The only safe vaccine is one that is never used.
--
Dr. James R. Shannon, former Director of the National
Institute of Health, USA
********
Vaccinating
Dogs: What Your Vet Hasn't Told You
A Video
Thanks to
veterinarians Jean Dodds, Margo Roman, Tamara
Hebbler, Sue Pollen, Pat Jordan, Stephen Blake and others for answering my
questions about vaccination and the vaccine bureaucracy.
Purchase
a DVD of Dr. Dodds speaking at the 2010
Safer Pet Vaccination and Health Care Seminar. She
spoke for more than 2 hours and answered questions
on vaccination safety and managing and avoiding
adverse reactions. Sign up for more information on
the DVD and Program Guide at
www.dogs4dogs.com/saferpet
All proceeds
above a minimal shipping cost benefit the
RabiesChallengeFund study of the rabies vaccine.
Have a question
about vaccination?
Your questions will likely be answered on this page or
on our rabies vaccine page.
If you still have a question, or wish to comment or
post a story, post it as a comment at the bottom of any
of my blog articles.
(See them listed several paragraphs below.) We will
respond there and my reply will also be
e-mailed to you. (No slurs on any specific veterinarian please.)
Posted questions are answered before e-mailed
questions. (Note: I am a consumer advocate, not a
veterinarian.)
If you want to know everything we've learned from years
of research and interviews with vets, please read our
national award-winning book:
Scared Poopless: The Straight Scoop on Dog Care.
It's fun, full of color photos and is packed with
information.
Before you
vaccinate:
1. Know that
the annual vaccination notice from your vet is
often a sales pitch to sell vaccines and other products
your dog may not need. Go for the hands-on exam, but
educate yourself before saying yes to shots or
drugs. Tell your vet that you expect
"informed consent" about why your dog needs
the shots, what alternatives to vaccination exist and
what are the possible side
effect. This is for the vet's protection and yours. If your vet intimidates or
ridicules you, find another vet or at least watch my two
videos on evaluating and dealing with
vets.
Vaccines are known by
scientists to cause serious adverse reactions many (but
not all) of which are listed below:
Immediately
or up to 3 days after the shot:
Vomiting
Facial swelling Fever or lethargy Circulatory shock Loss of consciousness Death
Up to six weeks
after the shot:
Fibrosarcomas (cancer) at the injection site
Seizures and Epilepsy Allergies
Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA) Autoimmune diseases, including organ disease, allergies
and skin problems Chronic digestive problems Muscle weakness, especially lack of hind end
coordination Chronic digestive disorders Skin diseases
Disease the vaccine was made to prevent
Myocarditis
Post Vaccinal Encephalitis or polyneuritis Behavior problems:
aggression, destructive behaviors, separation anxiety
and odd obsessive behaviors (like tail chasing and paw
licking)
***
Important:
Report any
reactions you believe might be linked to any shot to
your vet immediately. Make sure it goes in your dog's
file and get a copy. You may someday need to apply for a vaccination exemption.
Few of
us are warned about these possible adverse effects, and even
when our dog develops them, we are not made aware of the
connection. The vet may not even recognize unexpected or
rare reactions. Adverse reactions are seldom reported; all
reporting is voluntary. A federal reporting system
for all veterinary vaccines is needed. You can, and
should, report reactions yourself.
Your veterinarian has a legal and ethical obligation to
fully inform you about the risks and benefits of any
vaccination. Read what an attorney and veterinarian
has to say about a vet's obligation of
Informed Consent.
"After more than twenty
years of practicing veterinary medicine, I am observing
chronic diseases that begin much earlier than before.
Cancer before five years of age in dogs and cats was a
rarity, but now it is not unusual to see fatal cancers
in two and three year old animals. And the incidence or
number of cases is definitely increasing. While poor
breeding practices, poor commercial diets and other
environmental factors play their part, I believe it is
the practice of vaccinating an animal repeatedly, with
multiple vaccinations throughout their lifespan that
factors the most." --
Dr. Charles Loop
Small dog alert! Small dogs are
more likely to experience adverse reactions, and
shots containing multiple vaccines
are more likely to cause adverse reactions according to
renowned pet vaccine expert Dr. Jean Dodds.
