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Let's talk vaccines.... the very thing aimed to protect our beloved canines, can also be harmful if over vaccinated.  
 

Be your dog’s advocate – protect him with knowledge.  Ask your veterinarian questions about the vaccines that is recommend.  What is the risk?  Do they really need it?  What are the side effects? 
 

1. Keep accurate records of your dog's vaccination and titer history.

2. Bring veterinary records and/or a list with you of your dog’s vaccination history; do not assume the veterinary clinic will have all the most recent information, especially if you’ve changed clinics or take your dog to shot clinics.  

3.  Always bring a list of your dog’s current medications and supplements, including dose, strength, and frequency.

4. Consider using antibody titer tests to accurately detemine whether your dog needs to be re-vaccinated.

5. Do your research on vaccines 

6. Avoid a combination vaccine (five-in-one-type vaccinations) that offers multiple vaccines in only one shot. Note: some veterinary clinics only carry this type of vaccine. We recommend that you look elsewhere for care.

7. Do not vaccinate your adult dog more frequently than every three years (unless local conditions suggest a heightened need for Lepto or Lyme vaccines).

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Core vaccines protect animals from severe, life-threatening diseases that have global distribution.

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What are Core vaccines?

• Distemper - Canine distemper is a highly contagious and serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and, often, the nervous systems of puppies and dogs. The virus also infects wild canids (e.g. foxes, wolves, coyotes), raccoons, skunks, and ferrets.based 

• Parvovirus - Canine parvovirus infection is a highly contagious disease caused by canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2). There are several strains of CPV-2, and all produce similar signs. The disease they cause is commonly called “parvo.”

The virus attacks white blood cells and the gastrointestinal tract of dogs and other canids like coyotes, wolves, and foxes. In puppies, the virus also can damage the heart muscle.

All dogs are susceptible to canine parvovirus, although some dogs are at greater risk than others. 

• Hepatitis Adenovirus-2 -Infectious canine hepatitis is caused by a virus, canine adenovirus 1. Consumption of urine, feces, or saliva from infected dogs is the most common route of infection. Recovered dogs shed virus in their urine for at least 6 months. The virus targets the lining of blood vessels, the liver, kidneys, spleen, and lungs, though other organs are occasionally involved. Longterm kidney damage and clouding of the cornea of the eye (“blue eye”) result from immune-complex reactions after recovery from the disease.

• Parainfluenza -Canine parainfluenza virus (CPIV) is a highly contagious respiratory disease with symptoms similar to influenza. It's spread through the air and can be transmitted by direct contact with an infected dog or its secretions, even if the dog isn't sick. The virus can linger on toys, bowls, and other objects for up to two weeks after infection.

• Rabies * (By Law) - 

Rabies is a deadly animal disease caused by a virus. It can happen in wild animals, including raccoons, skunks, bats and foxes, or in dogs, cats or farm animals. People get it from the bite of an infected animal. 

In people, symptoms of rabies include fever, headache and fatigue, then confusion, hallucinations and paralysis. Once the symptoms begin, the disease is usually fatal. A series of shots can prevent rabies in people exposed to the virus. You need to get them right away. If an animal bites you, wash the wound well; then get medical care.

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• Leptospirosis, or “lepto,” is a serious bacterial disease that can affect both dogs and humans. It spreads through water contaminated with the urine of infected animals, often in puddles, ponds, or after heavy rains and floods.

Thanks to new research funded by the AKC Canine Health Foundation, scientists are uncovering how and where this disease is spreading, which dogs are most at risk, and how we can better protect our pets (Grant 02380-A: Estimating Prevalence and Identifying Risk Factors for Canine Leptospirosis in North America). This breakthrough offers critical insights that could help save lives and improve prevention strategies for dogs across North America.

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Non - Core Vaccines 

• Bordetella: These diseases are spread by inhalation, so this vaccine is typically recommended for dogs that spend time around other dogs of unknown vaccine status, such as dogs that go to boarding or grooming facilities, doggie day care, dog shows, or dog parks. ~ This vaccination stimulates an immune response against the Bordetella bacteria and/or other viruses that cause upper respiratory infections, which typically manifest as coughing, sneezing, lethargy, and discharge from the eyes and/or nose. 
   

• Lyme: This bacterial disease is passed via tick bite and can cause lameness, kidney disease, lethargy, fever, and decreased appetite. The ticks that carry Lyme disease are most commonly found in the northeast US, so this vaccine is recommended for dogs that live or travel to this region. Tick prevention is also very important in the prevention of Lyme disease. 

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Our Veterinary Medicine and Technology has become more advanced over the past several years, that it becomes more easier to tailor each individual into their own needs.  As more research is done, the more we find out that -

 

Vaccinations can last longer than 3 years, over vaccinating can cause moderate symptoms like -  Immunosuppression, hives and abscess or even more severe symptoms like seizures and Vaccine injection site sarcomas. ​ For more specific information regarding symptoms please check out the link below for the entire article.  

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Vaccine Research - Done by

Veterinary immunologist Ronald Schultz PhD chaired the University of Wisconsin’s Department of Pathobiological Sciences. 

