The best plan for vaccinations is to have a veterinarian do them

Q: Your column has discussed Virginia’s requirement that a dog’s rabies vaccine be administered by a veterinarian. I want to administer my dog’s other vaccines myself. Do you have any advice?

A: Generally, but not always, the best person to actually administer a vaccine is the veterinarian or his licensed veterinary technician. That way the veterinarian can be sure the administration is performed safely and correctly. He can also ensure the vaccine was manufactured by a reputable company, transported through a reputable distributor and stored under proper conditions.

Breeders, hunting kennel owners, and some pet owners find it more economical to administer many vaccines themselves. In these circumstances, it is still best to consult a veterinarian regarding appropriate type and frequency of immunization. Immunology is a complicated area of medicine. All vaccines are not the same. A vaccine that has a retail cost of $5 at the farm store or through a catalog is likely to be very different than the one a veterinarian buys from a manufacturer at a wholesale cost of $12. Veterinarians regularly attend seminars and review the latest research in immunology and infectious disease.

It is also best to purchase vaccines only from veterinarians or directly from vaccine manufacturers. Last year I treated a puppy for severe parvovirus infection. The infection occurred one week after the owner had administered a parvo vaccine from a farm store. I do not know for sure that this was a case of vaccine-induced disease, but modified live vaccines can revert to virulent strains if not stored properly.

I have been in area farm stores and seen the vaccine cooler left partially open by customers. Are the employees properly trained to check the thermometer in the refrigerator when this happens? Do they discard vaccines if the temperature goes too high? What happens after a power failure? How are the vaccines stored during stocking and inventory? Are they shipped overnight, on ice, and directly from the manufacturer or do they go through a series of shipments and distributors? I strongly recommend avoiding farm stores, catalogs, and Internet sites as vaccine sources.

For those who do wish to purchase and administer their own vaccines, here is some general advice on specific vaccine selection:

-Distemper and parvovirus – In puppies, recombinant DNA vaccines have been shown to more quickly overcome maternal antibodies. Recombinant DNA vaccines also have absolutely no potential to revert to active virus. For adult dogs, purchase vaccines approved and labeled for three-year administration. Annual vaccination is no longer necessary when using modern vaccines.

-Hepatitis – Avoid canine adenovirus-1 (CAV-1) vaccines. For some reason I have been seeing an increase in the use of this terribly outdated vaccine type. CAV-1 vaccines can cause a dog’s corneas to turn blue. The safer CAV-2 vaccine protects against hepatitis without this unfortunate side effect. CAV-2 can also be administered on a three year interval when using a modern vaccine.

Leptospirosis – Dogs with exposure to wildlife, livestocks, streams, creeks, ponds, or other natural water sources should be vaccinated at least annually against Leptospirosis. The AVMA recommends using Lepto vaccines that contain four serovars. Many brands only protect against two strains of Lepto. Be sure to check the label.

-Lyme disease – I strongly prefer recombinant DNA vaccines that contain only a single protein, OspA. I also prefer a Lyme vaccine without an adjuvant. There are many different types of Lyme vaccine and there is some controversy over the safety of some common brands. Choose carefully.

-Bordetella and parainfulenza – I recommend intranasal vaccination, but only for at-risk dogs. The booster interval is at least annually depending on the level of risk.

-Coronavirus – This older vaccine has been characterized as “rarely needed” by the American Animal Hospital Association. Most routine vaccine protocols do not need to include coronavirus.

Vaccines against giardia, periodontal disease, rattlesnake venom, ringworm, staphylococcus intermedius, and oral melanoma are also available. These vaccines should only be used in limited situations under the direction of a veterinarian.

Also, be careful to look at any preservatives, additives, or adjuvants that may be added to vaccination. Be sure you know what they do and side effects they may cause.

One common farm store brand uses an antibiotic called gentamycin as a preservative. Gentamycin can cause allergic reactions in some pets. Besides, do you really want to be injecting an antibiotic every time you administer a vaccine?

Dr. Watts is a companion animal general practitioner and owner of Clevengers Corner Veterinary Care. He can be reached through ClevengersCorner.com or by calling 428-1000. Some columns contain material contributed by the Veterinary News Network.