[News] Can Vaccinating Be More Harmful Than Good?
 

LOS ANGELES -- Many people get their pets vaccinated every year for health and protection.

But is it possible those same vaccinations could be harming your pet or worse? Some veterinarians are starting to look more closely at those claims, reported NBC4's David Cruz.

Today, Molly is a playful 4-year-old Basenji, but at 2 years old, she was covered in sores and fighting for life.

"She was dying," her owners told NBC4. "Laying in her bed, she wouldn't get up. She would hardly eat."

Doctors were baffled by the dog's mystery illness until they narrowed it down to a most likely cause, a severe reaction to multiple vaccines, given at the rescue shelter where her owners adopted her.

"What I understand now is that that can potentially overload the immune system," said Molly's owner.

You do not need to vaccinate your pet every year and it may not be safe to do so, reported NBC4's Cruz.

One veterinarian told NBC4 that millions of pets get booster shots every year, for everything from rabies and distemper to parvovirus and lyme disease, and most suffer no ill effects.

But these days, many veterinarians are taking a "less is better" approach.

People often are so hysterical, they put the animals to sleep because it's an acute vaccine reaction and has to be treated rapidly to have the animal recover, but then you don't vaccinate again because the next one could kill the animal, the veterinarian said.

One Los Angeles veterinarian said vaccines can remain effective for years without booster shots.

He did a survey of more than 100,000 dogs that were vaccinated once for distemper and parvovirus. In every case, those who were tested and did not get boosters have remained healthy.

Overvaccination has been suspected in causing tumors in some cats and immune problems in dogs.

One family said their Yorkshire Terrier, Nicky, nearly died after an annual series of booster shots.

"She couldn't breathe well, she was weak, limp," a family member said. "She was going to die. They said she probably wouldn't pull through it."

After $6,000 in medical fees and a week in intensive care, Nicky pulled through. Doctors suspect an adverse vaccine reaction.

"You bring your dog in because you're trying to keep her healthy, and a week later you find out you almost killed her," the family member said.

One doctor told NBC4 that if you're getting your pet vaccinated, here's a simple plan: Start with the basics, rabies, distemper and parvovirus, then consult with your vet.

The doctor said German shepherds, rottweilers and poodles are at higher risk for adverse vaccine reactions, as are older pets.

Concerned pet owners with questions are encouraged to consult with their veterinarian.

http://www.nbc4.tv/news/4448558/detail.html

vaccination concerns
 

I have a small Yorkshire Terrier and a older male Yorkie Terrier that I have put off vaccinating for their boosters, since I have concerns that every year boosters are too much with smaller inside dogs! My small yorkie used to have such a reaction to the boosters! I got onto this site especially to find something to help my concerns and I found this article! I was wondering about stats on various ages of dogs and what percent of unvaccinated dogs get parvo and distemper? I have no objection with the rabie vaccine, since they have the 3yr. one. Any comment would be appreciated!

Cheryl, I know what you mean. Ellie (my Yorkie) had all her puppy shots and maybe one booster. We had stopped the vaccine thing for awhile until last fall when she was exposed to a dog that was exposed to a dog that had parvo. She didn't get it but we thought it would be a good idea to catch her up on vaccines. Our old vet that did her puppy shots left out the Lepto part of the DHLPP so Ellie just got DHPP. Our new vet office where we started going last falll decided to give her Lepto. She also got a three year rabies at the same time (first mistake on our part was allowing two vaccines together). We brought Ellie home and about a half an hour after she had her vaccines she threw up, then she collapsed and got wild eyed. She started going into shock. We rushed her back to the vet and they gave her a couple of shots of something and she ended up being okay So, Ellie will never be getting the Lepto vaccine again and she probably won't get the DHPP at all. The only reason we will do rabies is because it is required. I don't like the three year rabies though. That is three years of drugs in the system instead of just one. I am reasonably confident that most puppy shots last for a lifetime anyway.

After the initial puppy shots, they should not be vaccinated again for at least three years, and even then you can get the titer test to see if they are still protected. Yearly shots have contributed to major health problems.

Just curious how much a titer test costs? How do they do the test?
I have decided not to vaccinate button this year. I am even considering
not getting her a rabies shot.
:aimeeyork

I will get the rabie shots this year for sure and then maybe next year try the other shots without the Lepto, and I will get them seperate for sure!

