by Marilyn Brotherton, Manitoba, Canada

Dr. Dodds, a well- known Kerry vet, follows this vaccination program:
1. Start at 51/2 – 6 weeks ( not earlier) with Distemper-Measles only, Parainfluenza and Hepatitis – no Parvo.
2. 7 – 71/2 weeks – Parvo only – killed vaccine
3. 10-101/2 weeks – second Parvo – killed only
4. 11 1/2 – 12 weeks – Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza and Leptospirosis (if necessary)
5. 14, 18 or 20 weeks – Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza (Lepto). Parvo can be given together.

Boosters should be given annually up to 4 years, every 2 years up to 10 years for large breeds, and 12 years for small breeds.
Remember:
* Don’t give boosters during pregnancies, or heat.
* Give Killed Rabies intramuscularly at least 2 weeks after any other shot – only use 3 year shot and don’t give in combination.
* Killed Parvo (only) may be given every 6 months if show dog is travelling to many shows.

I have amended this schedule somewhat:
I start with Parvo only for pups, and
2-3 weeks later I give the DHP, followed in
2-3 weeks by another Parvo, followed
2-3 weeks by another DHP.
The Parvo is given every 4 weeks to 20 weeks.
Then we give the rabies separately again.
I try to let 3 weeks go between shots.

I do the same with the adults. One month it’s Parvo, the next month,-DHP (modified live) and the month after, the Rabies, killed.

It definitely costs more to do it this way. However, I hear every year of dogs dying, vomiting, going unconscious etc. after a visit to the Vet for a multiple vaccine shot. We produced one Kerry bitch, who is now 12, who had the shocky reaction when she was about 3 years old from a multiple shot.

When I was doing Nursing at the University years ago, we never gave more than 1 vaccine at a time to the students travelling overseas, so Dodd’s thinking on this issue sure made sense to me.