[News] Can Vaccinating Be More Harmful Than Good?

[fasteddie]

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

[Cheryl]

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!

[Ellie May]

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.

[Yorkiedaze]

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.

[sherryeaves]

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.

[Cheryl]

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!

[zoeybear]

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.

[Little Bit]

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.

[Itspuppyluv]

My vets have switched to doing titer tests.

Originally Posted by sherryeaves

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.

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.

[Taramyorkie]

Originally Posted by Itspuppyluv

My vets have switched to doing titer tests.



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.

[abbie's mom]

Over-vaccinating is responsible for many problems

Truth About Vaccines

[Yorkiekids]

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

[Jenn218]

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!!!!

[cataholic]

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?

[Mom2BabyNatalie]

Originally Posted by Jenn218

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!!!!

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!