Missed yearly booster- advice needed

caro100

Thanks again to all who replied.

Lexi is a 3 and a half year old golden retriever and I decided to start over with her vaccinations to be on the safe side. The info out there on the net is quite contradictary and vague so I guess you have to do what you think is best for your own pets.

snowman2_2

Less than 3 months over and I wouldn't worry and just give a booster. A one-off up to 6 months I would probably accept for dogs with a good prior history. Over 6 months or regularly late, it is safer to start the lepto and parainfluenza again - possibly parvo as well depending on brand.

rising_from_the_ashes

Hi, my cat was way overdue as I couldn't get to the vet in the bad weather before Christmas (was due middle Oct). When I made the appt, I told them but when I saw the vet, she said it was still OK (middle Jan).

They said as long as no more than 3 months it's OK.

suki1964

Im with snowman, I would not start from the beginning, there is no need

tankgirl1

I haven't read the whole thread, but I would say that vets are bound by the data sheets the vaccine companies supply

Vaccine status is bound by what the data sheets tell us - yes it may be ok, anecdotally to go over by X amount of weeks or months, but at the end of the day it is the vets decision - it's their career on the line if they decide to go outwith the data sheet.

Say vet A told you it was OK to just give a booster, 3 months over due, did so, then your dog got distemper (for example). You then complained to the RCVS, and said vet got hauled across the coals and risked loosing his or her license to practice because they hadn't adhered to the data sheet???

Do you start to understand why some vets insist on restarting vaccine courses?

Beckyy

I know ALOT of people who only get a booster every 3 years (obviously that could be a different brand). I wouldn't start the course over.

snowman2_2

tankgirl1 wrote: »

I haven't read the whole thread, but I would say that vets are bound by the data sheets the vaccine companies supply

The data sheets are not the legal documents, only summaries provided by approx 90% of companies on their drugs. The SPC (Summary of Product Characteristics) is the legal document available on the VMD website. For one major brand of vaccine, this is the description

The duration of immunity is at least three years for the canine distemper, canine adenovirus and canine parvovirus components and at least one year for all other antigens.


We speak to & work with the vaccine companies and they give us an idea of the leeway allowed. Different vaccines will have different overlaps; the only one that is exact is the rabies vaccine for a pet passport which cannot go a single day over time without restarting. I will restart feline leukaemia before I restart a cat flu, similarly I will restart leptospirosis before distemper.

It may be the OP's vet uses a different vaccine brand to me and / or has been given different advice from their vaccine manufacturer.

dalsicle

I have been told by a recently retired vet who is a good friend of the family that the boosters are more of a money making scheme for the vets and every 2-3years is enough to keep them protected, I have also heard this from a number of other people over the years.
When I adopted my rescue dog her vaccination card got lost and we knew she was current but didn't know when she was due, I discussed this with my vet (who is different to the one mentioned above and also had never had any dealings with him) I was told as long as I had seen the vaccination card and was absolutely sure she has had her original vaccinations that I'm fine to go back in a years time and just have a booster, even though by this point she may be almost two years since her original vaccines.

If your vet insists on starting again I would recommend speaking to some other vets in your area and explain the situation, you're likely to be allowed just a booster somewhere else providing you have proof of her original vaccinations

rita-rabbit

interesting that dogs & cats are vaccinated annually but people not? Mine ran out for my two - I would have taken them early but was told to wait & then couldn't get there at that specific time so they have missed it (I didn't want to pay for going back to beginning then). Am hoping they don't get sick & will consider restarting next year - booster was due in July 2010 (

dormouse_2

im an ex veterinary nurse, the vaccines last 18 months but its easier for peeps to remember to do it 12 monthly instead ov working out when the next 1 is due, so hence 12 monthly