Lepto made Zoey sick
 

Zoey got a lepto shot on Monday. The vet actually only gave her 1/2 the injection because she weighs 2lbs 4 oz. It made her sick anyway. She was very lethargic and wretched, but did not actually vomit. She refused to eat and scratched at her face and the injection site. We finally got her to eat some turkey breast and gave her a little KARO syrup. She felt bad for 2 days. No more Lepto shots for us.

Rabies vaccine is effective for at LEAST 7 years!
 

:animal-pa This vet worked very hard to get the law changed in Texas so we wouldn't have to get the rabies vaccine every year. He was successful in getting it changed to every 3 years, which is an improvement. Here is a quote from his site.

http://www.critterfixer.com/Vaccination%20Clinics.htm

Avoid giving your pets unnecessary vaccinations and avoid adjuvanted vaccines in cats.

Effective March 2003 the requirement will be changed to require vaccination at 4 months, one year later, and then only every three years in Texas.

Rabies Vaccination Law Change in the Texas
Scientific data shows that vaccinations for Rabies, distemper, and parvovirus are good for at least 7 years. More importantly data clearly shows that repeat administration of these vaccinations beyond the puppy or kitten series and first annual vaccinations have no benefit. The immunity of the pet is not enhanced, but your pet is subjected unnecessarily to the risk of an adverse vaccine reaction.

Texas State Regulation currently requires dogs and cats to be vaccinated every year with a vaccine that is licensed by the USDA for 3 years duration of immunity. Alternatively, in order to prevent injection site fibrosarcomas, (a fatal type of cancer caused by vaccines) cats can be vaccinated with a non-adjuvanted rabies vaccine licensed for one year.
Because of adverse side effects in dogs and cats, and because repeated vaccination is unnecessary and does not make your pet more immune to rabies, I have worked very hard to get this law changed.

My vets have switched to doing titer tests. :thumbup:

It cost me $45 dollars to have the test done.
They draw some blood and send it out to be tested for the presence of antibodies. If the tests come back and they need the boosters they do them for free.

Gus did not need any boosters. :)

That sounds pretty reasonable. At least they won't bother the pet if not needed.

:thumbup: Over-vaccinating is responsible for many problems

Truth About Vaccines

Very good information. I always felt to maney vaccine can cause mofe harm then good.

This is sooo scary!!! You just really do NOT know what is best for them...I mean, you don't want them to get heartworms or parvo and die...so you vaccinate........BUT then again...........look at all the harm the vaccines can cause too!!! (((AURGH))) There shouldn't be this doubt!

In our homeschool loop, there was this same topic but regarding vaccines for our human babies. It is really scary!!!!

What bothers me is the give the same amount of a vaccine to all dogs. Shouldn't yorkies and other small dogs get less of a vaccine then say a german shepherd? Vets always give medications by weight. Why are vaccines no different?

It's a scary thing for both furkids and skin!!! I am a mother of five and after following all the pediatritian's guidelines for childhood vaccinations - and watching 3 of my 5 children suffer from vaccine related illnesses (my son, life-flighted and hospitalized with RSV at 6 weeks of age, 2 days following first vaccination... my oldest daughter, spinal tap and hospitalization for meningitis at 7 weeks old AND again at 4 months old - both times within days of receiving her vaccinations..... my middle daughter, hospitalized with kidney problems at 12 months old, a mere HOURS following her check up and vaccinations....)
Well, when I found out I was pregnant with the 4th, I decided then and there that we would NOT vaccinate them.... the same with the 5th.....
Today they are 10 and 12 years old... have never had childhood vaccinations... (we do tetnus shots and I'm considering gardisil for my daughter, but that's it) - - and neither of them has ever been sick with anything more than a cold their entire lives.
It's a controversial topic - - and lots of folks don't agree.... but it was a personal decision we made, and have stood by... and I feel they are healthier because of it.

I know this is a bit off topic, but just some info....

As for pups, though.... the diseases we're vaccinating for are so prevalant that we're pretty much "damned if you do, damned if you don't".... you vaccinate and your pup ends up actually contracting the very disease we're trying to prevent.... or, you don't vaccinate for fear of risks and side effects, and the pup contracts the disease anyway because these different strains and overwhelming numbers of carriers is so overwhelming!! It's often a losing battle no matter what we decide!

