No, there is no association between immunizations or vaccinations and cancer in dogs. However, if a dog has been diagnosed with cancer, we consider that before administering a vaccination as we may not want to overstimulate the immune system.

Yes, there are some risks associated with dog vaccinations as it is a medical procedure. However, these risks are minimal compared to the risk of infectious diseases. Vaccines are very safe, but vaccine reactions or hypersensitivities can occur in some individuals.

The most common reaction to dog vaccinations is an acute hypersensitivity response, usually occurring within the first 30 minutes after a vaccination is given. Symptoms may include weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, acute vomiting or diarrhea. Other reactions may include skin hives, swelling of the face or muzzle, and delayed GI side effects like tiredness or missing a meal. These reactions are rare. Most of the time, dogs act like they have no problems at all. If they do experience reactions, they are usually mild such as aches, low-grade fever, or skin hives.

Depending on how long they've missed their boosters, we may or may not have to restart them. The most important thing is that you bring them in to get their boosters, as we're trying to protect them from infectious diseases and illnesses. We'd love to partner with you to ensure your dog is protected against viruses and bacteria. Please talk to your veterinarian. We're here to help at Blue Oasis Pet Hospital.

Titer testing involves drawing blood and sending it to a lab to look for antibodies against specific diseases. However, titer results are not always reflective of protection, so it is not the standard practice to measure a dog's titers. But we're open to discussing it with pet owners who are interested.

Yes, it is safe to give multiple dog vaccines at the same time. While we can still give all vaccines at once, the recommendations have been changing over the last decade. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has vaccine guidelines which we follow. The core vaccines are given once as a puppy, then as one-year boosters, and every three years thereafter. However, leptospirosis and kennel cough vaccines are given annually. If you have a sensitive or small pet, we might split up the vaccines to be more safe.

The variations include leptospirosis, which we consider a core vaccine here at Blue Oasis because we live in Middle Tennessee. Our pet population is exposed to leptospirosis, a bacteria that's shed in the urine of wildlife. We recommend reboostering this vaccine annually. We also deal with many pets that go to daycare and boarding. They have a higher risk of respiratory exposure, so they should have the Bordetella, or kennel cough, vaccine every six to 12 months. We also recommend an annual booster for canine influenza, which is becoming more common in North America.

We recommend seeing your dog at least once a year or every 12 months. At that time, we'll discuss which vaccines your dog has had or not had and what their lifestyle is. We'll then recommend what vaccines are due. Our usual protocol is to start vaccinations when puppies are six to eight weeks old. They then get booster shots every three to four weeks until they're 16 to 20 weeks old. After that, they get a one-year booster and then every three years after that, depending on the vaccine. However, there can be exceptions.

Your puppy needs to be vaccinated starting at six to eight weeks of age. Even if your puppy is a little older than that, it's important to get them started on their vaccinations.