The tale of Jasmine
My friend, Rose DeDan, posted a beautiful story, Rescued Greyhound Jasmine Pays Love Forward, on her blog today. Jasmine was found as an abused dog and brought to a wildlife sanctuary where she has become a friend and healer for the hurt animals who need help. I hope you enjoy this wonderful story!
April 7th, 2009 at 6:59 am
Congratulations to you and your new spouse! I saw your post about your upcoming wedding which may have happened by now!
When you are back, I have a question. My 4 year old German shepherd — that I’ve mentioned before — is due for his first trip to a new vet. I got him when he was nearly two years old. He needs a rabies shot, per law, and a distemper shot.
Also, given the places where we go, the ticks, he also needs a Lyme vaccination, which his prior owner also gave him.
Is it okay to do all this at once, three shots?
Another option is to get the lyme vaccination later, next month, while we’re traveling, a different vet. We spend half the year in the city, and half the year in the woods where I have seen ticks.
I wondered if there any issues with three shots in one trip, and the benefit/risk. But I guess doctors do that with children, so who knows!
April 14th, 2009 at 8:59 am
Hi Kate,
Short answer – never do three vaccines together! It can really make your dog sick.
A couple other thoughts.
Rabies is necessary because required by law.
Distemper vaccine-the new research shows that distemper vaccines last at least seven years and maybe longer – if your dog has been vaccinated in the last seven years he probably doesn’t need it – if in doubt you can have your vet run a titer. It is a little more expensive than vaccinating but will be better for his health.
Lyme disease – most vets are now not recommending this vaccine even in areas with high levels of Lyme disease. The vaccine is not that good. It has a lot of side effects and has even caused death in some animals. And there is a lot of controversy about if Lyme Disease actually causes disease in dogs. Many very healthy dogs have high titers. Lots of research available online.
Of course this all has to be a decision between you and your vet. But I would recommend doing a little research before doing all three vaccines.
I will try to write the part two to vaccines for dogs soon! Just got back last night and I’m pretty jet lagged:-)
April 14th, 2009 at 11:04 am
Thanks so much for responding, Lena. I think I got encouraged along this way of thinking — what I was doing already — when my local newspaper started featuring a blog from a “wholistic” vet. She raised questions about shots, especially more than one at a time.
My first inclination was with my family pets. My parents raised us with dogs, and had dogs after we left home. I noticed a difference between their dogs and mine, and wondered about the shots and meds, which I did when required by law and asked questions when not required and skipped. When their Lab died, I looked up the symptoms and it confirmed some things — just enough for me to ask questions.
I am in a tick infested region, my country place, where I am writing from in SW Vermont. I am in the woods. It is gorgeous. We play outside all the time. Last year I actually saw ticks on my clothes, which I had always thought were too small to see. My passion in life is hiking. And in the forested and rainy northeast, that means walking through underbrush. When I got my dog two years ago, his owners (a guide dog breeding place) had vaccinated him for Lyme, a known risk.
Now that I have an idea what they look like, I give my dog a careful look over, at least once a day — but I’m not kidding myself about finding everything since the fur hides his skin.
I won’t combine the shots, and I will try to learn more about my lyme vaccinations. Thank you!