Melissa Kennedy,
DVM, PhD, DACVIM wrote in DVM360 on-line
magazine: "The
likelihood of
adverse reactions in dogs has been found
to correlate with the size of the dog and the number of
inoculations given, with higher risk associated with
small size and multiple inoculations." This means:
no combo shots for small dogs -- or any other dogs for
that matter. And
NEVER GIVE ANY OTHER SHOT WITH A RABIES SHOT. Wait
at least three or four weeks between the rabies shot and
other shots.
Dr. Richard
Ford, member of the 2006
AAHA Canine Vaccine Task Force
has said veterinarians are confused about how to
vaccinate. He said,
"he knew of one practice that had 15 vaccine
protocols, clients and staff."
Which shots
are most likely to produce adverse reactions?
Although any vaccine,
including those your dog has previously gotten without
incident, can cause an adverse reaction. Vaccines made
with killed virus, however, are the most
adversely reactive. This includes the
rabies vaccine, Bordetella,
Coronavirus, and Leptospirosis. Why? Because killed
vaccines contain adjuvants (additives that
"boost" the immune reaction). Live viruses don't need
boosting. Fortunately, with the exception of rabies,
these other shots are not recommended for all dogs.
Also, they are seldom effective. Don't give them without
good reason.
Our 2
hour DVD of world-renowned pet vaccination scientist Dr. Jean Dodds' presentation from our
Safer Pet
Vaccination & Health Care
Seminar benefiting the Rabies Challenge Fund. We will also have
additional Program Guides featuring articles by
Drs. Jean Dodds and Ron Schultz. Proceeds benefit the
study of the rabies vaccine. Click here to
learn
more or
purchase the DVD now.
Report adverse
reactions (side effects) of vaccines here:
Read and
sign the Safer Vaccines for Companion Animals petition
to the U.S. Government, US
Governmental Agencies and American Veterinary Medical
Association.
Help
dogs and cats get only
the vaccines they absolutely need.
The FDA
admits that vaccines are not tested for safety except by
vaccine manufacturing companies. Vets do not reliably
report adverse reactions. The FDA relies on the public
to report problems
once the drug or biologic is released into the public.
Did you
know that a
Chihuahua and a Great Dane get the same dose shot? This
puts the small dog at a greater risk of adverse
reactions. For the rabies vaccine, you can legally
do nothing about this.
HELPING YOUR DOG WITH VACCINATION --
Please read
carefully!
Veterinary
immunology experts say:
If your dog
is ill, delay vaccination
if at all possible
until your dog is well.
Even vaccine labels say to vaccinate healthy dogs
only. Do not allow matters of
convenience (yours or your vet's) to alter your decision.
Let your vet, and your dog's health, guide you to a safe
time to vaccinate.
Read what vets have to say here:
Vaccinating Unhealthy Pets: Beware Reactions & Vaccine
Failure
Read
my article
Is Your Dog’s Vet a Vaccination
Expert? and determine if your vet vaccinates
safely -- then act on your findings. It could truly save
your dog's life.
Holistic
veterinarians suggest giving shots one at a time.
That is, give one parvovirus shot;
two-three weeks later, give a distemper shot. Your vet
will probably have to order individual shots, so give
him or her notice. The next best solution is parvo
mixed with distemper only. Do not use a mixture with
Coronavirus, a vaccine NOT recommended by the AAHA 2006 Canine
Vaccine Task
Force Report.
Do not
give a rabies shot within at least 2 weeks of other shots
unless absolutely necessary.
Do not
give heartworm or flea meds, and do not treat for
other worms, without
proof of need -- and never within two weeks of vaccination.
(Read more about
heartworm medication.) Do not use
Proheart 6 within one month of vaccination.
In fact, before using it,
we recommend that you read
Heartworm Protection: Do We
Need ProHeart 6?
If you
suspect your dog is suffering an adverse reaction from a
vaccine, I
recommend consulting a holistic vet or homeopath as
soon as possible. Among other things, they
may recommend a homeopathic remedy to clear the vaccine
from your dog's system. If you continue to treat your
dog's symptoms without treating the cause, you'll likely
be treating increasingly bad symptoms for the rest of
your dog's life.
