A great article from a VET

[Teegy]

That's truly unfortunate. I have a couple of very dear friends dealing with the same.

[Ellie May]

I just skimmed it. I think there is balance in all of this.

DHP obviously should not be given yearly. That doesn't mean just totally stop giving it.

Rabies, well, do what you want. If you've ever been around when an animal is being decapitated so that its head can be sent for testing, you'd go with the law and vaccinate unless there was a serious and valid medical reason not to.

Lepto and bordetella have to be given yearly (or more) to be effective. Doing them less often isn't an option. Of course skipping these two all together is possible. Do what you think is right. Bordetella is given here only if dog will go to daycare/groomer. Lepto is only given to bigger dogs or small dogs who are outside a lot.

My vets are by no means holistic. However, they do not drug animals for profit, thus they do their best not to over vaccinate.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

I just skimmed it. I think there is balance in all of this.

DHP obviously should not be given yearly. That doesn't mean just totally stop giving it.

Rabies, well, do what you want. If you've ever been around when an animal is being decapitated so that its head can be sent for testing, you'd go with the law and vaccinate unless there was a serious and valid medical reason not to.

Lepto and bordetella have to be given yearly (or more) to be effective. Doing them less often isn't an option. Of course skipping these two all together is possible. Do what you think is right. Bordetella is given here only if dog will go to daycare/groomer. Lepto is only given to bigger dogs or small dogs who are outside a lot.

My vets are by no means holistic. However, they do not drug animals for profit, thus they do their best not to over vaccinate.

[Teegy]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

I just skimmed it. I think there is balance in all of this.

DHP obviously should not be given yearly. That doesn't mean just totally stop giving it.

Rabies, well, do what you want. If you've ever been around when an animal is being decapitated so that its head can be sent for testing, you'd go with the law and vaccinate unless there was a serious and valid medical reason not to.

Lepto and bordetella have to be given yearly (or more) to be effective. Doing them less often isn't an option. Of course skipping these two all together is possible. Do what you think is right. Bordetella is given here only if dog will go to daycare/groomer. Lepto is only given to bigger dogs or small dogs who are outside a lot.

My vets are by no means holistic. However, they do not drug animals for profit, thus they do their best not to over vaccinate.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

Dog body's and systems are different then humans. Humans also get flu shots every year so certain shots such as Bordatella and Lepto are needed yearly just like our flu shots. I think its great that the DAP vaccine is now starting to be every five years and I hope they continue to make more discovers in this but until more research is done to make sure my dog is safe she will be getting it every five years. In my opinion going holistic with my dog would be like me not getting the prescription meds for my anxiety and depression and just going with the more "natural" aprotch of taking say St.John's Wart which is actually more dangerous and reacts with more things then my prescriptions do. I would never take that aprotch with myself so of course I'm not gonna do it with my beloved baby who is my world.

Not every human gets a flu shot every year. In fact, most I know do not get one.

Lots of research has been done. An incredible amount.
Link with more info: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/4254265-post41.html

I am completely NOT against anti-anxiety drugs or depression drugs. I think they can be extremely beneficial to those in need. But I also think other methods should be tried first, and as a society, we're far too dependent on prescription drugs. I've seen RX drugs personally ruin lives but I've also seen them better lives. I think exercise, for example, releases endorphins better than any drug could. I feel 1000% better when I work out then when I don't. I get depressed too when I spend a lot of time inside or without much social interaction.

Nope, natural is NOT always better. Completely agree with that. Doing minimal vaccines is not some holistic mumbo jumbo. I think both (holisitic and modern medicine) have their place. I chose modern medicine for most. But I think if certain ailments can be cured naturally, do it.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by Britster

Not every human gets a flu shot every year. In fact, most I know do not get one.

Lots of research has been done. An incredible amount.
Link with more info: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/4254265-post41.html

I am completely NOT against anti-anxiety drugs or depression drugs. I think they can be extremely beneficial to those in need. But I also think other methods should be tried first, and as a society, we're far too dependent on prescription drugs. I've seen RX drugs personally ruin lives but I've also seen them better lives. I think exercise, for example, releases endorphins better than any drug could. I feel 1000% better when I work out then when I don't. I get depressed too when I spend a lot of time inside or without much social interaction.

