If you had posed your questions 20 years ago Shane, the answers would have been very different I suspect. But especially with the advent of the internet, we are all so much better informed, and can do our own research easily and cheaply without having to have a medical degree.

To me the evidence for initial vaccination is a no brainer ... it's essential. But equally, the evidence in favour of annual boosters does not stack up, and smacks to me of drug companies wanting to fill their already overflowing coffers!

Both mine are vaccinated according to the vaccination manufacturers protocol and neither have ever had any form of reaction to them as I believe the risk of NOT vaccinating far outweighs the risk of vaccinating.

Having heard of two cases of Parvovirus locally in the past couple of weeks just reaffirms my decision to have them vaccinated.

They're also around dogs every day and often come in to work with me where they are exposed to other dogs, so I'm not prepared to put my dogs at risk of NOT vaccinating and putting other peoples dogs at risk either. The less people vaccinate, the more common these diseases might become in the future.

After Roxy had a small, malignant tumour removed in February this year, I did consider not vaccinating her and did lots of research (again) on the subject. After doing that and speaking to many specialists, I decided to go ahead and get her boosters done in September. As far as it goes just now, there is not a link between vaccinations and MCT's.

Plus Roxy is now missing some lymph glands, which means her immune system is slightly weakened now. Another reason why I think she needs the protection of vaccinations.

I did discuss it at length though with several different specialists, including the Oncology Consultant at the Glasgow Vet School and I firmly beleive I've made the right decision regarding Roxy and can only hope I have.

It is perhaps a risk either way and we have to choose one way or another. Whilst I can understand why people choose not to vaccinate, I can also understand why people choose to give vaccination boosters.

We can only do what we think is best for our dogs.

With regard to reactions, one thing that does worry me is that for convenience some people/vets choose to give a dog vaccination/wormer/spot flea treatment all at the same time.
I am not a vet but common sense tells me this is far too much for a dogs immune system to cope with at once particularly as dog may not be entirely fit on the day it is vaccinated.(Some conditions are not immediately obvious).

I think other medications should be given on a separate occasion not at the time of vaccination and that this may minimise the chances of an adverse reaction.

I've no idea how every vet works, for all we know some might recommend spacing them out. Like you, I do think it's a good idea to give them spaced out.

I've never given vaccinations, flea and worm treatments all at the same time. I always space them out and keep a note in my diary of when they've been done.

I don't buy my flea and wormers form the vets either.

As you said, we're not vets. And we can only do our best for our own dogs with the information we have and the risks that there are either way.

So did mine, I wanted to follow the protocol of Catherine O’Driscoll, and although my vet tried, she drew a blank in finding me a vaccine for parvo and something else (forgotten what else). I opted for the DHPPI(L) vaccine, because my vet practice used Fort Dodge which contains SEVEN diseases in one hit, whereas at least with the DHPPI you can have just five. I bet some of those vaccines included in the Fort Dodge have never even been seen in this country! My vet had to go to the trouble of doing a "swap" with another practice so that I could have the Nobivac at the time, because I was adamant she wasn't going to give my dog another 7 shots altogether a year after her initials.

I agree Mini. The problems with the annual vaccination booster is that everything is in there - Parvo, TB and lepto, which I understand is advisable to do on an annual basis - but however, there is also distemper, tetanus I believe and other stuff that it is totally OTT to vaccinate for every year, and indeed there is clear evidence that it is very dangerous to be exposed to these challenges to the immune system on an annual basis. If only it were possible to just have your dogs vaccinated against parvo, lepto and TB, it would be great, but the manufacturers lump it all in together.

I would not have Toffee vac boaster if he did not go in to kennels, but I would use a homopathic one.

I tend to agree with Westie_N the less people that vaccinate the more common disease will become. I trust my vet to follow the correct guidelines and do what is right for the animal

Our vets practice has done the reserch on the 3 yearly vaccinations and now only use the 3 yearly vaccinations which suits me fine.

Not all the vets working there advocate raw feeding or homeopathy but the practice is owned by a raw feeding vet who also treats homeopathically. My sister who lives in a different town asked her vet about the 3 yearly vaccines and was told they do not exist so when she said her sister has a vet that administers that way they basically tod her she was mistaken.

They are prepared to discuss with me in 2 years time whether to vaccinate again or maybe some not others. A lot of people who have Bernese do not vaccinate yearly now as we know this breed does have a compromised immune system and it seems many fall prey to over vaccination.

If Ollie 4 yeras old had survived I was not going to have him boostered when it was due he had been vaccinated yearly till then. His insurance company and Dillons different company do accept the no vaccination idea but will not cover ilness if they fall prey to any of them which is fair enough all other illnesses accidents are covered.

Not even sure what vaccines you are talking about as the only one mine get is the rabies one as it is compulsory here in Spain ( if the dogs are walking on public grounds only). My vet doesn't even suggest other ones so I am totally in the dark....