Great article about Vaccinations

I've been reading more and more of information published by Dr. Karen Becker. Here's a great article about vaccinations.

Pet Vaccinations

Nice, concise article. I do not vaccinate beyond the "puppy shots" except for the 3-year rabies. I'm curious how many just stop vaccinating all together after the initial puppy shots and how many do titers and then do boosters if needed?

Ms. Thang's last vaccination was in Sept 2006 in Ohio. The dogtor gave her a 3 year rabies vaccine and another all-in-one vaccination. I was truly pissed when I found out, as I didn't want her to get an all-in-one. She hasn't had a vaccination since. I had a rabies titer drawn three years ago, and I forget what the numbers were, but it was so high that she couldn't get rabies if she swam in a vat of the virus. Her current dogtor agrees with me that she doesn't need vaccines at her age and given that she doesn't associate with many other dogs. Washoe County, NV, will waive the rabies vaccine requirement if you have a letter from a dogtor, which we have and I have never had any problem with her license.

BTW, great article, Lisa.

I'm one who stops vaccinations entirely. Although Moose gets them, including rabies, because of his classes.

I almost lost both Thelma & Louisie (in different years) due to vaccinations, so I hate taking the chance.

Now that everyone is over 5 years old, I've stopped everything except for rabies, which is mandated to keep them licensed with the city. Have never run titers, either. They are mostly indoor dogs now except for our regular walks or trips to the park or beach.

Only downside is that we can no longer take them to doggie daycare or boarding because we don't have the "proper vaccinations" so we're lucky that Shelly's niece loves them and can stay over when we are gone.

Thanks for posting the article, Lisa!

Good article. I too stopped with everything after the puppy shots except rabies. That one is necessary i think. thanks for posting this up!

Great article! I think more and more vets are coming on board with the protocols.

I posted this as a link on Facebook as well and got a link back slamming this doctor and his beliefs. In all fairness, I feel like I need to post that here as well.

Skeptic rants about Dr. Mercola.

Nope, none here at the pug retirement home either, with my vet's concurrence. We at Pugalug Rescue are so paranoid about vaccines, that we stipulate in the adoption contract that they must not be given the rabies vax more frequently than 3 years (okay in our province). Then in the "congratulations" letter, I reinforce this and ask them not to vaccinate for diseases at which the pug is not at risk. We also stipulate that vaccinations must be separated by at least 3 weeks and at least 3 weeks on either side of surgery. The reason for this waiting is not only to minimize the risk of reaction and assault on the immune system, but if you vaccinate a dog when its immune system is weak, there's a good chance the body won't be able to generate the antibodies needed to fight the disease - i.e. high risk for no benefit. And never to vaccinate a dog that is not in good health (as it says on the vax labels!).

Did you know that, according to one 2-year study published in 2005 in the Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association (http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=119106981159&topic=10205), after dachshunds, pugs as a breed are at highest risk of negative vaccine reaction. The study also concluded that "Young adult small-breed neutered dogs that received multiple vaccines per office visit were at greatest risk of a VAAE within 72 hours after vaccination."

pugpillow wrote:Did you know that, according to one 2-year study published in 2005 in the Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association (http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=119106981159&topic=10205), after dachshunds, pugs as a breed are at highest risk of negative vaccine reaction. The study also concluded that "Young adult small-breed neutered dogs that received multiple vaccines per office visit were at greatest risk of a VAAE within 72 hours after vaccination."

Somehow, that does not surprise me. As to the Dr. Mercola rant, I see a huge difference between vaccinating humans and vaccinating Penny (and other pugs). Kids are not raised in isolation. They go to school, they go to playgrounds, they are out and about with other children, and a measles epidemic, for example, is devastating. I'm convinced that there is not a link between autism and vaccinations in humans, but there is a link in pugs between vaccinations and reactions. Vaccines are necessary in humans, but not in pugs.

I am in favour of puppy shots, the first rabies shot and a booster, as long as they are administered at the right times and with sufficient intervals. But I think there is a HUGE issue of overvaccination.

pugpillow wrote:I am in favour of puppy shots, the first rabies shot and a booster, as long as they are administered at the right times and with sufficient intervals. But I think there is a HUGE issue of overvaccination.

I agree, Hilary. My rant was directed at repeated and unnecessary vaccinations. Sorry for not making myself clear.