Do small indoor dogs really need yearly shots?
If they ever (EVER) go outside they are at risk for worms, parvo, distemper, and a variety of other risks. I believe all dogs should be inside dogs, but all inside dogs go outside to relieve themselves, get some exercise, play, etc. That means they need shots. After they have received their puppy shots (3 rounds), you should be able to get by with a single annual booster (a 5 in 1 to an 8 in 1 depending on your vet, boosters for things like parvo, distemper, leptospirosis) and a rabies shot (depending on where you live it could be yearly or it could be every 3 years). If your dogs are every boarded or kept inside with lots of other dogs (shows, spending the day or night at the vet), then they should receive a bordatella vaccine every six months to prevent kennel cough (can be given nasally just before kennling). And the shots shouldn’t be hundeds of dollars a year. An exam, annual booster, and rabies shot should run less than $100. ADDED: Whether or not rabies is given annually or ever
