA was caused by the DHLPP vaccination. Rabies vaccinations are mandated yearly in Israel, so I do not have a choice about that. But I no longer give the DHLPP vaccination. My dogs come from local shelters and they are adopted out after being given all vaccinations (including rabies, DHLPP, kennel cough, and injectible invermectin against park worm). If the vets would accept titers, I would titer them. But alas they do not. I still cannot believe that they insist on vaccinating against rabies every year. I think that the decision to vaccinate a dog is individual, based on the dog's lifestyle and overall health. You need to consider various factors and discuss it with your vet. And you need a vet who will respect your decision, no matter what. Good luck with Calypso and your other dogs, Aden

Aden Jerusalem

I have two other dogs also and yes they both get vaccinations. I think that it is just a percentage that have a bad reaction and unfortunately we don't know until after the fact when it is too late. Cheryl & Ginger

Cher Pin

Thanks for all your comments. My thoughts are to vaccinate every 2-3 years, not to stop completely. We also have a mandatory rabies vaccination, but have 3 year shot. My vet agrees that we "over vaccinate" our animals and is acceptable to spreading the vaccinations out at least for dogs that have been routinely vaccinated their entire life, as long as you are not introducing any new dogs. I am very nervouse about not vaccinating Calypso again since her IMHA was related to her vaccinations or a reaction to Sulfa medication because she was only 10 months old when she developed IMHA and we are not sure what vaccinations if any she had prior to ending up in the shelter we adopted her from.

Wendi Ohio

I only vaccinate one shot at a time. When we had Emmy she got one of the "all in one shots". Nice for the vet, horrible for the dog. Her immune systemwent haywire and we losnt her several weeks (very hard weeks) later. One shot and space any other several weeks apart. This should give the immune system some time to adjust. We are very wary of immunizations now and this is what we do. This is a horrible disease and our little girl faught right to the end. We think of her evry day.

Jack New Hampshire

Wylie, AIHA survivor and my other dog only gets Rabies, because we live in a rural area and Wylie was attacked by a pack of coyotes in the middle of the day in front of our home. About 4 years ago my vet switched to about every 3 years for most vaccines. If you are concerned, ike Aiden suggested, you can have your vet do a titer, that will show if the vaccine antibody is still present. I think I read that the parvo vaccine can last 7 years. If you do a search on Dr Dodds and over vaccinating she has some very good info on it. Laurie

Laurie CA

I vaccinate for rabies every three years (except with a new dog with an unknown vaccine history, then you need to booster after the first year and then go to the 3 year schedule) and do titers for distemper and parvo. Here is a good vaccine article http://tinyurl.com/3kxsmn

Joanne MN

Joanne's reference link is to an article written by Ron Shultz (Chairman of Pathobiology at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine) who is the researcher in charge of the Rabies Challenge. This was co-founded by Dr. Dodds. See here for more information: http://www.rabieschallengefund.org/index.html While not solely due to Dodds' and Shultz's efforts, many veterinary universities in the US have gone to recommending the 3 year booster schedule because of their tireless work. The 2006 American Animal Hospital Association Canine Vaccine Guidelines, Revised, now recommends this 3 year schedule with guidelines for each veterinary clinic to develop a protocol particular to their geographical area and to their client's particular situation. Ron Shultz is a diplomate ACVM on this board. http://www.aahanet.org/PublicDocuments/VaccineGuidelines06Revised.pdf If anyone here has a difficulty with their vet about wanting to do a booster every year, please print this document and give it to them. If they have not already read this, I would be very surprised. But some vets see the loss of yearly boosters as a good reason why they don't see their clients on a yearly basis. If you have a special needs dog, Dr. Dodds has a suggested minimal vaccination schedule for immune compromised dogs on the internet, just search that out. I have followed a schedule similar to this for both of my dogs since 1998. I talked with Dr. Dodds at a workshop a year ago. She reaffirmed for me that she still is an advocate of *responsible* vaccinations for puppies. This is a bit complex to write here, but is written in detail in Shultz's article. Right now in the US approximately 50% of the canine population is vaccinated responsibly. If this number could be increased to over 75%, some of the more deadly canine diseases like distemper or parvo would become very rare events. Rabies, however, stands alone because this disease crosses boundaries, not only seen in dogs, but wild animals and humans can contract this. Thus the importance of the Rabies Challenge to demonstrate that this vaccine has efficacy up to 7 years in canines. my best patrice

Patrice NYS

Ren is my one and only dog. However, if I had another dog, I would choose not to vaccinate. Rabies vaccine is required in Delaware but Ren is exempt for medical reasons. Sue & Ren

Susie Delaware

We do the rabies only, every three years for our other two pups, and only because we have to. So far so good on our medical waiver for Tiggs. melissa and tiggs

melisssa slc

I decided to have titers run before vaccinting. While initially my vet thought I was just wasteing my money, she was somewhat surprised to find out from the titers that he did not need the vaccines. To me it was money well spent.

jeane texas

Madison's IMHA was a result of immunisation & worming injection done at the same time. This was the first time she had the worming injection previously she only ever had the tablets and because i sometimes forgot to give her them i decided to get the injection - big mistake... I have 2 other dogs one is an older Shiz-tu which i have decided never to vaccinate again but the younger one will be vaccinated. Samantha & Madison

Samantha Perth Australia

This thread was discussed between 04/09/2009 and 09/09/2009

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