Is Your Veterinarian Being Honest w/You--ABC News

[Kris Christine]

Is Your Veterinarian Being Honest with You? ABC News 11/22/13 Is Your Veterinarian Being Honest With You? | Video - ABC News (Please copy & paste link into your browser if it doesn't work by clicking on it.)

"Pushing the Shots" at 4:31. Remember as you watch that the American Animal Hospital Association Canine Vaccine Guidelines referenced in this news article show distemper, parvo & hepatitis vaccines have a proven MINIMUM duration of immunity of 7 years by challenge and up to 15 years serologically.

The 2003 American Animal Hospital Association Canine Vaccine Guidelines Leerburg | Special Report state on Page 18 that: “We now know that booster injections are of no value in dogs already immune, and immunity from distemper infection and vaccination lasts for a minimum of 7 years based on challenge studies and up to 15 years (a lifetime) based on antibody titer.” They further state that hepatitis and parvovirus vaccines have been proven to protect for a minimum of 7 years by challenge and up to 9 and 10 years based on antibody count.

Canine parvo type 2, distemper, adeno type 1 and parainfluenza: "These results suggest that the duration of serological response induced by modified-live vaccines against CPV-2, CDV, CAV-1 and CPiV...vaccines, is beyond 18 months and may extend up to 9 years. Accordingly, these vaccines may be considered for use in extended revaccination interval protocols as recommended by current canine vaccine guidelines." Duration of serological response to canine parvov... [Aust Vet J. 2012] - PubMed - NCBI

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by Kris Christine

Is Your Veterinarian Being Honest with You? ABC News 11/22/13 Is Your Veterinarian Being Honest With You? | Video - ABC News (Please copy & paste link into your browser if it doesn't work by clicking on it.)

"Pushing the Shots" at 4:31. Remember as you watch that the American Animal Hospital Association Canine Vaccine Guidelines referenced in this news article show distemper, parvo & hepatitis vaccines have a proven MINIMUM duration of immunity of 7 years by challenge and up to 15 years serologically.The 2003 American Animal Hospital Association Canine Vaccine Guidelines Leerburg | Special Report state on Page 18 that: “We now know that booster injections are of no value in dogs already immune, and immunity from distemper infection and vaccination lasts for a minimum of 7 years based on challenge studies and up to 15 years (a lifetime) based on antibody titer.” They further state that hepatitis and parvovirus vaccines have been proven to protect for a minimum of 7 years by challenge and up to 9 and 10 years based on antibody count. Canine parvo type 2, distemper, adeno type 1 and parainfluenza: "These results suggest that the duration of serological response induced by modified-live vaccines against CPV-2, CDV, CAV-1 and CPiV...vaccines, is beyond 18 months and may extend up to 9 years. Accordingly, these vaccines may be considered for use in extended revaccination interval protocols as recommended by current canine vaccine guidelines." Duration of serological response to canine parvov... [Aust Vet J. 2012] - PubMed - NCBI

Thank you so much for providing this evidence based research! My concern as a breeder that gives my own puppy vaccines....I read in various research studies that apparently it is evident that just ONE puppy vaccine, given at 16 weeks of age, provides the protection that these puppies need, as opposed to a series of 3-4 "puppy shots".....still researching this....a little scary to back down on this.....

[Kris Christine]

You're very welcome. Perhaps the information below will make you feel more comfortable about your puppy shots.

On p. 12 of the 2011 American Animal Hospital Association's Canine Vaccine Guidelines https://www.aahanet.org/PublicDocume...Guidelines.pdf it reports that: "Because dogs older than 14-16 wk of age are not likely to have interfering levels of MDA [maternally derived antibodies], administration of a single initial dose of an infectious vaccine to an adult dog can be expected to induce a protective immune response. ..... MDA is the most common reason early vaccination fails to immunize."

