If a human does not need yearly vaccinations, why do you think your vet recommends it for your dogs?

Question

Why do they not do yearly titers instead to see, if the dog needs the booster? What do you think about vaccinosis? I understand the reason for the original vaccines, and even humans need boosters for tetanus, but that is not given every year. Do you think our dogs are being boostered too much?
http://home.earthlink.net/~texas2step/Vaccinosis.html
http://www.leerburg.com/pdf/vaccinosis.pdf

Just intrested in other's thoughts on this.

before I form an opinion.

raspberry if your a vet I'm a dog!!! I have seen your posts, and I think your full of it.

Answer 1

Yes, dogs are being vaccinated and boostered too much. I don't vaccinate at all..........which will be much to the horror of Chalice, who, for a vet nurse, showed an incredible lack of knowledge on the subject. I can only presume that she (I am presuming she) has simply taken the facts from the practice where she works. For example, Britain is rabies free because we are an island, and because dogs were put into kennels for six months when coming into the country. (If you were discussing, for example, TB, one would call it isolation.) We have never needed to vaccinate.....not until the pet passport came into being.........and now, I, personally, wonder when rabies will show itself in this country through shedding from the vaccine. (But, I digress.) So, Chalice, Britain is not rabies free *because* of vaccination. Chalice also states that routine vaccinations only last a year..........apart from Lepto, which she believes lasts for three years. Oh dear, what a lack of basic knowledge on the subject!! The Lepto vaccine only lasts 3/4 *months*, and the other vaccines can last (according to the latest studies done by Jean Dodds, etc.) up to five years, seven years........or a lifetime. Fact. (If anyone wants to do a google on vaccine studies, there are loads on the net.) If you want to accept the manufacturer's recommendations instead, they last for three years. Chalice also thinks that it is not advisable to adopt a non-vaccine approach. Does she think that everyone simply vaccinates because vets say we should? What about people like Juliette de Bairacli Levy, who never vaccinated, and her dogs lived through the times when distemper was absolutely rampant, with Juliette treating ill dogs with her unvaccinated dogs around her, and never falling ill. (Amazing what a natural diet and a high immune system can do.) There are quite literally thousands of people who do not vaccinate, and have not vaccinated for many years. Some people have bred generations of unvaccinated dogs, and these dogs have proven to be dogs with superb immune systems and good health. Chalice also says that it would be more profitable for vets if people didn't vaccinate. Well, what about people like myself, and those I've mentioned? I can only speak with utter proof of my own dogs. Vets have not made much money out of my dogs..........I have five of them, ranging in ages from 1 year to just over 11 years. Not one of them has been ill *at all*, with any illness whatsoever, in their lives. Not one of them has ever been vaccinated. Oh, apart from Kennel Cough, when we bought a little rescue who came from the kennels with KC........three of my dogs had KC for three days.....one did not get it at all. (The year old dog was not here then......that was over a few years ago, and the dear old rescue has since gone, bless her.) So vets might not get rich on illness after all? I do wonder if vets still insist on yearly vaccinations simply because they make money. The mark-up on vaccinations are huge. Not to mention the diseases that vaccinations cause. Yes, vaccinosis undoubtably, sadly, is also a fact. If anyone disputes the rise in skin diseases, arthritis in young dogs, immune related diseases, epilepsy, etc., etc. then they should read "Vaccination and Immunization: Dangers, Delusions and Alternatives" by Leon Chaitow on human vaccination. The fact that vaccination did not eradicate human disease, and the fact the vaccination has caused the rise in a chain of "side-effects" is almost indisputable. These side-effects in humans include cot deaths, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, etc.. Of course, all of this is not proven, certainly not by governments, who have every reason for them to stay unproven. But there are so many expert doctors who are adamant that what they are seeing are not "new" diseases, but diseases caused by vaccination. For example, if you are vaccinated for measles, and don't come up with spots, do you know the changes that happen in your body? No? Do some research. You might be interested.....even horrified.

Chalice also believes that if we did not vaccinate our dogs every year (so I'm in big trouble!!) vets would make a packet from ill and dying dogs. Mmmmm. That has to prompt the question of why so many unvaccinated dogs in the UK are not falling about the streets seriously ill or dying? Because the statistics for vaccinated dogs (from the vaccine manufacters themselves, so these facts will be believed) are these....from a few years ago. Of approx seven million dogs in this country, only 2.5 are vaccinated. Why are the other 4.5 not being rushed to the vets seriously ill???

