Dogs: To vaccinate........or not?

[aquarius moon]

As there are so many dog owners on here, I would love to know your opinions on dog vaccination.

Twenty/thirty years ago, if you had a dog, you just got their first vaccinations done as puppies, then their

yearly boosters, without thinking about it, no questions asked.

Things changed slightly, around 10 years ago, when a TV programme outlined 'over-vaccination'.

It stated that dogs needed their initial course, but after that, there were pro's & con's to yearly boosters.

One of the arguments was that the vaccines last a lot longer than a year, but vet's will never tell you this, as

they are only out to 'line their pockets!'

If you google 'pro's & cons of dog vaccination', there is a lot of info, backing up claims that over-vaccination

can do more harm than good.

Malignant tumours forming at the back of the neck (where vaccine is administered), vaccines (which are viruses),

being injected regularly into the body, overloading the immune system & creating problems, rather than reducing

them. Not to mention the chemicals/toxins that are mixed in with the vaccines.

My two dogs were vaccinated as puppies, but I decided against their annual boosters, after reading an article

about the above programme & doing some research.

However, we moved to a more dog-populated area 3 years ago, so they have been vaccinated yearly since then.

The reason for this thread:

Their booster was due last month, so has to be done by the end of this month or whole course will have to be

repeated.

I've done further research on-line & read so many horror stories about I'm apprehensive about doing so.

My dogs are almost 9 years old, (over-vaccination problems increase with age, because their bodies find it harder

to cope with the viruses suddenly being injected into them),

They never come into contact with other dogs, apart from every 4 months, briefly, at their groomers,

They only get walked round the roads, never in the park.

My daughters dog was vaccinated as a puppy, but has never been done since, & has always been fit & healthy.

How likely is it to catch parvo/leptospirosis/distemper?

Puppies maybe....but with a 9 year old immune system?

Any thoughts, opinions from dog owners/professionals etc. would be appreciated, to help me decide.

I love my dogs and just want them to continue living a happy, healthy life.

[Marie81]

Thanks for posting this aquarius moon as I am wondering the same thing about my two dogs. My girl is nearly 3 and my boy 2yrs old. Both of them had their two puppy vaccinations and their yearly top ups. She is now due for this years but I wondering if I need to bother! They are advocated monthly as I can't stop them from eating slugs which can carry lungworm. I am very interested to hear others thoughts on vaccinations as I too think it may just be the vets lining their pockets!

[bonniebird]

As I have 2 toy breeds, I tend to vaccinate yearly as I feel especially with my 13 year old, that they may be weaker if they catch something real bad :'( dunno if I am right though x

[Huguenot]

You need to be really careful with this kind of debate - it's not any old opinion that you're looking for, it's an educated independent medical assessment of risks and benefits.

The MMR debate created a crisis in UK childcare precisely because of people drawing conclusions from fabricated scare stories without reference to medical advice - principally on the advice of their mates and general gossip.

Your dogs are predominantly safe now BECAUSE most people vaccinate their dogs.

If you start a debate suggesting it's vaccination isn't necessary, then the percentage of vaccinations will go down, and the incidence of viral canine infections will rise dramatically.

The odds that your own dogs will get these infections will also rise, and this debate will prove pointless.

It's noticeable that most of these debates kick off with some completely unjustified and abusive claim that doctors are just there to steal your money.

So be warned.

[first mate]

Please click on this link for a roundup that takes into account much of the latest research.https://www.aahanet.org/PublicDocuments/CanineVaccineGuidelines.pdf

[aquarius moon]

Thanks First Mate, I will have a look.

Huguenot,

I haven't said vaccination isn't necessary.

I'm simply asking people's opinions to help me make a decision, as I want to do what is best for my dogs.

If I decide that yearly vaccinations are the best option, I will continue to get them done.

[first mate]

Here is a vaccination schedule- easy to read as recommended by Jean Dodds who is an expert in canine autoimmune conditions. She has also done a lot of work on vaccinations. This is a schedule you can print and take to your vet to discuss.