On p. 17 of the 2011 AAHA Guidelines: "Despite the confusion and controversy surrounding antibody testing, these serologic tests are useful for monitoring immunity to CDV, CPV-2, CAV-1, and RV. .....On completion of the puppy core vaccination series with the last dose given at 14-16 wk of age, a dog can be expected to have an antibody titer or positive test result, regardless of the serologic test performed, provided the serum sample is collected > 2 wk after the last dose of vaccine." (CDV=distemper, CPV-2 = parvovirus, CAV-1 hepatitis, RV= rabies)" and on p. 34 "The vaccination protocol that includes the minimum number of vaccines yet still provides a reasonable opportunity to immunize the dog would be: a single dose of combined infectious (attenuated, avirulent, modified live, recombinant viral vectored) CDV, MLV CPV-2, with MLV CAV-2, administered at 16 wk of age or older, plus a rabies shot at the same time (but inoculated at a separate site on the body)."

According to a study published in the January 2010 issue of Journal of Comparative Pathology entitled, Age and Long-term Protective Immunity in Dogs and Cats by Dr. Ronald Schultz, et als., "Old dogs and cats rarely die from vaccine-preventable infectious disease, especially when they have been vaccinated and immunized as young adults (i.e. between 16 weeks and 1 year of age). However, young animals do die, often because vaccines were either not given or not given at an appropriate age (e.g. too early in life in the presence of maternally derived antibody [MDA]). ....The present study examines the DOI for core viral vaccines in dogs that had not been revaccinated for as long as 9 years. These animals had serum antibody to canine distemper virus (CDV), canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) and canine adenovirus type-1 (CAV-1) at levels considered protective and when challenged with these viruses, the dogs resisted infection and/or disease. Thus, even a single dose of modified live virus (MLV) canine core vaccines (against CDV, cav-2 and cpv-2) or MLV feline core vaccines (against feline parvovirus [FPV], feline calicivirus [FCV] and feline herpesvirus [FHV]), when administered at 16 weeks or older, could provide long-term immunity in a very high percentage of animals, while also increasing herd immunity." Age and Long-term Protective Immunity in Dogs and Cats

In an August 1, 2008 article in DVM360 entitled Vaccination: An Overview, Vaccination: An overview (Proceedings) - Veterinary Healthcare Dr. Melissa Kennedy states: Vaccination of the young begins at 6-8 weeks of age. Multiple boosters are given because maternal immunity interferes with vaccinal response. Because one doesn't know the level in each animal for each pathogen at each time point (and it is not feasible nor cost-effective to measure this), repeated boosters are given until the point when maternal immunity has likely decreased sufficiently to allow induction of immunity, usually at 16-18 weeks of age.

In the August 2008 issue of The Whole Dog Journal, Dr. Schultz reports in an article entitled, Vaccinations 101,by Lisa Rodier, "Research shows that less than 50 percent of puppies will respond at six weeks; 75 percent at nine weeks; 90 percent at 12 weeks; and by 14 to16 weeks, close to 100 percent will respond. "

On Page 16 of the American Animal Hospital Association's 2003 Canine Vaccine Guidelines, it states that: "When vaccinating an animal, the age of the animal, the animal's immune status, and interference by maternal antibodies in the development of immunity must be considered. Research has demonstrated that the presence of passively acquired maternal antibodies interferes with the immune response to many canine vaccines, including CPV, CDV, CAV-2 and rabies vaccines."

They further state on Page 17 that: "Multiple vaccinations with MLV vaccines are required at various ages only to ensure that one dose of the vaccine reaches the puppy's immune system without interference from passively acquired antibody. Two or more doses of killed vaccines (except rabies) and vectored vaccines are often required to induce an immune response, and both doses should be given at a time when the passively acquired antibody can no longer interfere. Thus, when puppies are first vaccinated at 16 weeks (or more) of age (an age when passively acquired antibodies generally don't cause interference), one does of an MLV vaccine, or two doses of a killed vaccine, are adequate to stimulate an immune response."

The 2006 AAHA Guidelines state on Page 13 as the most common reason for vaccination failure that “the puppy has a sufficient amount of passively acquired maternal antibody (PAMA) to block the vaccine......"

Dr. Ronald Schultz is another one of the world's leading experts on veterinary vaccines. His challenge studies form the scientific base for the American Animal Hospital Association's 2003 Canine Vaccine Guidelines. If you click on this link: Sign In page - International Veterinary Information Service - IVIS you will be able to read Dr. Schultz's May 5, 2005 paper, Considerations in Designing Effective and Safe Vaccination Programs for Dogs. Dr. Schultz reports on Page 2 that: "As part of a minimum disease prevention program, every dog should receive CPV-2, CDV, CAV-2 and rabies vaccines at least one time at or after the age of 12 weeks." He further states on Page 5, "Since passively acquired antibody declines below the level where it can interfere with the current core vaccines by 12 to 14 weeks of age, modified live CPV-2, CDV and CAV vaccines given at this age will immunize a very high percentage of pups (more than 90%) and the immunity from that single dose of vaccine will last for several years."