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Dr Schultz concluded …

“Vaccines for diseases like distemper and canine parvovirus, once administered to adult animals, provide lifetime immunity.” 

 

 

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​​Please Discuss your dog’s needs for vaccines or titers with your veterinarian, to keep them free from infectious and deadly diseases.

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For the full read of Dr. Schultz article

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What is a Titer Test? 
 

"A titer test for dogs involves measuring the level of antibodies against a particular disease in a sample of blood."

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We ask for a Titer Test.... if our veterinarian requires over three sets of core vaccines before a year old or any repeat core vaccines after one year old.  
Over-Vaccinating dog's is a definite problem in our veterinary community both corporate and private practice 
 

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• Lyme: This bacterial disease is passed via tick bite and can cause lameness, kidney disease, lethargy, fever, and decreased appetite. The ticks that carry Lyme disease are most commonly found in the northeast US, so this vaccine is recommended for dogs that live or travel to this region. Tick prevention is also very important in the prevention of Lyme disease. 

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American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) revised its vaccination guidelines,
If you're interested to see if a TITER test is a good option for your dog. Please check out the link below. 

This will be a brand new experience for you and your new puppy.  We want this experience to be amazing for you and your puppy.   

We always recommend giving your puppy plenty of time to adjust to their new surroundings.  It typically takes 24-48 for them to get acclimated to their new environment without their littermates.  For some it may take just a little longer.  
Keeping your puppy on a great schedule is helpful.  
 

Puppies learn from consistency and positivity.

 

• Potty training - Being consistent is the key. Your puppy should go outside after waking up, after eating, after drinking, halfway through playing and again after play time and before sleeping.  Taking your puppy out the same door, to the same place is a helpful reminder.  This built's the routine.  Bells hung on the door or by the door can be a helpful tool to help train your puppy to let you know when they need to go outside.  
   

SOCIALIZATION CHECKLIST BY AGE

The more exposure the more confident and well adjusted your puppy/dog will be! 
 

🐾 7.5 - 10 weeks -  Time to explore their new surroundings both inside and outside.  Introduce different rooms, surfaces, and household sounds.  This is very important to continue with exposure to new and loud noise's (banging, vacuuming, hair dryer, doorbells, etc.).  When meeting new people introduced them slowly.  Too many people at once can be overwhelming.   Nail trims should be done weekly.  Keeping the nail trim routine up is a great way to keep sharp puppy nails from getting hung up and it builds a positive reassurance for years to come.  Always end on a positive.  
Happy positive experiences build confidence.   
 

🐾11-12  weeks - Short car rides and exploring quite new places like driveways or sidewalks helps to expose your puppy to the big world.  Adding more adventures and noise to your puppy's daily routine builds confidence.  Staying consistent helps your puppy feel safe and comfortable in outside environments.  
 

🐾13-17 weeks - Taking your puppy to different places gives them the chance to see different people and things (bikes, cars, garbage can's, other dogs).  Let them discover and smell this experience will bring confidence & reassurance to a developing puppy.  Positive reinforcement with calm reward will make for the best results. 

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Large breed puppies have growth plates that remain open much longer than most people realize. During this stage, their bones, joints, and soft tissues are still developing, making them more vulnerable to injury from excessive repetitive impact.

 

What we try to avoid in growing puppies:

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❌ Forced running

❌ Long-distance jogging

❌ Repetitive jumping

❌ Excessive retrieves

❌ Repetitive stair climbing

❌ Excessive picking up under the front paws

What we LOVE to see:

✅ Free play

✅ Exploring new environments

✅ Swimming

✅ Natural movement

✅ Confidence-building adventures

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Service Dogs

 

Service Dogs are person-specific.  
Their focus is their handler-not the public.  Service Dogs are trained to do many tasks.  
 

They are trained to support one individual with diagnosis need by performing specific tasks such as: 

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• Pushing buttons or flipping on light switches 

• Retrieving phones, medical devices, Retrieving grocery items

• Alerting hearing-impaired handlers to important sounds 

• Alerting high or low blood sugar

• Alerting low heart rate

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Service dogs are required to be highly trained. 
They must not:

• Bark - unless alerting or asked to speak

• Pull on a leash

• Get distracted, or interact with anything else in the environment 

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The Law says service dogs can accompany their handlers:

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• In public places like restaurants and grocery stores (ADA)

• During Air travel (Dot Air Carrier Access Act)

• In housing with pet restrictions (Fair Housing Act)

• Schools and Universities (Individuals with Disabilities Act)​

 

Psychiatric Service Dogs are Trained to provide care ​such as: 

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• Sensing a panic attack and providing deep pressure 

• Standing between handler and other individuals to give space for PTSD

• Preventing people from approaching a person in distress 

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Therapy & Comfort Dogs

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They are not for one individual-They are for the community 

These dogs are found in:

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• Schools 

• Hospitals

• First Responder settings 

• Community Programs 

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Their role is to support others -

To bring Calm, Connection and Stability to people 

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These Dogs need to be:

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• Highly Social 

• Environmentally Stable 

• Neutral and Adapting in constantly changing settings 

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