Preferred brand of Parvo vaccine?

[Teresa]

Hello all,

I browse occasionally, but this is my first post - does anyone have thoughts on the best vaccine for initial puppy shots? Unfortunately, I've heard WAY too many parvo stories this year...both on the net and here in person. Several owners say their dogs were vaccinated. The two brands used in parvo cases that I heard so far were Duramune (Ft Dodge) and Galaxy (Schering-Plough). My normal vet is on vacation and his office is booked, so I will have to schedule my first well-puppy and vax appt with one of the other vets, and all seem to use different brands. Not that I don't know how to do my own, but I value the initial check up and listen from a DVM.

I've heard good reviews (but of course can't find them now) on both Vangard and Progard - I usually do my first shot (MLV and CPV only) at six weeks, followed by the 5 way at around 9, 12, and then 16 weeks. Rabies at or around 6 months, and I recommend owners do *one* annual 5 way booster after that. From reading all the studies, I believe that is all they will ever need for life (or at least 7 years if you quote the study); only exception is if you are compelled to get a rabies every 3 years for the city.

So - for anyone that has poked around recently, or has experience with failed vaccines...I'd love to hear it. My little kiddos will be 6 weeks tomorrow, so trying to decide if I need to overnite the vax I want and just have the vet do the listen and checkup, or accept something different if one the vets I like enough has an opening in the next couple days. I'm not that concerned with cost or convenience...just worried that parvo has been making the rounds again and don't want my little ones at risk!

Thanks!

[moondog]

From my understanding, ProGard is the manufacturer of choice for Rottweilers. Most vets use Fort Dodge, I think...and that name comes up a LOT in the "parvo puppy" threads. I wouldn't use it.

My dog had ProGard DPv at 9 weeks, a 5 way at 13 weeks, then I titered her. The results were off the charts (indicating the vaccine had seroconverted and it wasn't due to residual maternal antibodies), so that's all she received until a year later - ProGard DPv booster. Titered again, and again very strong indications of protection, so that's it for now. She received rabies at 6 months and again at 18 months.

I'll titer her again at 3 years and give her boosters if warranted, but if past experience is any indicator she won't need any further vaccines.

[ahhhbe]

Yep....Sassy had Ft Dodge vacs.....and we know how the rest of the story goes!

[Teresa]

Thanks, that is good info - I've got progard keyed up from revival but haven't yet submitted the order...but hate to get 25 doses of just the CPV/MLV (and then use only 7), but hesitate to give the 5-way at 6 weeks (although my vet has done so in the past). I've also gotten the Ft Dodge, until I asked my vet to bring in the Progard for me. Thankfully parvo hasn't happened to any of my kids. Since I was a dope and forgot to call in advance, I will probably just order the progard 5 and just send home the remainder of the doses with the owners...it will likely expire before I have any use for the rest.

Anyone have complaints from vets if they bring in their own shots? I do encourage owners to go see the vet for at least one full checkup at 9 or 10 weeks (next shot), and giving the shot at home or bringing them to me might discourage that.

[Teresa]

ahhhbe,

I did read the Sassy saga...SO happy it had the right ending! Hope she is still doing well. Keep us posted on whether you get any relief from the vax company for vet bills.

[moondog]

Originally Posted by Teresa

I will probably just order the progard 5 and just send home the remainder of the doses with the owners...it will likely expire before I have any use for the rest.

That's what Chili's breeder did with the ProGard DPv for us....it has a long shelf life if you get a current batch....in Nov '05 the vaccine had an expiration date of Jan '08 and the diluent had an expiration date of Jan '10, so Chili's one year booster that I gave her in Dec '06 was the extra dose the breeder gave me. Just make sure your puppy people understand how to store it properly.

I think ahhhbe will back me up when I say that the extra cost of purchasing ProGard, even with the excess doses, will be far cheaper than if just one of those puppies contracts parvo.

Originally Posted by Teresa

Anyone have complaints from vets if they bring in their own shots? I do encourage owners to go see the vet for at least one full checkup at 9 or 10 weeks (next shot), and giving the shot at home or bringing them to me might discourage that.

I highly doubt a vet would administer a vaccine that they can't know the storage history of...and I didn't ask my vet to. If I was a vet I wouldn't do it - too much liability. I gave the 9 week DPv myself, I had the vet give her own 5 way at 13 weeks, and I gave the DPv one year booster myself. I kept the vial labels as proof of vaccination and gave the vet a photocopy of them for Chili's records. My vet had no problem with that at all.

If you've got the right puppy buyers lined up, I have a hard time thinking giving a shot at home, or having you administer it, would prevent them from a well-puppy checkup at the vet's office. Chili sure got hers!

[ahhhbe]

Originally Posted by moondog

I think ahhhbe will back me up when I say that the extra cost of purchasing ProGard, even with the excess doses, will be far cheaper than if just one of those puppies contracts parvo.

I not only agree.....IF we EVER get another Rottie for Sassy to hang with, which we can't do anytime soon because regardless of if I bleach my entire house or not, parvo can still live through it, I will INSIST that the puppy be given progard by MY vet....we will not ever get a puppy at 3 1/2 months old ever again....we LOVE Sassy....and are sooooo happy to have her home, but vacation plane tickets were bought before Sassy got sick and its going to be a super tight summer because of the THOUSANDS we had to spend to get her well again!!

[ahhhbe]

Originally Posted by Teresa

ahhhbe,

I did read the Sassy saga...SO happy it had the right ending! Hope she is still doing well. Keep us posted on whether you get any relief from the vax company for vet bills.

