08/27/2026
HAPPY NATIONAL DOG DAY !!! 🐾🐾
I just wanted to jump on here and talk about annual vaccinations for your pets.
Obviously we want our pets protected from known diseases that’s why we vaccinate them. However , the longstanding guidelines of annual vaccinations are no longer the case.
I took my youngest pup Mirage to the vet for his last in a series of shots which was a little late a few weeks ago. I took him to the vet & they told me I would have to give him two more vaccinations two weeks apart. Keep in mind. The little guy only weighs 3.7 pounds. I quickly told them I would not do that! I told them he was not that late getting that third shot and one would be sufficient. I told them my concerns of over vaccinating, resulting in allergy dogs, and other problems . I would not do a fourth shot. I told them I wanted a Titer drawn on him . His titer revealed he was immune to all the diseases he was going to be immunized for!! I I also told them I know very well based on current studies that these vaccinations are good for three years, and some veterinarians suspect based on studies that they’re good for as long as seven years. This is a new vet that I went to and I will always ask for titers before my dogs are vaccinated unnecessarily.i was fortunate, to have a vet that listened & put my pet’s best interests first.!
For those of you that have been following me for a while. You know that I’ve had two dogs that have had horrible vaccine allergic reactions which resulting in anaphylactic reactions. I almost lost both of them. The first one was a little Chihuahua named Sugar. She had to be resuscitated with medication. The second one was Mei Mei, one of my little Shih Tzu’s who I still have. I had to do CPR on her until I got her back to the vet. If you have a vet that listens to you and your needs for your pets stay there . if you have to change vets make sure that you are both on the same wavelength when caring for your pets if they won’t listen to you walk out that door!
I always stay at the vet for 30 to 60 minutes with my babies before I leave after they’ve had vaccinations. I’ve never had any big dogs have any vaccine reactions but that’s not to say that they can’t.
The next two articles are very informative on vaccines. One is from the UC Davis veterinary medicine Hospital in California on vaccination protocols.
The second one is Dr. Judy Morgan a holistic Vetrinary Dr on vaccination protocols . There are others out there, but these two are some of the forward thinkers that I follow. My preference is Dr. Morgan for several reasons.
VMTH) recommends a risk-based canine vaccination protocol, with several vaccines considered core for essentially all dogs—not just those that socialize frequently.
Core vaccines
* Distemper, parvovirus, and adenovirus-2(DHPP/DAPP): Begin at 6–8 weeks, repeatevery 3–4 weeks, and give the final puppydose at 16 weeks or older. UC Davis thenrecommends another dose at about 6months, followed by revaccination generallyevery 3 years, unless the dog’scircumstances call for a different schedule.National Institutes of Health
* Rabies: In California, vaccinate between 12and 16 weeks—and no later than 4 months.Give a booster one year later, then generallyevery 3 years with a product licensed forthree-year use. National Institutes of Health
* Leptospirosis: UC Davis now classifies thisas core, because leptospirosis can affecturban and indoor dogs, can be fatal, andcan infect people. They recommend a four-serovar vaccine annually. The initial seriesis two doses 3–4 weeks apart; UC Davisspecifically describes leptospirosis-containing combination vaccines atapproximately 6 and 12 weeks, with rabiesat about 16 weeks. National Institutes of Health
Non-core vaccines
These depend on lifestyle, geography, travel, and exposure:
* Bordetella: Consider for dogs boarding,attending daycare, visiting dog parks, orotherwise mixing closely with many dogs.
* Canine influenza: May be useful for dogsthat travel or regularly intermingle with dogsfrom different populations, particularlywhere outbreaks occur.National Institutes of Health
* Lyme: Generally not routinelyrecommended for dogs living solely innorthern California, but may be consideredfor travel to endemic areas or higher-riskparts of the state. National Institutes of Health
UC Davis does not routinely recommend canine coronavirus or rattlesnake vaccines.
National Institutes of Health
The important qualification is that UC Davis presents these as guidelines, not a one-size-fits-all mandate. The veterinarian should adjust the plan for age, prior vaccine reactions, immune-mediated disease, travel, boarding, outdoor exposure, and local disease risk. Vaccine product details and the injection site should also be recorded.
National Institutes of Health
Practical puppy outline
* 6–8 weeks: DHPP/DAPP + firstleptospirosis dose
* 9–12 weeks: Repeat DHPP/DAPP and givethe second leptospirosis dose as directed
* 12–16 weeks: Rabies; complete theDHPP/DAPP series with the final dose at 16weeks or later
* About 6 months: UC Davis recommends anadditional distemper/parvovirus/adenovirusdose
* Afterward: DHPP/DAPP generally every 3years, leptospirosis annually, and rabiesaccording to California law and the vaccinelabel
This is UC Davis’s general VMTH position; an individual dog’s veterinarian should determine the exact products and timing.
Dr. Judy Morgan is not strictly anti-vaccine; she describes herself as opposed to over-vaccinating pets.
Her position is that:
Vaccination should be individualized according to a pet’s age, health, lifestyle, and exposure risk—not automatically given annually.
Core vaccines such as distemper, parvovirus, and hepatitis may provide protection for several years, so she favors avoiding routine yearly boosters when they aren’t needed.
She supports titer testing to assess ongoing immunity before revaccinating, particularly for core diseases.
She is cautious about non-core vaccines—including Lyme, Bordetella, leptospirosis, feline leukemia, and canine influenza—and recommends them mainly when the animal’s lifestyle or local disease risk warrants them.
She believes vaccines can cause adverse reactions and says pets that have had a serious reaction may need to avoid future vaccination where legally possible.
She does acknowledge that vaccines have saved lives and recommends following legally required vaccinations, such as rabies, while taking precautions for pets with prior reactions.
In short, her stance is “vaccinate selectively and avoid unnecessary boosters,” rather than rejecting vaccines altogether. Her recommendations differ from mainstream veterinary guidelines in some areas, so a pet’s vaccination plan should be decided with a veterinarian who can weigh local disease risk, legal requirements, and the individual animal’s medical history.
drjudymorgan.com
2
Dr. Judy Morgan is a nationally renowned author and veterinarian certified in acupuncture, food therapy, and chiropractic care for dogs, cats, and horses. As a sought after speaker, Dr. Morgan shares her insight here with blogs and videos.