I think the biggest "trigger" for the nationwide spread of puppyhood diseases are these puppy mills who continuously vaccinate UNHEALTY and WEAK puppies to begin with..... no, they don't have the disease to begin with, but poor conditions and poor nutrition, leaves them with weak immune systems.... they vaccinate because they are required to do so in order to sell their pups, and the pups are in such poor condition at the time of the vaccination, they are unable to withstand being vaccinated with a live virus.... they're shipped out and 10 days later, are found suffering or dying with the very disease the vaccinations are intended to prevent!

By that time, dozens, maybe hundreds of other animals, people and surroundings have been exposed..... continuing the spread of disease...

I agree too, that the dosage amount should differ according to the weight of each animal... and don't quite understand the reasoning behind that..... will have to do more reading I guess......

Just my 2 cents..... sorry to ramble! :)

My daughter, 32y/o, was injured by the dpt vaccine, in her fifth month. She is now multi-challenged: non-verbal, non-ambulatory, and severe and profoundly retarded. She has seizures every day, and her cognitive level is between 6 - 8 months.

We do not get vaccines, neither do I vaccinate my dogs (except for what the law forces on us).

Oh I am so sorry that your baby was affected by the dpt vaccine in this way.... thank GOD my children have no permanent damage... the doctors did tell me with my oldest daughter following her spinal tap for meningitis that she would likely not make it.... and if she did, that she would not come through it without some severe brain damage....... she is now 22 years old - a beautiful, healthy girl - and gave me my first grandbaby last Christmas day!!
I get SO angry when I think about all we've been through due to the vaccines - - - - but then I hear heartbreaking stories like yours and I realize how very much I am blessed!!!
I can't imagine how this must have changed your entire life.... bless you and your precious girl... :hug:

That is awful. I am very sorry to hear about your daughter. That is so sad. With all the technology today, these kinds of things should not be happening.

I own Yorkies and bulldogs ....
 

:) Is it possible-- that back in Oct of 07 I got Fergie the bulldog her first rabies vac. at a local clinic --days later she was limping? Then just the week of xmas could not up on her back legs at all.... for almost a week? now, is starting to move around some...and limited? Could a shot cause this?
She goes to breed vet in the AM monday. i don't want to give my yorkies he same vacs. and cause issues. Is Neopar a safe yorkie vac. Thanks KEVIN

Pa state law requires Rabies vaccine to be made current every 3 years. recently the distemper, parafluenza, parvo vaccine can be given every 3 years after puppy shots have been given at proper intervals of 6,9,12,and 16 weeks, then given at 1 yr of age. Where I work we give 1 or 2 vaccines at one time, then do other vaccines such as lyme or bordatella (kennel cough) 1-2 weeks later. Vets are really taking a close look at how much in the way of vaccines is too much. We have titred dogs who have received several doses of lyme vaccine over several years and some are still immune while others no longer are just a year from last vaccine. It seems to be an individual thing as to how often some vaccines need to be given.

Kevin that sounds more like lyme disease especially that far out from having the vaccine in Oct. Have you talked to a vet about the symtoms? Depending on where you live ticks carry lyme disease, rocky mountain spotted fever, and erlichia, all of which can present with those symtoms.

Sorry to hear about your daughter. I didn't get the pertussis part of the DT for my kids either when I heard of all the nasty side effects. That was 20 years ago. I would rather deal with hooping cough. I can't believe how many immunizations there now are for children, dealing with grandchildren, and they give 6 or 7 at one time whew!!

Tara got her first booster on Friday and except a wee yalp she made when we actually touched the spot on her back by mistake, she did fine. I asked about the vaccinations my vet and she said that it's not true that it is not necessary to vaccinate every year, that they have dogs dying of parvo and lepto even those that have been vaccinated regularly. As for rabbies I don't think they do them here, except when you want them, but the other vaccinations distemper, lepto , parvo and parainfluenza are required. Tara does fine usually but she is 6.5 pounds so she is not a tiny yorkie but she is still small. It's probably harder to decide the dose with the tinies you have. They always weight her before giving the vaccine so they do it by weight. Maybe the smallest dogs should get really tiny dose. It's unfortunate when a dog or a child gets sick afterwards, they are just supposed to be tired and sleepy for about two days, which Tara was a little. I just would rather be better safe then sorry, so for now she will be getting hers regularly. But I understand your concerns maybe you should discuss your individual pet with your vet, it's always good to get a second opinion too. All the best for you and all your yorkies! :animal36

The American Animal Hospital Association has new guidelines about vaccines. The core vaccines (they say) should be given as puppy shots, then at one year then every three years. Some people believe even this is too much. Non core vaccines usually have a shorter duration of immunity and do need to be given more often if you are going to do them (but it is highly questionable whether these should be given at all).

