Good advice Dawn, especially for those in areas of the country where lyme disease is a concern.
The following was written by Dr. Dunn of petcenter.com and I think he does a good job of providing a common sense approach to this issue and answering what pet owners should do since vets don't even agree...
What some veterinary associations are saying:
Questionnaires and phone calls to veterinarians in various areas of the country showed that there is a wide variety of opinions regarding vaccination protocols. In fact there was a reluctance to be quoted or to fill out a questionnaire requesting data on vaccine failures, reactions, or dangers and suggested vaccine procedures. The assumption could be drawn that no one really KNOWS for sure which way is THE RIGHT WAY. Let’s take a look at what some organizations are willing to put on paper...
Here is what the FIRST INTERNATIONAL VETERINARY VACCINES AND DIAGNOSTICS CONFERENCE, held in Madison, WI, in July, 1997 had to say:
Unofficial Recommendations:
*Vaccinate puppies and kittens against the clinically important infectious agents such as distemper virus, parvovirus, panleukopenia and rabies.
*Avoid vaccinations before six weeks of age. Give two to four doses of vaccine spaced two to four weeks apart.
*Give annual booster vaccine at one year of age. Thereafter give boosters every three years, unless required more often by law.
*Monitor serum antibody levels annually between boosters. (tjd: This means that your dog or cat should have a blood test done to measure the level of "immune memory" to a disease.)
*Geriatric animals generally do not need booster vaccinations. Monitor serum antibody titers instead.
Dr. W. Jean Dodds, a noted researcher and immunologist in Santa Monica, CA suggests that when giving a Rabies vaccine... not to administer it at the same time as other vaccines. Three to four weeks later, other vaccines can be given but Dr. Dodds believes that after ten years of age booster vaccines are generally not needed and may even be unwise.
She states "For animals previously experiencing adverse vaccine reactions or breeds at higher risk for such reactions (e.g. Weimaraners, Akitas, Harlequin Great Danes), alternatives to booster vaccinations should be considered. These include avoiding boosters except those required by law such as Rabies; measuring serum titers annually for specific diseases; and considering homeopathic alternatives to vaccinating. Some homeopathic approaches are considered as 'unconventional' and the pet owner should be provided with an appropriate disclaimer and should give informed consent to this approach."
Listing each veterinary association’s vaccination protocols would be quite lengthy, plus some protocols will be updated at various times. For your reference you may wish to call an organization and request their current protocols. Your area veterinary school is another source of advice on vaccination procedures.
What should a pet owner to do?
Realize that pet health care providers who truly have your pet's best interest at heart, do not all agree on what is the ideal vaccination protocol to follow. Accept the fact that some pet health care providers truly believe that across the broad spectrum of optimum health, vaccinations throw the animal's vital energies out of balance. The truth is that vaccines have undoubtedly prevented countless millions of disease related deaths; unfortunately, a few individuals may have been harmed along the way.
Like anything else in life, there is a middle ground that must be struck, an educated and informed judgment that needs to be made when considering the risks versus the benefits of vaccinating the pets in our care. Let us all keep an open mind and a sensitive heart to this issue of vaccinations. If you do have concerns that need addressing, tell your veterinarian that you would like to consider all the options prior to vaccinating your special pet.
Someday, hopefully soon, when we discuss vaccinating our pets, no one will have to ask if we are giving Too Many, Too Often |