Vaccine Options & Prevention, MATERNAL ANTIBODY: OUR BIGGEST OBSTACLE Vaccination Options/Prevention

Puppies that were born first or were more aggressive at nursing on the first day, will get more maternal antibody than their littermates.

Mother dogs vaccinated at approximately the time of breeding will have the highest antibody levels to pass on to their puppies.

*** REMEMBER, the more maternal antibody a puppy has,
the less likely a vaccine is to work.

It should be noted that giving vaccine more frequently than every 2 weeks will cause interference between the two vaccines and neither can be expected to be effective. This includes giving vaccines for different infections. Vaccines should be spaced 2-4 weeks apart.

It is commonly held that puppies need a certain number of vaccines for protection to be achieved (usually either 3 or 4 is the “magic” number). The number of vaccines given has nothing to do with protection. In order for protection to be achieved, vaccine must be given when it can penetrate maternal antibody.

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by Kris Christine

You're very welcome. Perhaps the information below will make you feel more comfortable about your puppy shots.

On p. 12 of the 2011 American Animal Hospital Association's Canine Vaccine Guidelines https://www.aahanet.org/PublicDocume...Guidelines.pdf it reports that: "Because dogs older than 14-16 wk of age are not likely to have interfering levels of MDA [maternally derived antibodies], administration of a single initial dose of an infectious vaccine to an adult dog can be expected to induce a protective immune response. ..... MDA is the most common reason early vaccination fails to immunize."

On p. 17 of the 2011 AAHA Guidelines: "Despite the confusion and controversy surrounding antibody testing, these serologic tests are useful for monitoring immunity to CDV, CPV-2, CAV-1, and RV. .....On completion of the puppy core vaccination series with the last dose given at 14-16 wk of age, a dog can be expected to have an antibody titer or positive test result, regardless of the serologic test performed, provided the serum sample is collected > 2 wk after the last dose of vaccine." (CDV=distemper, CPV-2 = parvovirus, CAV-1 hepatitis, RV= rabies)" and on p. 34 "The vaccination protocol that includes the minimum number of vaccines yet still provides a reasonable opportunity to immunize the dog would be: a single dose of combined infectious (attenuated, avirulent, modified live, recombinant viral vectored) CDV, MLV CPV-2, with MLV CAV-2, administered at 16 wk of age or older, plus a rabies shot at the same time (but inoculated at a separate site on the body)."

According to a study published in the January 2010 issue of Journal of Comparative Pathology entitled, Age and Long-term Protective Immunity in Dogs and Cats by Dr. Ronald Schultz, et als., "Old dogs and cats rarely die from vaccine-preventable infectious disease, especially when they have been vaccinated and immunized as young adults (i.e. between 16 weeks and 1 year of age). However, young animals do die, often because vaccines were either not given or not given at an appropriate age (e.g. too early in life in the presence of maternally derived antibody [MDA]). ....The present study examines the DOI for core viral vaccines in dogs that had not been revaccinated for as long as 9 years. These animals had serum antibody to canine distemper virus (CDV), canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) and canine adenovirus type-1 (CAV-1) at levels considered protective and when challenged with these viruses, the dogs resisted infection and/or disease. Thus, even a single dose of modified live virus (MLV) canine core vaccines (against CDV, cav-2 and cpv-2) or MLV feline core vaccines (against feline parvovirus [FPV], feline calicivirus [FCV] and feline herpesvirus [FHV]), when administered at 16 weeks or older, could provide long-term immunity in a very high percentage of animals, while also increasing herd immunity." Age and Long-term Protective Immunity in Dogs and Cats

In an August 1, 2008 article in DVM360 entitled Vaccination: An Overview, Vaccination: An overview (Proceedings) - Veterinary Healthcare Dr. Melissa Kennedy states: Vaccination of the young begins at 6-8 weeks of age. Multiple boosters are given because maternal immunity interferes with vaccinal response. Because one doesn't know the level in each animal for each pathogen at each time point (and it is not feasible nor cost-effective to measure this), repeated boosters are given until the point when maternal immunity has likely decreased sufficiently to allow induction of immunity, usually at 16-18 weeks of age.