The lepto vaccine can be very risky for small dogs.
It has killed Yorkie puppies.
Long-term side effects of vaccines include autoimmune disease and cancer.

We have to give the rabies vaccine every 1-3 years depending on state law in the US but all other are our choice (although some vets and groomers require certain ones).

Dogs that are vaccinated regularly can die of parvo and lepto.
Lepto doesn't cover all strains, so that could easily happen.
Any dog could be a non-responder to a vaccine making it worthless, so if they get the disease, vaccinated or not, they are unprotected.

So even if a dog doesn't react after a vaccine, they could months or years later. It really is a scary thing. We have stopped vaccinating Ellie every year because for us, the risk of over-vaccination outweighs the benefits.

But the vaccines/vaccine companies in the UK may be different.
Here, most vaccines aren't given by weight of the animal because it takes a certain amount of the virus to get an immune response. So it would not be uncommon for a Yorkie to get the same dose as a Great Dane.

I do believe in vaccinations for my skin children, and I did get Daisy's puppy shots done, but she did have a reaction to them. She hasn't had any shots in quite some time now and she has a bald spot where they gave her the shots at. I never noticed it until her first grooming visit. As for my skin children, my oldest children, 8 and 6, never had any reactions other than being tired and maybe a lowgrade fever. Now, with my youngest, almost 3, after his first set of shots, he got sick almost immediately afterwards, like on the drive home. And was severely sick, was wheezing, couldn't breathe through his little nose and has had problems ever since then. But, by I do continue to get him his vaccinations to protect against the bad diseases out there.

Hi there
I have been exclusively giving hoeopathic nosode to my dogs (adults & puppies) for seven years. This covers all the normal doggie diseases INCLUDING kennel cough but excluding rabies (as we do not have it in the UK). I have never had a report from the owners who continue this regime that their dogs have become ill through not having been injected by a vet...I've never had a dog with me that has been ill because of the lack of the jabs. My vet has done titres on random dogs and has found that none of them need any further action. - FYI my vet is dead against not going down the route of injections and feels that the homeopathic method has 'not been proved' and still disagrees with it. He does, however, accept that I do this so ?????

i agree Ada! ;)

more and more is coming out about this.. and many people are now choosing a different route when it comes to vaccinations! ;)

i think everyone has their own opinion on this topic.. i say just do your research and then you can make a educated decision, for yourself! ;)

i know this is an older thread.. but i think it's a great topic! :):)

Pet shots
 

HI EVERYONE I HAVE READ IN DOCTORS FOSTERS AND SMITH CATALOG THEY SAY GIVE BOOSTERS EVERY 3 YEARS , DOGS AND CATS ,I HAD A POODLE TINY HE LIVED 20 YEARS I NEVER WORMED HIM OR EVER GAVE HIM A SHOT , HE JUST DIED OF OLD AGE , T TOLD MY VET ABOUT THIS ,HE SAID THEIR IS SO MUCH WORLD TRAVEL NOW THAT THESE DESIES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO THE USA. BARBARA MOMBOS MOM :animal36

Totally agree. My two yorkies are under the care of Dr. Martin Goldstein of Smith Ridge Veterinary Center. Has great insights to this vacciation issure. Also check out his book - "The Nature Of Animal Healing" Google it for more answers or contact me at boomerstv@aol.com

RT

We gave our Yorkies a Titer Test. It's a blood test that measures the levels of the results of vaccinations in the dog. The vet then uses this info to determine whether the dogs actually needs to be vaccinated or not.

Check out #petchat on Twitter every Monday night. This would be a great issue to bring to the chat. If you have anh questions, contact me at boomerstv@aol.com