Expert: Jana Connell RVT, CVT - 3/10/2011

Question
Hi, I saw an article about only vaccinating every 3years and wanted more information about that.I believe in not getting my animals vaccinated due 2they are all indoor pets for the most part and I feel they will never build a tolerance.What exactly should I be getting the 2cats and 2dogs every 3years?I know Rabies is a law I always try and sneak my way out of that vaccine also. My new puppy has a cold I've taken him to the vet but also he has popping and gruggling noises in his belly (he eats blue buffalo and royal cannine for chi's) the vet said its from his cold which I don't believe do you think maybe I should put some L-lysine in with his food or do you have any other advice 2settle his tummy..thank you -Alicia

Answer
If you don't keep your dog or cats vaccinated for rabies and they bite or even scratch someone, many times there are no 'grace periods' or quarentine times and they will just put your pet to sleep and cut their head off to send off to look for the tell-tale rabies crystals in the brain.

Now is a vaccine for rabies looking better? Distemper, parvo-virus, and other vaccinations for dogs are good for three years now. They will be fine getting them in that time frame, however, as dogs grow older they become MORE susceptible to distemper, not less. Parvo can hit at any age and it's airborne- so your pets being inside means very little. You can carry parvo home on your shoes, car tires, etc. It is a very hardy virus and can live for over 9 months outside of a dog. Parvo can kill very quickly at any age.

Same thing for cats. Leukemia, FIP, FIV etc can be gotten via cat fight wounds and bites, breeding, grooming and drinking water from outside where a cat with leukemia has been. So your pets being inside 'for the most part' means that they are all exposed to these viruses.

I have never heard of a dog's belly gurgling from a respiratory virus but from the food that they eat when it doesn't agree with them. While I am not partial to either food you are feeding, it is better than Old Roy.

I would suspect that if this keeps up that neither food agrees with him. He should only be on one of the two - not both. That is too hard on the canine digestive system and chihuahuas are very prone to digestive issues.

Stop feeding one of them and see how he does on just one brand. L-lysine is not for stomach issues. I have no clue why you would use that. Get him some pro-biotics at the vets if you want something else for his stomach.
He should be on a puppy food anyway.

I recommend Science Diet Puppy growth small bites for these dogs. None of the ones I have given this food too has been sick or had any stomach issues.

I hope he gets well soon!!Keep him vaccinated and on his heartworm medication every month as well.