Customizing pet vaccines according to lifestyle

Dear Dr. Forsythe:
My older dog, Buffy, who will be turning 5, next month, has been having accidents in the house! I can’t believe that she’s resorting back to puppy behavior and having housetraining issues. When she wakes up in the morning, there’s a little puddle of pee on her dog bed. Also, when she’s lying down chewing on a bone or playing with a toy, sometimes urine dribbles out of her. She urinates a fine amount outside. Please help!
Piddle problem

Dear Piddle: Older female dogs often develop sphincter hypo tonus. This is a problem where the muscles that control the bladder become weak and don’t allow pets to “hold it” as well as when they were younger. People often run to the market and purchase “Depends” to wear at night. Thank goodness there is a good medication phenylpropylalanine, which causes the smooth muscles surrounding this part of the bladder to tighten up and help dogs gain back the control of their bladder. Most veterinarians will check first to make sure your pet isn’t suffering from a bladder infection or other bladder problem such as bladder stones or a tumor. Once these have been ruled out, this medication is potentially a great way to help control this problem. I hope this gets it cleared up and she is piddle free real soon.
Dr. F.

Dear Dr. Forsythe:
My veterinarian said that all my dogs should be vaccinated for Lymes, Leptospirosis, and the Rattlesnake vaccine. I have an active 3-year-old German Shorthair Pointer, which occasionally goes hunting with my husband during duck season. We also hike with her regularly out in open space. I also have a 7-year-old Pug, which pretty much lives on my couch! He goes on leashed-only walks on the bike path, but only two to three times a week for about 15 minutes. He spends almost all of his outdoor time in my backyard in the shade. And then, there is Muffy – my 14-year-old toy poodle, who only goes out to do her business. She is currently taking heart medication. Could you explain the need for my dogs to get all these vaccines?
Carrie C., Sonoma

Dear Carrie: Thanks for addressing a really important and timely issue, customizing vaccines according to lifestyle. The young and active German Shorthair would probably be well served by a more aggressive vaccine protocol that includes Lymes, Leptospirosis and Rattlesnake vaccine technology because of his exposure to water, open spaces, and open areas in this region where rattlesnakes are common and potent. Skunks are known to spread Leptospirosis, dangerous and zoonotic bacteria that can cause renal failure in dogs and is spread by feces. It is possible that repeated water exposure and frequent baths could reduce the effectiveness of topical flea and tick medications, so I would recommend vaccinating the hunting dog for Lymes disease as well. As for the couch “Pug-tato,” I would be more conservative with that little creature. I would limit the Pug to a three year Distemper vaccine and Rabies and also include a Bordetella vaccine, but avoid other vaccines for him. Muffy, the 14-year-old Poodle with the heart condition would probably best be served by having a vaccine titer done to see if she even needs to have a distemper vaccination. I’d be the most conservative with her, opting only for a rabies vaccine and a Bordetella and concentrating instead on keeping her heart healthy and limiting the number of foreign proteins that are injected into her body. I hope this information helps. The veterinary profession is advancing very rapidly, and vaccine technology and safety is one topic people are very interested in knowing more about. In my opinion each and every pet should receive the vaccines that suit his or her individual exposure risks and lifestyle. This can ensure minimal risk of your pets having an adverse reaction while still maximizing their health and safety. Thanks for asking about an interesting topic.
Dr. F.