In the August 2008 issue of The Whole Dog Journal, Dr. Schultz reports in an article entitled, Vaccinations 101,by Lisa Rodier, "Research shows that less than 50 percent of puppies will respond at six weeks; 75 percent at nine weeks; 90 percent at 12 weeks; and by 14 to16 weeks, close to 100 percent will respond. "

On Page 16 of the American Animal Hospital Association's 2003 Canine Vaccine Guidelines, it states that: "When vaccinating an animal, the age of the animal, the animal's immune status, and interference by maternal antibodies in the development of immunity must be considered. Research has demonstrated that the presence of passively acquired maternal antibodies interferes with the immune response to many canine vaccines, including CPV, CDV, CAV-2 and rabies vaccines."

They further state on Page 17 that: "Multiple vaccinations with MLV vaccines are required at various ages only to ensure that one dose of the vaccine reaches the puppy's immune system without interference from passively acquired antibody. Two or more doses of killed vaccines (except rabies) and vectored vaccines are often required to induce an immune response, and both doses should be given at a time when the passively acquired antibody can no longer interfere. Thus, when puppies are first vaccinated at 16 weeks (or more) of age (an age when passively acquired antibodies generally don't cause interference), one does of an MLV vaccine, or two doses of a killed vaccine, are adequate to stimulate an immune response."

The 2006 AAHA Guidelines state on Page 13 as the most common reason for vaccination failure that “the puppy has a sufficient amount of passively acquired maternal antibody (PAMA) to block the vaccine......"

Dr. Ronald Schultz is another one of the world's leading experts on veterinary vaccines. His challenge studies form the scientific base for the American Animal Hospital Association's 2003 Canine Vaccine Guidelines. If you click on this link: Sign In page - International Veterinary Information Service - IVIS you will be able to read Dr. Schultz's May 5, 2005 paper, Considerations in Designing Effective and Safe Vaccination Programs for Dogs. Dr. Schultz reports on Page 2 that: "As part of a minimum disease prevention program, every dog should receive CPV-2, CDV, CAV-2 and rabies vaccines at least one time at or after the age of 12 weeks." He further states on Page 5, "Since passively acquired antibody declines below the level where it can interfere with the current core vaccines by 12 to 14 weeks of age, modified live CPV-2, CDV and CAV vaccines given at this age will immunize a very high percentage of pups (more than 90%) and the immunity from that single dose of vaccine will last for several years."

Vaccine Options & Prevention, MATERNAL ANTIBODY: OUR BIGGEST OBSTACLE Vaccination Options/Prevention
[COLOR="DarkRed"]
Puppies that were born first or were more aggressive at nursing on the first day, will get more maternal antibody than their littermates.

Mother dogs vaccinated at approximately the time of breeding will have the highest antibody levels to pass on to their puppies.*** REMEMBER, the more maternal antibody a puppy has,
the less likely a vaccine is to work.

It should be noted that giving vaccine more frequently than every 2 weeks will cause interference between the two vaccines and neither can be expected to be effective. This includes giving vaccines for different infections. Vaccines should be spaced 2-4 weeks apart.

It is commonly held that puppies need a certain number of vaccines for protection to be achieved (usually either 3 or 4 is the “magic” number). The number of vaccines given has nothing to do with protection. In order for protection to be achieved, vaccine must be given when it can penetrate maternal antibody.[/COLOR]

Thank you again for printing...these articles are among many, many I have read....I started vaccinating my breeding females with NeoPar within 1-2 weeks before breeding, thus ensuring my babies will receive an additional boosted protection against parvo (which almost wiped me out almost 8 years ago), and then after discussing at length with the vet/researcher that made the NeoPar vaccine (Bob Page, DVM), he suggested vaccinating my puppies again at 3-4 weeks of age, which I have done all these years. I have come to understand giving the "magic number" of 3-4 puppy shots given, actually is just an attempt to hit that "window" when maternal protection drops off and then the "one successful" puppy shot can provide needed protection....I am just very concerned that when my new owners take the baby into their vet with pups shot record, they will start re-vaccinating the baby all over again, unnecessarily! OMG, what to do, for the safety of our babies! Thanks again Kris for providing this information that I am sure many, many non breeders have never researched/read.

