My 13.5 year old rescue dog, who is terrified going to get shots, had to endure 2 separate visits last year to space out his vaccination shots due to his age. I don’t want to overwhelm him, but want to keep him at least compliant with my county laws for rabies. It is time to get shots again, and I am looking for advice.
He is inside 90-95% of the time, is always on leash, doesn’t play with other dogs, and is not an escape artist. I want to respect his age, and not overwhelm his body, but also need to vaccinate him enough so he is eligible for dogsitting services like Rover.com. We rarely need to get a dogsitter, but when the neighbor kids can’t help out, we have to have another option.
If you have an older dog, what shots do you give, and what shots have you decided to eliminate?
My guy is getting older too. We only get him the kennel cough one when it’s necessary (i.e. we flew with him last year). Rabies - always. IMO you’re really doing him a kindness by not stressing him uncecessarily.
Your situation is very similar to ours. We had no problems giving her shots in one visit until age 13 when she hardly moved for 2-3 days after. The vet said we’d have to start splitting them up and we would drop the Lepto vaccine. He said that is one of the harder ones to tolerate and he felt like she had enough built up immunity at her advanced age. We were going to drop the flu vaccine as well but we occasionally have to board her at a kennel so felt like we should keep it. With a dog sitter coming to you, it would think it could be eliminated. Because of the kennel, we’ve had to keep up with the Bordetella but switched to an oral version.
The one time we’ve used Rover.com, I searched for a family that doesn’t have a dog so she’d be the only pet in the house.
If you ever board your pet or take her to a groomer, most will ask for Rabies at the least. Our kennel requires rabies, bordatella, and canine influenza.
I took my dog to get a bath today at PetSmart, and all they required was rabies.
The laws may vary by state. It is up to the dog owner to know the rules and be compliant - even if they get the wrong information from a travelling vet service.
What breed is your 13.5 year old rescue? If he/she is perhaps a smaller breed with a relatively longer life expectancy, and otherwise still very healthy and active, I’d get the shots. If most other dogs that size/breed normally don’t make it to 12, and yours has slowed down a lot already, I would avoid putting them through another round.
Good point. I looked up my state requirements, and it only requires dogs to have the rabies vaccine-but how often it is required varies by county. Good to know if you have a vacation home in a different county or state.
Two thumbs up for mobile vet for vaccines, it was worth the added travel fee to vaccinate my cats - fee was less than what I would have spend on detailing the car from their messages of disapproval.
Vet clinics around here will offer “drive by” vaccinations from time to time at a reduced rate. It’s geared toward low-income people who otherwise couldn’t afford vaccines but is open to anyone.
Rabies now comes in a vaccine that can be administered once every three years if that helps.
Thank you all so much for your input! I will check out my county regulations, and definitely look into the 3 year rabies shot. Will check out the Rover.com website also to see what they require.
A couple years ago I challenged my vet on the frequency of the distemper vaccine for our little house dogs. Finally…he stated that it is lawful in our area for 3 years vs 2 years between distemper vaccines, and that that decision is 100% the decision of the vet who then has to simply adjust the due date.
Don’t forget the heartworm et al oral chews and flea/tick treatment since even your backyard can be a source. My sister omitted the heartworm prophylaxis and her dog needed treatment.
