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Is it safe to vaccinate my 8-year-old dog for distemper now?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed

My dog is 8 n is never vaccinated against distemper.can she b vaccinated now?vet said that there is 7 in 1 vaccine which is given n distemper is one amongst them.she was given her first rabies shot last year.also she was on antibiotics from last year so her immunity would b compromised?would she get vaccinal distemper?would it b safe to vaccinate her now?also she is having huge hair fall is this due to immunity compromised?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

Veterinarian

Published on May 25th, 2019

Most unvaccinated, adult dogs can receive a vaccination for distemper once they are, healthy, normal and not ill. She will need two vaccines given 3 weeks apart to set the proper immunity levels. Unless she has an ongoing chronic condition like an autoimmune condition or a blood borne parasite, most pets will not be immune compromised in general but I cannot answer that question for you without knowing her full history. I recommend to call the veterinarian who took care of Chutki last year and ask if she is immune compromised in anyway. Make sure to ask if it is safe to vaccinate her. Chutki's hair loss could be several things including allergies, endocrine disease, parasites, hormonal changes, poor diet or the normal twice yearly shedding of the coat. The only way to figure out the cause is to have her examined by your veterinarian. You can rule out parasites by using an oral medication like Simparica. There are a couple things you can do at home and they can help but they may not address the underlying cause. You can try adding in an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for dogs, this can help improve the skin health. You may also try changing her diet to something like Royal Canin or Nutro as they are aimed at skin health. Having her spayed can also help to regulate her hormones. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Linda G, MS, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    Hello. Yes, definitely vaccinate Chutki against distemper. She should receive a booster in 1 month, then yearly. There is no such thing as vaccinal distemper in a healthy dog so start her vaccinations & continue on a timely basis. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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