The Dangers of Overvaccination

[MyFairLacy]

I've been doing some research this week about vaccines, common diseases, and dangers of overvaccination. I wanted to share a website I've found with interesting information.

I'm mostly been looking at cat diseases tonight as my youngest kitty (1 year old) is almost due for her yearly exam and possible vaccinations. I'm trying to decide what I want to vaccinate for, if I decide to vaccinate at all. Of course I plan to actually speak to a few veterinarians in person before I decide for sure though. I'll be looking into dog vaccines more later as well.

Anyway, I found a lot of interesting articles on www.truthaboutvaccines.org

I think this articles has a lot of interesting information and opinions from a Holistic Vet. It's geared towards cats but talks about vaccines in general and mentions dogs as well. http://www.holisticat.com/vaccinations.html A few excepts of interest to me...

About Titers
immunologic memory lasts for years (usually for the life of the individual). This memory is not dependent upon titers, nor do titer levels always accurately indicate the immune status. A titer is a reflection of the quantity of circulating antibodies (immunoglobulins) to a given antigen (in this case, an organism). Cells in the body produce the antibody. These cells retain the ability to produce antibodies toward a given antigen for quite a long time, usually for life. Upon re-exposure, they can produce antibody within forty-eight hours. As a consequence of this capability, there is no need for the body to expend the energy needed to maintain circulating antibodies. A low or absent titer, therefore, does not mean the body is unprotected. The body may simply have cells ready to act, like firefighters playing cards until they are needed. When booster vaccines are administered, antibodies destroy the vaccine particles before they can augment the immunity, and nothing is accomplished.

An interesting theory about the rabies vaccine causing aggression
Another vaccine that induces great anguish for guardian and companion is the rabies vaccine. I see many cases of fear and aggression that stem from rabies vaccination. If you consider the nature of rabies, this might not surprise you. It appears we are introducing chronic rabies into our animals by injecting rabies virus particles into their bodies. How, you may wonder, could inactivated virus induce illness? Apparently, the ability to affect change is not contingent upon the quality of aliveness, as we understand the concept. In fact, viruses are on the border between living and non-living; they require another organism to reproduce and thrive; otherwise they are little more than a chemical compound with the potential to alter the metabolism of their hosts.

There are four criteria that are at the center of any vaccine decision. One should only consider administering a vaccine if all four criteria are met:

1. The disease is serious, even life threatening.

2. The animal is or will be exposed to the disease.

3. The vaccine for the disease is known to be effective.

4. The vaccine for the disease is considered safe.

[livingdustmops]

Very interesting reading although I have never heard "A low or absent titer, therefore, does not mean the body is unprotected". I do believe we over vaccinate our animals and I am always looking to read more on this topic.

Thank you for posting.

[xxmxaxrxyxx]

i have came across this subject several times...and each time i get worried that we may in fact over vaccinating...

thanks for posting...hehe

[jp4m2]

It seems like when ever the subject of "over vaccination" comes up people just don't want to change what has been done before. It always surprises me that some will go all out looking for the best foods but when it comes to vaccines they just go with the program. Things are changing, there's new studies and info out there that people need to read and possible change for their pets health and well being.
I get so sad when I read a post that some one took their pup in for multiple shots at one visit, or they are getting boosters EVERY year just because they trust their vet. Some vets are just not up on the new programs and info.
Just because the pet is feeling ok after the injections in no way does it mean there has been no damage or after effects. Sometimes the vaccines break down their immune system and the damage will occur months or years later. We really need to educate ourselves on this and not be so passive.

[tjdmom]

I'm not sure what the "right" thing to do is. I just go along with what my vet says but I really do worry that we are over vaccinating.

[scoobiedooiscoo]

ok i have a question if we test and the dog doesnt need what ever shot and it bites someone can they come back on you for not giving the shots? or does the vet give us something saying they didnt need what ever shot?

[jencar98]

I've thought for some time now that we have been over-vaccinating. It is difficult to find a vet that is on board with new vaccine protocols. Ruby's last vet refused to even consider anything less than giving yearly boosters. I've wondered even about giving the full amounts, why would a 3lb dog need the same amount of serum as say a 75lb dog?

I realize humans and dogs are different but have wondered, if it is not necessary for our human children to be vaccinated yearly for the common childhood diseases, why then is it necessary to do so with our dogs? Does it not stand to reason they would have more than enough immunity to protect them after their puppy series and an adult booster?

I know with rabies vaccine there is the law to follow and I'll continue to accept that for now. But not so with the others.

[Ichabob]

I have also been reading about over vaccinaton on horses and dogs, since we have 5 horses and 4 dogs my vet comes to me, as a farm call. Wicket the yorkie has his own yorkie vet.

The farm vet says that they should be vacc. every year for everthing, also he does not like the vacc. that are sold through the feed stores, says they are not reiable. he chargers me 145.00 to pull in my driveway before anything else is done.