Know that repeatedvaccination does not make an immune dog MORE
immune. Renowned vaccination expert Dr. Jean Dodds
compares immunity to pregnancy:
you’re either immune or you’re not. Furthermore, if
you're immune to a virus, you're also immune to the
virus in the vaccine!
If your
dog is chronically ill or immune compromised,
he or she may be able to receive an exemption from rabies
vaccination. You will likely still have to pay license
fees, but your dog may avoid the shot either for the
licensing period or the life of the dog, depending on
the situation. Your veterinarian will have to apply for
the exemption giving reasons and providing documentation. Do
not allow your vet to tell you this is not possible
unless your local law says it it. If
at first you don't succeed... Note: some locales
do not allow exemptions.
Read what some activists are doing.
Have your vet document all reactions
to all vaccines
in case you ever need to apply
for an exemption to the rabies vaccine in the future. Make sure they're
recorded in the dog's file; GET A COPY and put it in a
safe place.
The only way
to safely determine a dog's immunity is to have his or
her antibody titers tested.
Your veterinarian can perform this simple (not cheap)
blood test. Some animals may be repeatedly vaccinated
and yet never develop immunity if their immune systems
are malfunctioning. (Read about
titer testing.)
Your kennel, groomer or doggy day care facility may
require proof of vaccination, but more and more establishments
will accept titer testing. If they require
vaccination more frequently than the law or common sense requires, endeavor to educate them
... or find another
establishment. Their ignorance is a grave threat to your dog's
health.
Wish you
had a crash course in everything you need to know to
vaccinate your dog safely?
I'm working with a veterinarian to create the most
complete primer ever. The information will be low
cost and at least half the proceeds will go to
support a study lengthen the time between rabies shots. Sign up below and we'll
send you complete details when our Vaccine Project
is complete. We will not share your e-mail address
with anyone.
Who regulates vaccines?
"CVM [USDA Center for Veterinary Medicine] does
not regulate vaccines. The USDA monitors adverse
drug reactions in vaccines and it is a voluntary,
not a mandatory manufacturer reporting
process. Vaccines do not receive the same scrutiny
as drugs. The testing requirements are different."
--
http://www.fda.gov/cvm/PH6QA.htm
If your vet,
kennel owner or groomer says your dog should be
vaccinated against kennel cough (Bordetella):
In
general, if your groomer or kennel owner has good
ventilation in her shop and uses good hygiene
practices, then experts say kennel cough shouldn't be an
issue. Bordetella vaccination is also not for
dogs playing together in well-ventilated areas.
Think of kennel cough as a canine cold that is
transmitted in much the same way human colds are
transmitted -- in close areas to a host with
compromised immunity.
If
the service provider is afraid your dog will get
kennel cough,
offer to sign a letter of informed consent,
saying that you've been informed of the
risk and waive liability.
If
he or she is afraid other dogs will catch kennel
cough
from your dog, then he/she clearly doesn't trust
the fact that the vaccinated dogs have immunity
to the disease -- so why vaccinate at all?
Here's what the top expert,
Dr. Ronald Schultz,
says:
"Many animals receive "kennel cough" vaccines that
include Bordetella and CPI and/or CAV-2 every 6 to 9
months
without evidence that this frequency of vaccination
is necessary or beneficial. In contrast, other dogs
are never vaccinated for kennel cough and disease is
not seen.CPI immunity lasts at least 3 years
when given intranasally, and CAV -2 immunity lasts a
minimum of 7 years parenterally for CAV-I. These two
viruses in combination with Bordetella
bronchiseptica are the agents most often
associated with kennel cough, however,
other factors
play an important role in disease (e.g. stress,
dust, humidity, molds, mycoplasma, etc.), thus
kennel cough
is not a vaccine preventable diseasebecause
of the complex factors associated with this disease.
Furthermore, this is often a mild to moderate self
limiting disease. I refer to it as the "Canine
Cold." My preference when a kennel cough vaccine is
used is that it should be the intranasal rather than
the parenteral, but some dogs will not allow someone
to administer the vaccine intranasally."