She is doing GREAT! And is TOTALLY playing the "ive been sick so I can get away with anything" card. She jumped up on my bed 3 times today and layed down in my spot....shes not allowed in my bed....never has been.....WTH? I will keep you posted....its not looking good....we got Sassy at 3 1/2 months and all the manufacturer cares about is that she got it properly UP TO 12 wks....ummmm we got her at 14 wks.....the sticker from ONE of the vials was on her shot record as well as 3 dates that she got her shots.....I thought they were multidose vials as well.....but they said they need 2 more lot numbers before they can even completely FILE the claim! They SUCK!!!

[Teresa]

Moondog, I agree...I've always used the Progard or Vangard (with one or two exceptions). It's been a little frustrating to not have the vet I always use available - I had to get my tails done by a totally new vet...went through 4 or 5 others and no one could get me in within five days! Of course having puppies on a Friday doesn't help.

I've ordered the Progard, and just scheduled a well puppy for Mon...they will get their checkup, and I'll do the shots myself when they get here. None of the vets I can get to in the next few days keeps the Progard...I wonder why??

I got no other opinions that differed between here and the lists. Either I'm more receptive to the stories, or there really are more parvo cases around this year!

btw - I was checking your profile to see your dogs...you didn't happen to get Chili's from Ann, did you? If so our kids are related :)

[moondog]

Originally Posted by Teresa

I've ordered the Progard, and just scheduled a well puppy for Mon...they will get their checkup, and I'll do the shots myself when they get here. None of the vets I can get to in the next few days keeps the Progard...I wonder why??

I dunno.....but I have a feeling cost may be a factor.

Originally Posted by Teresa

I got no other opinions that differed between here and the lists. Either I'm more receptive to the stories, or there really are more parvo cases around this year!

Seems to go in waves....but does seem we're getting more parvo posts in Vet's lately.

Originally Posted by Teresa

btw - I was checking your profile to see your dogs...you didn't happen to get Chili's from Ann, did you? If so our kids are related :)

No, not from Ann...Chili von der Frolikind is a Junky vom Herrenholz/Ter Waele Vikka daughter (the only girlie in the litter - she has 8 robust brothers so perhaps that's why she's such a tomboy, LOL!)

[makjamz]

I agree w/ the posters. The Intervet Progard vaccines are what I use. The first vaccine is Progard CPV at 5 weeks, at 7 - 8 weeks the Progard 5, then the owners do the CPV @ vet 12 weeks, Progard 5 @ vet 16 weeks, than vaccinate as needed on resultsof drawn Parvo & Distemper blood titres afterwards.

Rabies - 6mo to a year of age.

[brunie's mom]

I know that many breeders now are following a different protocol. Do a search on Dr. Jean Dodds and Dr. Ronald Schultz. Breeders are giving the first vaccine at 8-9 weeks of age...because the mother's immunity interferes with the immunity from the vaccine and is giving no coverage.

That's why puppies that are vaccinated are still getting parvo. Earlier is not better.
I found this article mentioning both Dr. Schultz and Dr. Dodds ideas on vaccinations :
Are We Over Vaccinating Our Pets? by Loretta Baughan

Gina

[hcelsa]

I've used the Proguard DPV...for those puppies leaving my house it is given first around 8 weeks (a few days earlier or later dependent on when puppy is going home as I prefer that both don't happen at the same time), and again at 12 and also at 16 (either with me or their own vet) if needed. For my own pups I usually wait until 9-10 weeks or so, and then vaccinate again at 15-16 weeks and call it good (I'm still not quite comfortable pushing it back that far with someone else's pup). It's a small sample size (23)...but I've never had sick pup.

Oh, and my puppies start going along with me to herding at 5 weeks where they herd ducks and hang out in an x-pen (we see 50+ dogs a week), so they're definitely not leading a sheltered life prior to completing their vaccines .

[makjamz]

Right you are Becky and Gina.

Most of my pups leave at 8 weeks (unless I am deciding on my pick). I do not want to vaccinate a pup then send it into the stress of a new home situation within 5 - 7days of the shot. I have had an occasional pup get sick after the shot - inside this time frame. Some Puppy buyers can be unreliable no matter how much one screens and advises them. I thought it would be better in this scenario to get 2 shots in.

On my recent litter I did the same routine at 6.5 & 8.5 weeks. Based on the new information.

I did personally & advised all owners the spacing of 12 & 16 weeks. Then when titres were done at 6mo - on all litters - even the ones done at 5 - 6 weeks, they were all immune. I recommend to draw titres yearly to recheck they are covered.

[brunie's mom]

Originally Posted by makjamz

Right you are Becky and Gina.

Most of my pups leave at 8 weeks (unless I am deciding on my pick). I do not want to vaccinate a pup then send it into the stress of a new home situation within 5 - 7days of the shot. I have had an occasional pup get sick after the shot - inside this time frame. Some Puppy buyers can be unreliable no matter how much one screens and advises them. I thought it would be better in this scenario to get 2 shots in.

On my recent litter I did the same routine at 6.5 & 8.5 weeks. Based on the new information.

I did personally & advised all owners the spacing of 12 & 16 weeks. Then when titres were done at 6mo - on all litters - even the ones done at 5 - 6 weeks, they were all immune. I recommend to draw titres yearly to recheck they are covered.

The problem is that the vaccine give at 5-6 weeks is worthless.
You could give the first vaccine at 8 weeks and send your new pups home at 9 weeks. This way you would know they are all vaccinated with their first shots.

Gina