Wicket vet, has just the opposite opinion he seems to think that they do not need yearly rountine shots. he says every 3 to 4 yrs you should vacc. adult dogs. except for rabbies which here is a state law has to be done every year.

so I have decided that with us being out in the country and my dogs are not being around other dogs not to vacc. same with the horses they are not showing anymore they for the most part are yard ornaments now and not around other horses.

[jp4m2]

The only vaccine I know of that is "legally" required is the rabies.....No one is saying all shots should be stopped, it's the administration of the same shots over and over again that's the problem......some people will never do particular shots like lepo, gaurdia, kennel cough...you just have to do a lot of reading for yourself and you decide what is in your pets best interest.....
I just started googling "overvaccination" and was shocked at what was coming up....and it's not just from a couple of off the wall people......Catherine O Driscoll has written two books, "Stop the Shots" and "What the vets don't tell you"....There's Dr. Jean Dodds, Dr. Bob Rodgers in Texas, any many many more who are trying to change the vaccine program....
I think I was angered the most when I kept coming across the same info that stated the the drug company has never submitted studies or documentation showing how long the the vaccines remain effective in our pets....I wonder why we don't take our children in every year for their vaccines for their entire lives?

[jp4m2]

Originally Posted by jencar98

I've thought for some time now that we have been over-vaccinating. It is difficult to find a vet that is on board with new vaccine protocols. Ruby's last vet refused to even consider anything less than giving yearly boosters. I've wondered even about giving the full amounts, why would a 3lb dog need the same amount of serum as say a 75lb dog?

I realize humans and dogs are different but have wondered, if it is not necessary for our human children to be vaccinated yearly for the common childhood diseases, why then is it necessary to do so with our dogs? Does it not stand to reason they would have more than enough immunity to protect them after their puppy series and an adult booster?

I know with rabies vaccine there is the law to follow and I'll continue to accept that for now. But not so with the others.

It just amazes me that some vets just refuse to learn anything new....My vet only administers what I say.....I only do parvo, distemper and rabies, the parvo and distemper are done only as puppies, no more....once they have immunity then any shots I would do after have absolutely zero effect, the immunity they already have will block the booster shots....the boosters will only wear down their immune systems.....the people who are trying to change this practice believe this is partly why (food is another issue) we are seeing so many ill pets now, as in thyroid problems, cancers, liver problems, diabetes, etc. etc. because the immune systems are damaged....I know when I was growing up it was so rare to see an ill pet, now a days we have come to accept it as "normal"....I would wager a bet our pets life span is not what it used to be from just a decade or two ago. I wonder why if we are doing all these vaccines to have healthier pets why are we seeing sicker pets?... interesting.....

[Ichabob]

I do know that if you transport horses from state you have to have a health cert. which means have they had there shots and their blood test. I have also been ask for dogs health cert. but only because we were stop for the the horses, Fl. has really gotton strict on this. and will not let you cross the state line without health certs. on dogs and horses.

I have never been stoped with just me and the dogs.

so if you travel from state to stae if might need to check the state law on vaccs. for pets. rabbies is the only shot I know that is req. in Al. and Ms. Tn. for dogs.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by livingdustmops

Very interesting reading although I have never heard "A low or absent titer, therefore, does not mean the body is unprotected". I do believe we over vaccinate our animals and I am always looking to read more on this topic.

Thank you for posting.

Yes, that is why titers are sometimes unreliable. There are memory cells that titers don't account for, therefore, even with a low titer, the dog could very likely still be protected.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by tjdmom

I'm not sure what the "right" thing to do is. I just go along with what my vet says but I really do worry that we are over vaccinating.

I used to do whatever the vets seemed to think was right. Then one vet gave for seven vaccines (DHLPP-C and rabies) in one day. If medical help wasn't available, Ellie would very likely not be here today. I should've never allowed that many to be given in one day no matter what a vet thinks. They aren't experts on the subject and think that giving that many in one day is fine, when, in fact, the AHAA says that can be a cause of the vaccines neutralizing in the system and not "taking". Also, corona is not necessary and lepto is debatable but very dangerous. Ellie's vets do say to vaccinate every year but when I dug a little deeper and said I didn't want to, the vet offered to do titers and vaccinate every three. So, I don't think vets are the best source of information on this subject.

[paulapoo]

Great post B.J.!!!!

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by scoobiedooiscoo

ok i have a question if we test and the dog doesnt need what ever shot and it bites someone can they come back on you for not giving the shots? or does the vet give us something saying they didnt need what ever shot?

The only one you legally have to give is rabies. Some vets will even give sick animals a waiver for this but if your dogs did bite someone, even if you have a waiver, there could be big problems. It depends how sick your dog is whether you get it or not and whether your vet will give you a waiver. The other ones are your choice.