4
important (very watchable) videos of interviews
of Ronald D. Schultz, PhD, world-renowned
vaccination expert
Airlines
flying
within the Continental U.S. may or may not require proof
of rabies vaccination.
Check the website of the airline in question. Flying
internationally is more complicated and may require
antibody titer testing, a vaccination linked to a
microchip or tattoo, and/or vaccination
PetTravel.com is a
good place to go for details. You must plan well ahead.
Do not
vaccinate immediately before travel.
Your dog may experience a life-threatening adverse
reaction
and may die because you're unable to reach medical assistance
in time. Give your dog at least a week after vaccination
before flying. Check out vets on the road at
Pets911.com.
Keep copies
of your vaccination records in a safe place
in your home, in all your automobiles and in your dog's
travel bag. The records at your vet’s office may or may
not be available when needed and you don’t want to have
to revaccinate unnecessarily if your dog bites someone
or you have to board her unexpectedly.
Sign up here for our
FREE holistic dog care
e-newsletter or
blog. We will never share your e-mail
address.
"Many veterinarians are ignoring
international dog and cat vaccination guidelines, and
continuing to send reminder letters compelling pet owners to
have their pets unnecessarily revaccinated for diseases such
as parvovirus, distemper virus and adenovirus.
This unethical practice of
over-vaccination is of no benefit to the animal and puts it
at needless risk of a range of adverse reactions, including
death."
Bookmark this page. Click here:
Get updates and health alerts: Follow
K9Author on
Twitter.
Blood
antibody testing provides good evidence that
the rabies vaccine persists seven years post
vaccination.
Unfortunately, most laws
require vaccination every three years and some locals
even require annual or biannual
vaccination. Learn more at
www.Truth4Dogs.org.
MORE LINKS OF INTEREST
Dogs Adverse
Reactions
This link goes
directly to the
vaccine problems
page. It has
other great
pages on drugs
that can harm
pets.
2011 American
Animal Hospital
Canine
Vaccination
Report
The American Animal
Hospital
Association
Taskforce
examined the
safety and
efficacy of all
canine vaccines
in 2003, 2006
and now 2011. They
changed
vaccination
recommendations
for vet schools
and
organizations
throughout the
US. Note: this group
is very
conservative;
they've made
great strides in
bringing change,
but many
activists feel
they haven't
gone far enough
because they're
trying not to
anger the
veterinary
establishment
even more than
they have.
Learn about
nosodes.
These are
controversial,
but take a look
if you're
interested. Some
think they're
useless. Others
think they work.
Dr. Schultz has
sited a study
that showed
nosodes didn't
prevent disease
but did lessen
the severity.
VacLib.org
holds
that "...
vaccinated
humans have more
disease than
their
non-vaccinated
counterparts.
Likewise with
animals,
vaccination is a
fundamentally
Find excellent
links to
differing points
of view here.
Do you have a
pug? Check
out the
Pug DNA study.
Dr. Jean Dodds
has volunteered
her Hemopet
facility as a
repository for
blood samples
that will be
used in a DNA
study to
discover any
markers that
could be used to
determine
susceptibility
to adverse
vaccine
reactions in the
Pug.
Disclaimer: Jan Rasmusen
is not a
veterinarian.
The information
on this website is provided for
information purposes only, and is not intended as a
substitute for advice from a qualified health
practitioner.
Permission to
reprint
or publish on your website, newsletter or blog is granted
providing you
give this attribution:
Jan
Rasmusen is the award-winning author of Scared Poopless:
The Straight Scoop on Dog Care. Learn more about her
book and sign up for her free newsletter at
www.Dogs4Dogs.com.
Important
Disclaimer:
Jan Rasmusen is not
a veterinarian.
The information
contained on this
web site is provided
for general
information
purposes. Any
information provided
is not veterinary
advice and should
not be substituted
for a regular
consultation with a
veterinary
professional. If you
have any concerns
about your dog's
health, please
contact your
veterinarian's
office immediately.
Small dog alert!
The only way
to safely determine a dog's immunity is to have his or
her antibody titers tested.
Airlines
flying
within the Continental U.S. may or may not require proof
of rabies vaccination.