Regarding the immediate effects of vaccines that I have seen. I used to run a dog club, and, against my advice, I saw far too many young pups being vaccinated. A six week old pup vaccinated.....and the next day, rushed into the vet with vomiting and diarrhoea. On a drip for days.....just made it. Another pup didn't make it. Of course, it wasn't parvo....despite the fact they had just been jabbed for it. No, these dogs had enteritis. Recently, about a year ago, five dogs died after their routine vaccinations. I phoned the vet and asked if they had a bad batch of vaccine, and had they reported it to Intervet.....I won't say what the vet said to me!! I then phoned Intervet and asked if a vaccine problem had been reported to them by vet. No. I was told that it was not the fault of the vaccine. No investigation, nothing. Not even a piece of paper with at least the statistics showing *something*. They say there are very few side-effects of vaccines. That's because side-effects are hardly recognised. Even death is not considered a side-effect!!!!

I not only believe that we are boostering too much, we are vaccinating against diseases which, if we stopped vaccinating, would no longer exist. Vaccination is proven to perpetuate disease......vaccines shed in the environment. And why are we vaccinating against Kennel Cough? There are so many strains, that it is a complete waste of time. Why are we not concentrating on building up a strong immune system, through natural immunity and a good diet, instead of pumping diseases into a young immune system which is not yet old enough to cope with it??

Answer 2

Humans are taught to wash their hands, not to play with urine or poo, etc and basic hygeine that dogs just don't follow. Humans also have a wider degree of vaccination. What I mean is that more many diseases everyone is vaccinated thorugh school, so the percentage of unvaccinated people (who are therefore vulnerable to the disease) is very low, and the chance of one of them running into an infected person is even lower, so less frequent vaccinaitons can be used. Compare this to dogs wherre many aren't vaccinated, and wild animals such as foxes certainly aren't, so their diseases still circulate easily. If you don't vacicnate your animal, you're making a bet that everyone else does. Having a yearly vaccination also means that the dog gets a yearly checkup and the vet has a chance to notice small problmens before they become big problems. This way that can notice developing heart murmurs, teeth problems, spots in the mouth etc that you may not have noticed because you see your dog every day. Would you honestly take your dog to the vet yearly for preventative health care if you couldn't see the vacicne actually going into the dog? Not many people would. Lastly, the vaccine manufacturers test their vaccines, including titres and resistance to experimental infection, to determine exactly how long they are effective. Most of hte old ones provide imunity for about 15 months, but there are new vaccines coming in that last 3 to 5 years. However not all vets like to use these because they think it is easier to vaccinate for everything in one go.

Answer 3

Well, I was a vet tech for a number of years and I see how high the overhead is and it would be difficult to keep a vet in business if you aren't coming in annually. I have a feeling that is a major reason for there being yearly vaccinations.

And yes, you can ask to have titers done if you are not comfortable vaccinating your dog on a yearly basis. I think the major problem is that the titers are often more expensive than vaccinating your pet.

Now, I used to believe that vaccine's were necessary on a yearly basis, but I'm now married to a man that develops vaccines and he can't see any reason why it would be any different for a dog. He definitely believes our pets are over vaccinated.

On another note, I remember working for a vet in Seattle and people had the option of getting the one year rabies or the three year rabies vaccine. Well, those supposedly two different vaccines came out of the same vial. I know because I had to draw them up for the vet. In recent years, they have started putting them in seperate vials and charge three times as much for the three year. But there really isn't much people can do about that one. Rabies is a required vaccine.

Answer 4

These days more and more vets are agreeing that yearly vaccinations are excessive and that many vaccines provide immunity for several years. Also, all vaccines all carry some risk of side effects so giving vaccines that possibly aren't needed just increases the chance of a bad reaction for little benefit. Talk to your vet. They should draw antibody titers (a type of blood work) that can show if you dog needs re-vaccinated. However, keep in mind that many states (mine included) require a yearly rabies vaccine regardless. I agree that annual vaccinations are probably excessive.