Everyone must vaccinate their dogs, that is puppy innoculations; the question is how often to booster. Humans are not vaccinated every year for various diseases, so it begs the question why dogs need to be. It is a difficult one to answer, and none of us want to harm our dogs by over-vaccinating. Nonetheless, there are diseases, like lepto, that probably do require annual boosters.The key thing is to discuss with your vet and then decide. The other point is that blood titres are very pricey and they are necessary in order to test for antibodies which will indicate whether or not the dog has sufficient immunity against x,y,z disease.

http://www.weim.net/emberweims/Vaccine.html

[Huguenot]

There are doctors and nurses on this site who know a lot more than me, but there are several human vaccines that require more than one injection over a period of time.

These include diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, haemophilus influenzae type b, polio, MMR, meningococcus and Hepatitus B for example.

Some of these are lifetime: for high risk indidivudals tetanus requires boosting every 10 years.

It's a good example of where something sounds believeable, but your mates might not have the best advice.

Jean Dodds appears well informed, but I do notice she suggests homeopathic alternatives (so long as you sign a disclaimer).

[first mate]

H

Yes, some human vaccinations require a booster, but not all. I think if you have a careful look you'll find the debate is not whether to vaccinate at all but how often to give boosters and where is there risk.

I believe that the AHHA canine task force as well as Dr Jean Dodds probably have a reasonable grasp on the latest evidence.

I do agree with you that a debate about how often to booster should not get contorted into whether to vaccinate at all. Then again, there's nowt to queer as folk.

[PeckhamRose]

I am a cat not a dog owner - but anyway would like to point out that it may be the case that - like human flu vaccines - the vaccines for dogs and cats are probably also NOT 'live' so in that context they don't have the same after effects and may not have the same other effects when mixed with other stuff. This is just for info. I am really pleased you posted this as I am now reading and learning a lot! I agree about getting professional advice on this but the irony is as vets are in business they have a vested interest in keeping you coming back. Tough one.

[first mate]

Hi PR,

If you look at the first link it goes through all the different vaccines licensed in the USA, both live and non-live, and gives loads of info- see the various tables.

Jean Dodds is a quickie guide and she is careful to say that her view is not the only view and to check with the vet etc..

Some vets may have a vested interest, always bad apples in the barrel. However, I think most vets are merely cautious and tend to stick with tried and trusted methods. There are risks whichever way you look at it. I believe the best approach is to go to your vet with as much information as you can, including, if your dog is pedigree, health information about the breed and your own dog's lines. The vet also has your dog's clinical history- whether there is an autoimmune issue and so on, together you can work out the best way forward for that dog.

Hugo is right in that most dogs are probably more protected now than they were because they are vaccinated. The other way of looking at it is that in days gone by, viruses picked off the weaker animals, leaving only the strongest to work and breed.

[Marie81]

'If you start a debate suggesting it's vaccination isn't necessary, then the percentage of vaccinations will go down, and the incidence of viral canine infections will rise dramatically'. Thanks Huguenot that is a really good point.

I am going to take my girl for her booster anyway and ask my vet whether every year is neccessary or not. We go to Barrier Animal Care Clinic in Charlton and have always found them to be really helpful.

[Huggers]

if you ever use boarding kennels the jabs have to be up to date with paper proof of it.

[aquarius moon]

After a couple of weeks of deliberating, I decided to go talk to the vet & express my worries.

He actually agreed that the whole course of vaccines do not have to be administered every year, due

to a change of policy.

Distemper/hardpad/parvo boosters do last longer so only need repeating at 3 yearly intervals.

However lepto/parainfluenza & kennel cough do need doing yearly, so I'm getting those done.

I'm really happy that my dogs will be protected, without being given unnecessary drugs that they don't need.

I don't know if this applies to all vets, but I suggest you ask them to explain their vaccination programme,

if you are worried about over-vaccination.

[bonniebird]

Interesting, I will talk to my vet. My dogs are due theirs in Jan/Feb :)

[DJKillaQueen]

Hmmm...I've had lots of cats and grew up with dogs. And I've done both in that I've had pets who only had the initial vaccinations...and others where I paid for annual boosters. Not a single one of my vaccinated pets ever got ill from the things they were vaccinated for so I tend to think the initial vaccinations are enough. But the argument that says that it's because most pet owners vaccinate that my pets are ok with just the initial vaccinations makes some sense to me as well.

[AllanMcPR]

I have PM you.

[Marie81]

We took our dog for her booster yesterday and have decided to keep up with the annual boosters going forward.