APPROPRIATE VACCINATIONS

There has been a great deal of research done with regard to appropriate vaccinations in dogs in the past few years. This research is critical fro Golden Retrievers because it seems it is easy to compromise their immune systems with programs of aggressive and unnecessary vaccinations.

One of the leaders in this area is Dr. Jean Dodds and we strongly suggest that anything more aggressive than her schedule is not in the dog's best interests.

Dogs that leave Sunbeam have had one vaccination at 8-9 weeks. They are only vaccinated against parvo and distemper. At this writing, here is Southern California, we are not seeing significant problems with lepto, adenovirus or parainfluenza or corona to make a 5-in-one or a 7-in-one type of vaccine appropriate. We understand there are people who leave their dogs in commercial boarding kennels when they travel and those boarding facilities require extensive and regular vaccinations. Typically those people are not getting Sunbeam puppies.

We recommend the following schedule:

AGE OF PUPPY	VACCINE TYPE
9 weeks	Distemper and parvo
13 weeks	Distemper and parvo
16 weeks	Distemper and parvo (THIS IS OPTIONAL)
17 weeks	California requires rabies at this age. It should not be given at the same time as any other vaccine.
1 year	Distemper and parvo
1 year	Rabies killed 3 year vaccine - given 3-4 weeks apart from the Distemper and Parvovirus booster

After one year, other than legally required rabies vaccinations, Sunbeam puppy owners agree to do titres to determine an appropriate level of protection. This requires drawing blood which is then analyzed to determine the level of protection that already exists and whether additional vaccinations are necessary. It is not uncommon for dogs to need only one other vaccination for distemper and parvo their entire lives.

The most progressive veterinarians have a program in which, if the dog needs a vaccination after the titre is done, the vaccination is done at no charge. So they are not double charging you. Progressive veterinarians do this because they have no interest in having you destroy an animals health with annual vaccines.

Even if you have a veterinarian who charges for every procedure, doing it right will save you money in the long-term. And you may have a dog that is healthier and will live longer as well.