Vaccinations; Which & How Often?

We're on the "kitten booster series" then once every 3 years for the 4+1 and FeLV since we're indoor cats who don't go many places. Only rabies is annual (IN law I believe...)

I'm very wary of over-vaccinating my pets. Right now, the boys get rabies every three years to stay legal. The others are every five years, but Wiggles doesn't get them anymore (due to his age). I heard that the University of Wisconsin is conducting a study to the longevity of the rabies vaccine, so hopefully the standard will move to five or seven years! I've thought of titer tests, but haven't been able to afford those yet.

No one in the dog club I'm in vaccinates their dogs annually. Most of them do titer testing, although as pointed out, that is expensive. Rabies in Indiana is now every 3 years instead of every year. I'm switching vets because the one I'm at now refused to even discuss Batman going to less than annual shots (except for rabies). So for $110 I probably got a lot of shots the Bat didn't need.

After reading the article from the link I must post again. That is a GREAT article and I truly thank you for posting it. I have to say you are the first vet I've seen publicly say pets may not need shots every year. Way to go!

Clarification:
In Indiana, the state law reads that every dog and cat must be vaccinated either every year with a 1 year vaccine or every 3 years with an approved 3 year vaccination.
Keep this in mind as the vaccinations are different and you need to know which one your veterinarian is administering and whether or not you are in compliance with Indiana State Law.

Yikes, sorry for the misinformation. My vet had just told me the shots were now three years and that the law had changed to allow it. I should have been more diligent in looking it up.

We do home "core" vaccinations. Puppy rounds at 8, 12, and 16 weeks, then a booster at a year. Cresteds are notoriously allergic to many vaccines so I refuse to vaccinate her more than I have to. I won't vaccinate every year.

Thanks so much for the info. We do the titer testing for our dogs and the three year rabies due to my concerns with over vaccination all under the guidance of their vet. I'm thrilled that you provided this info because I know many vets still have the "rubber stamp" attitude!

thank you for the great info! we only do 3 year rabies here, the first year or two, the dogs get their initial vaccs, then only rabies every 3 years. cats get first yearly vaccs in first year, then no more ever. they never go outdoors. (they do not have access to be able to even sneak out) i do feel that if the only time anyone takes their animals to the vet is for vaccs, then they should get the yearly done. as a groomer of more years than i like to admit (LOL) i have seen many, many illnesses, tumor sites, etc, that were, or may have been linked to over vaccinating, and recent findings and studies are making me more and more wary of giving too many vaccines. this is just what i do/think, i do not recommend anyone else doing this unless you have all the information first.

Thanks for the info! All of my furballs are due for their yearly exams and vaccinations. Last year we only did rabies for the older cats and rabies & FIV boosters for the kittens (they got their first set when they were spayed/neutered a few months before). Looks like we'll do rabies only this year for everyone. They're strictly indoor cats and don't ever come in contact with other animals. Thanks again for the info!

I tried to discuss this with my Vet when I had Remus in for his 1 year visit. He got irate and acted like I was totally misinformed. He ended up making me feel so guilty I let him give him like 4 or 5 vaccines. He is no longer my Vet! Loki is due for his 1 year visit in about a month and I'm looking for a holistic Vet who is more up to date on new protocol.