Self-reported dog vaccination practices in pet owners enrolled in the Dog Aging Project in the United States found most dogs were vaccinated according to veterinarians' recommendations

Abstract

Objective: To assess the associations between pet owners' demographic characteristics and vaccination status of dogs at the time of enrollment into the Dog Aging Project and describe the vaccination practices against core and noncore pathogens.

Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed responses of US dog owners to the Dog Aging Project Health and Life Experience Survey, administered at enrollment from 2019 through 2023, and the 2023 annual follow-up survey. A multivariable multinomial logistic regression model was built to investigate factors associated with dog vaccination status.

Results: Almost all owners (44,935 of 47,444 [94.7%]) reported that their dog was vaccinated against various diseases as recommended by their veterinarian. Dogs owned by respondents with a bachelor's degree compared to those of respondents with less than a bachelor's degree education level were significantly more likely (relative risk ratio, 3.58; 95% CI, 2.26 to 5.67) to be vaccinated per their veterinarian's recommendations. Compared to dogs of respondents with an annual income less than $20,000, dogs of respondents with an annual income ranging from $40,000 to $59,999 were significantly more likely (relative risk ratio, 5.24; 95% CI, 2.32 to 11.85) to be vaccinated as recommended by their veterinarian.

Conclusions: This study found a high level of adherence to veterinarians' recommendations for vaccinations. Dog vaccine uptake was higher among respondents with a bachelor's degree or higher education level and among those with higher annual incomes.

Clinical relevance: Vaccine literacy programs targeting and measures that aim to increase dog vaccine uptake among low-income pet owners may be necessary.

Keywords: client communication; companion dog vaccination; core vaccines; vaccines; veterinary recommendation.