You should decide whether your dog needs that vaccination.

By Nancy Kerns

Most dog owners are responsible and understand the importance of protecting their companions from preventable disease. That’s surely what motivated the dozens of people I observed standing in a long line with their dogs and puppies at a low-cost vaccination clinic offered in a local pet supply store.

Which vaccines should your dog receive? It is your responsibility to determine the real risks of the diseases they are supposed to defend your dog against, and weigh the potential benefits of vaccination against the potential harm.

In addition to vaccinations, the veterinary business running the clinic also offers flea and tick treatments, heartworm tests and preventive medication, and identification microchip implanting, so at the head of the line, a young man in a white coat and holding a clipboard asked each client what she wants for her pet. Dozens of times, I heard an owner say…

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