Questions about vaccinations.. (vet, rabies, shots, shelters)

[bam531]

Hi everyone!! Yesterday we were given a dog that we are not sure if she has had her shots or not. The dog was a stray that showed up at the neighbors with no collar or rabies tag. Neighbor doesn't know anything about the dog, supposedly it showed up at her mothers and her mother didn't want her. Our vet clinic will be in town Tuesday and I would like to get Lucy (dog) her shots. Here is my question..if Lucy has already had her shots will another round hurt her? This is an expensive breed of dog so it would be unusual ( to me) if the previous owners had not had her vaccinated. Is there a test the vet can do to determine if she has been vaccinated?? Thanks!!

P.S..before anyone ask..yes we are checking at local shelters and our local bulletin boards to see if any one has reported her lost....neighbor did say that when Lucy first showed up she was extremely hungry and dirty..so guessing she has been missing ( or dumped off )for quite a while.

[mrs1885]

First see if she has a micro chip. Vets and shelters have the scanner. If not, your vet can do a titers testing to see if she has any immunity to diseases / viruses that you'd be vaccinating for. If she's got plenty immunity don't worry about vaccinating her. The titers testing usually runs about as much as the vaccine so it's a gamble. If she's got full immunity you've saved her from possible vaccinosis. But if she doesn't - and you'd be SHOCKED how many idiots buy an expensive dog and don't bother to vaccinate them properly - you'll have to pay for the titers and then for vaccinations too. Still definitely worth it, especially if it's a breed that's sensitive to certain vaccines. Make sure you discuss with your vet which vaccines are needed in your area as not all of them are needed in all areas.

[smagid]

I would recommend getting the TITER test done as well. Definitely see if she has a microchip or someone put an add out. She may have been missing for a while. So many times at shelters, people will report a dog missing but since they deal with so many dogs they don't remember the report even if the owner has posted something on the bulletin board at the shelter. So you may want to visit and see if anything is posted.

[foxywench]

i third the titer test...

As an adult dog shes pretty low risk at catching and suffering from most of the illnesses they typically vaccinate for so the only one id probably even consider doing at this point would be the rabies shot, and even then id much prefer to titer first to be sure...vaccinosis isnt a good thing.

being shes a "rare breed" as you put it, its likley she has a family out there looking for her, so unles sshe LOOKS sick, id avoid vaccinating here for now.