Nope, natural is NOT always better. Completely agree with that. Doing minimal vaccines is not some holistic mumbo jumbo. I think both (holisitic and modern medicine) have their place. I chose modern medicine for most. But I think if certain ailments can be cured naturally, do it.

When there is an actual chemical imbalance the endorphins you get from exercise are not enough if you can even get out of bed. I think the word depression is probably thrown around way to much and those that just feel icky or sad for a day or two are like oh I'm depressed I need medicine when there are those of us out there suffering from the chemical imbalance trying to find the one or combo of meds and hardly able to get out of bed or unable to go to the store for a loaf of breed because of anxiety. Yes our society might jump on prescription meds to fast but there are many prescription meds that are very nessisary and the alternative could be death or using a vitamin could be even be more dangerous because there not FDA regulated and some really have crazy scary side effects. I think no one can really understand how nessisary prescription meds are until they have to have them. No a pill does not fix everything and therapy is required but the right meds are a very important part. I think sometimes this hotlistic stuff goes great for some but when you have a very sick dog I think that can change pretty fast.

[IDPiper]

Originally Posted by mimimomo

Thank you for posting...I like the Holistic approach 1st, if that doesn't work, then conventional medicine.

Me too!!!

[Britster]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

When there is an actual chemical imbalance the endorphins you get from exercise are not enough if you can even get out of bed. I think the word depression is probably thrown around way to much and those that just feel icky or sad for a day or two are like oh I'm depressed I need medicine when there are those of us out there suffering from the chemical imbalance trying to find the one or combo of meds and hardly able to get out of bed or unable to go to the store for a loaf of breed because of anxiety. Yes our society might jump on prescription meds to fast but there are many prescription meds that are very nessisary and the alternative could be death or using a vitamin could be even be more dangerous because there not FDA regulated and some really have crazy scary side effects. I think no one can really understand how nessisary prescription meds are until they have to have them. No a pill does not fix everything and therapy is required but the right meds are a very important part. I think sometimes this hotlistic stuff goes great for some but when you have a very sick dog I think that can change pretty fast.

Believe me, I know about depression. My stepdad and mother struggle with it every single day. Losing a child will do that to you. My mom has had anxiety problems for 20 years though. I will say, my mom saw great improvement in herself when she got off most of her pills, and began going to the gym and training every week. I've struggled with bits of depression as well since my brother died but never wanted to get on medication because I never felt mine was severe enough. Whereas my grandpa has been on antidepressants for over 20yrs and recently decided to wean off of them and was horrible. He really needs them to be happy. And he's usually the most positive person in the world, it was very sad to see him depressed.

Totally not against them. Not even disagreeing with you. Completely agree that 'natural' is not always better.

But when it comes to vaccines, there is loads of evidence proving otherwise.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by Britster

Believe me, I know about depression. My stepdad and mother struggle with it every single day. Losing a child will do that to you. My mom has had anxiety problems for 20 years though. I will say, my mom saw great improvement in herself when she got off most of her pills, and began going to the gym and training every week. I've struggled with bits of depression as well since my brother died but never wanted to get on medication because I never felt mine was severe enough. Whereas my grandpa has been on antidepressants for over 20yrs and recently decided to wean off of them and was horrible. He really needs them to be happy. And he's usually the most positive person in the world, it was very sad to see him depressed.

Totally not against them. Not even disagreeing with you. Completely agree that 'natural' is not always better.

But when it comes to vaccines, there is loads of evidence proving otherwise.

I am not saying vaccines should be given every year unless you want and need the protection of Lepto, Lyme, or Bordatella then you have to get those yearly. DAP absolutely should not be given yearly and there is evidence of that but not that it should never be given after the first time but that at least every five years you get it. Rabies I would like to see more research done on for it to maybe last five years too or longer but for now it's needed every three years. I am not saying I side with vets who want to push every vaccine every year but I'm also not with the holistic vets who say never give shots again. I'm with the vets who are giving Lepto, Lyme and Bordatella as needed every year, the ones who do DAP every 5 years and the rabies shot every three years. I was diagnosed with depression at 8 went until I was 13 before being hospitalized and going on meds my worst time from 12 to 15 I was very active softball was my life and that started at 9. I rode bikes every day but the exercise was not enough for me I needed the meds.