Distemper shot question

Hi, I have a question. Is it necessary for older dogs who stay at home to be vaccinated for distemper. I have two silkies and the little girl had such a bad reaction to her last shot that we almost lost her. I do not want to put her through this again. Any help would be apprecitated. Suzy

Nope, no reason to do any vaccines except the law required rabies.
The vets never tell you but your dog has antibodies that last several years. I don't give yearly vaccines to my dogs. You can get titers done, blood work to show their antibodies. BUT in your case I wouldn't even invest in it, if your dog has had the shot and booster before I think you're okay not to!

In seniors it actually weakens their immune system and does more harm then good.

Leave it to vets and drug companies and they'd have a vaccine for a flea bite! LOL

Thanks so much. Was worried I'd be a terrible pet owner if I didn't get the distemper shot for my dogs. Some vets really do try to get you to give your dog ever vaccination out there and my little dog got so sick from one that I'm literally afraid to try it again............ Suzy

Are you giving your doggie any supplements? If not , I would start.
Not only because of the age but because those vaccines have weakened the immune system.

Give it some thought, shark cartilidge for example boosts the immune system and omega fatty acids in fish oils increase brain activity, vitamin e is good for the circulatory system and helps absorb essential vitamins as well as give your dog healthy skin! Glucosamine helps aging dogs who may suffer from stiffness/arthritis.

Let me know if you are interested.

AND you are anything but a bad doggie mommie, you're doing more then what most do! It's great what you're doing in not giving shots!

The only one I do worry about aside from Rabies is leptosporosis. So if you have a lot of coons/rodents/skunks in your area you may want to give the lepto but not every year, maybe every 3rd year :D IMHO (but I'm no vet)!

Thanks for the advice. I give my dogs Nutro Max senior food with vitamins and glusosamine in it. I also give them a monthly heartworm chewable.
My dogs are very small so they are only in there own yard. I never put a collar around their necks, if I must use a leash I use a harness. I'm afraid of that collapsed esophagus problem.
I've never heard of leptosporosis, what exactly is it?........Suzy

Lepto is fatal in many cases. I know of two german shepherd dogs that died from it in Toronto last year.

Dogs can get it from urine or water where infected animals have been.

Here is a little more info on it:

Quote:
The organism replicates in epithelial tissues including the kidney tubules and the lining of blood vessels. Inflammation and severe tissue injury result. In addition, the bacteria can produce toxins which can harm the liver. Most infections results in varying degrees of kidney failure, liver inflammation/toxicity. Inflammation of blood vessels and muscle inflammation. Since the organism is shed in the urine, an infected dog may pose a serious health threat to its owners.

Leptospirosis is transmitted primarily from animal hosts through the urine. However, the organism can survive in:

animal tissues
free in the environment in moist, alkaline soil
or in surface waters, drains, and mud.
The bacteria infect a host by penetrating mucous membranes or by entering through skin abrasions after the host is exposed to contaminated water, urine, or the carcass of an infected animal
Prevention and vaccination
prevent dogs from drinking outdoor water (including water bowls kept outside, puddles, lakes)
recommended for dogs who live in urban or rural areas where there is a large population of raccoons, skunks, or other small rodents
the most recent vaccine provides protection against the serovars or types of Leptospira which are currently most common: L pomona and L. grippotyphosa.