Can you over-vaccinate a dog?
Yes, over-vaccination can occur to dogs. It’s not safe, and it can result in adverse health problems and even life-threatening effects on smaller breeds. Dogs like Yorkshire Terrier and Chihuahua will succumb to the harm of over-vaccination easier than larger dogs. Their smaller size makes the vaccine more potent, more so if administered twice than what’s needed. However, over-vaccination might be unavoidable on some occasions.
Rescue dogs with no clear history will often suffer from over-vaccination. This is unless the vet performs a titer test to identify if there are present antibodies indicating a previous vaccination.If you have a small rescue dog, I highly suggest that you consult the vet. The veterinarian will perform a full checkup on your dog to know if it’s possibly vaccinated before.Depending on each dog, being vaccinated twice may cause an allergic reaction. Some will also exhibit symptoms that are easy to mistake for other conditions. The key here is observing your dog right after the vaccination to spot any of the said symptoms. While there would be mild side effects to vaccination, it shouldn’t endanger your dog’s life. please read here how to help dog with skin allergies.
Most dog vaccinations are given once a year or every three years. The reason for this is that some shots are not really necessary and just a cash-grab scheme of some vet clinics.
How soon can a dog get a second rabies shot?
Considered a core vaccine, rabies vaccines for dogs are required by law in the U.S. All dogs should be vaccinated for rabies at approximately 14 weeks of age, and then again at one year of age.
Should I vaccinate my dog every year?
I often encounter this question with fellow dog owners whenever I bring Sherlock to the dog park. For primary vaccines, I give it a yes. These include rabies, distemper, parvovirus, and similar shots. Most of these vaccines require annual boosters.
Depending on the vaccine that the vet uses, your dog may only need a booster shot every three years. Take note that your dog doesn’t need booster shots for all vaccinations. You should always ask the vet to know what your dog really needs.