Vaccination clinics often give short-term vaccines designed to keep you coming back every year, with little regard for the impact of such frequent vaccination on your dog; it’s a simple matter of economics. For the same reason, they also have no problem administering unnecessary annual vaccines for coronavirus and Lyme disease.
Reputable veterinarians, on the other hand, take care to avoid over-vaccination by administering the longest duration vaccines – and only the necessary shots for that animal’s circumstances - in order to minimize stress on the animal.
"One of my pet peeves is seeing dogs get over-vaccinated," says Dr. Rebecca Campbell of Symphony Vet Center in New York City. "It bugs me when I see dogs getting rabies vaccines every year, instead of every three years."
Besides, vaccinations should not be the main focus of annual attention to your dog’s health – the focus should be a complete physical examination with a veterinarian. So avoid vaccination clinics at pet stores, and consult a vet, who will perform a physical exam on your dog and discuss his health in detail.