[lisaly]

I have been reading a great deal about vaccines, and this is extremely helpful. Thank you so much for all of the information you provide us with. I have complete faith in my vet, and I have never once doubted his integrity in over fifteen years that I have gone to his practice. When my last Rainbow Bridge baby was ten, we discovered she had an enlarged heart. My vet did not want Ashley to have any more vaccines, and she lived for seven more years. We took long walks daily, and she saw many dogs and people. Her earlier shots must have protected her.

I had Katie titered this spring instead of giving her a booster shot, but I gave her the rabies vaccine. It may be giving me a false sense of security, and the titers may not be necessary, but it still calmed my fears of Katie catching something I could have prevented. I think as I educate myself more, I will feel more comfortable with withholding vaccines. With Ashley, I knew it was the right thing to do. I hate the idea of giving unnecessary vaccines, more due to not knowing the negative long-term affects these vaccines have on our pups than the cost of the vaccines.

[gemy]

It is pretty huge for breeders not to vaccinate pups at least once prior to placement in their for-ever homes.

Can titers on all the pups truly tell us that the puppy is protected against the big three? Pavro Distemper Rabies? How reliable are titers on 7 or 8 wk old pups?

As titers need a blood draw what about the toy breeds? Can you safely draw blood from a 1.5 lb pup?

I do titer my older dogs, but they have all had their puppy shots, and "safe" update on their vaccines.

Like most folks even though I am a breeder, I am quite frankly scared of letting a puppy out of my home without any core vaccines. Usually we place the large breeds at 8wks old.

[Kris Christine]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

Thank you again

My pleasure!

[Kris Christine]

Originally Posted by gemy

It is pretty huge for breeders not to vaccinate pups at least once prior to placement in their for-ever homes.

Can titers on all the pups truly tell us that the puppy is protected against the big three? Pavro Distemper Rabies? How reliable are titers on 7 or 8 wk old pups?

Like most folks even though I am a breeder, I am quite frankly scared of letting a puppy out of my home without any core vaccines. Usually we place the large breeds at 8wks old.

Yes, I understand your concern, however, because maternal antibodies can and do interfere with and neutralize/negate the desired immune response from vaccination, the younger a puppy is vaccinated, the less likely it is to mount the proper immune response.

This is what Dr. Ronald Schultz had to say in his 2007 presentation to the AKC Canine Health Foundation entitled,What Everyone Needs to Know About Canine Vaccines and Vaccination Programs: What Everyone Needs to Know About Canine Vaccines Perhaps it will answer some questions for you.

"An antibody titer no matter how low shows the animal has immunologic memory since memory effector B cells must be present to produce that antibody. Some dogs without antibody are protected from disease because they have T cell memory, that will provide cell mediated immunity (CMI). CMI will not protect from reinfection, but it will prevent disease."

My own dogs, those of my children and grandchildren are vaccinated with MLV CDV, CPV-2, CPI, andCAV-2 vaccines once as puppies after the age of 12 weeks. An antibody titer is performed two or more weeks later and if found positive our dogs are never again vaccinated. " I have used this vaccination program with modifications (CAV-2 replaced CAV-1 vaccines in 1970's and CPV-2 vaccines were first used in 1980) since 1974! I have never had one of our dogs develop CDV,CAV-1 or CPV-2 even though they have had exposure to many dogs, wildlife and to virulent CPV-2 virus. You may say that I have been lucky, but it is not luck that protects my dogs, it is immunologic memory.

The vaccines in the quote above are CDV (distemper), CPV-2 (parvovirus), CPI (canine parainfluenza), and CAV-2 (hepatitis), and Dr. Ronald Schultz is the Chair of the Department of Pathobiological Sciences at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine. His challenge and serological studies on canine vaccines form a large part of the scientific data base upon which the 2003, 2006, and 2011 American Animal Hospital Association's Canine Vaccine Guidelines are based, as well as the 2007 World Small Animal Veterinary Association's Vaccine Guidelines.