Answer 5

Dogs don't need to be vaccinated yearly..after the initial 3 vaccination series as puppies and a booster in a year they don't need to be revaccinated for at least 3 years.Titering is a good idea to do at that time.
Also the only vaccinations that all dogs need is distemper/parvo/canine hepatitis/adenovirus-2 and rabies. Lepto, lymes, parainfluenza and kennel cough are all optional vaccinations taht only need to be considered for dogs at high risk of exposure.

There are many studies out by leading universities that don't recommend yearly vaccinations,

A good site to visit for info is Dr. Jean Dodds site.Also the Whole Dog Journal had a great easy to understand article on vaccinating in their november 2006 issue.

Answer 6

An adult dog only has to have the Rabies & it varies from state to state as how oftern they are given. The other vacc's are only necessay for puppies until they are old enough to be resistant to the deseases that the vacc's are for. After that it is a choice for the owners. Like we get flu shots each year. Some people choose for the boosters in adult dogs. I personally choose not to cause the ailments are so far arrested unles you have a dog that is predisposed for it.

Like Polio vaccines, after so many of them you have an amunity to the desease. The same is true in dogs. But the rabies are something that is required by law even thow rabies is hardly ever seen in dogs they still could get rabies if bitten by a rabied animal. Skunk, bat, etc.

I get all the puppie shots & give them myself but I have to take them to a vet for the Rabies. After they are a year old they don't need the boosters, in my opinion. Other people feel different but that is their choice.

Answer 7

I have really looked into this topic and have come to the point that I think our dogs are over vaccinated. I stopped giving my dogs all the boosters except rabies because htat is mandated by our state. Most studies showed that our over vaccination has caused the dogs to have a higher number of allergy problems. By vaccinating them so much we are surpressing their natural immune system. As you said we humans are not vaccinate every year why are our dogs. I really started to look into this when my Lab started have have severe allergy problems after his boosters last year. I talked to several breeders and owners who stppoed the heavy vaccinations and all their dogs were healthier than mine. Plus years ago we were not vaccinating our dogs and they too were healthier than mine our now. Thiss year I opt out of all the vaccinations and my dogs are doing better.

Answer 8

The only vaccination required by law is rabies. All other vaccinations are up to the dog owner. You can request titres if you want them. The vet can only make a recommendation, he can't insist on vaccinating your dog yearly. The AAHA resently changed the recommended protocol for vaccination to every three years rather than annually. I've changed to every three years for two of my dogs. Another only gets Rabies, Lymes and bordatella because he's allergic to the DHLPP vaccine, and my senior dog only gets rabies & bordatella.

Answer 9

Not much point comparing dog vaccination to human - different diseases, different immune systems, different drugs.

You would not want a yearly blood test instead of a vaccine - this is much more expensive! Especially as you would likely end up needing the vaccine as well.

Some vaccines can actually last for 3 years (I think leptospirosis is one?), but the routine ones only last for a year. The booster needs to be given within 3 months of the due date to maintain the antibody titre. Outside of that and you need to restart the course.

Yearly vaccinations are also a useful way to get people to have their pets checked regularly, otherwise most would never come and their illnesses would not be picked up on until too late.

I read the links you provided. The first is quite reasonable, but doesn't take into account practicality and in fact reality. Yes it's not unreasonable to offer people titre counts instead of vaccination if they don't mind paying more - but if this was a standard I think there's a possibility there would be a decline in people bringing their pets in yearly as a blood test would be so much more costly. People already complain about the yearly cost! Also, as the article says there is only 'increasing evidence' re: vaccinosis - it's best to stick with current thinking until something has been proved conclusively!

I'm not impressed by the second article - very biased. It is NOT advisable to adopt a 'no vaccine' approach - the fact of the matter is, the reason diseases like parvo and distemper are becoming less common is BECAUSE vaccination has become so commonplace. If everyone stopped vaccinating, those diseases would have a field day! How do you think Britain became a rabies-free country - in a large part due to vaccination. Only one a disease has become officially eradicated is it safe to stop vaccinating. Rabies vaccines are now only given to British animals if they are travelling abroad. This is the ultimate aim for all vaccine programmes, so don't stop now!

At the end of the day, it would be much more profitable for vets to stop vaccinating - think of all the money we would make on all the expensive treatment for all those diseases!

Chalice

EDIT: 3 thumbs down, how charming. I suppose peope just think I'm 'sticking up for those money-grubbing vet people' - re-read my last sentence!

Don't come too near people, you might get some truth on you.

Answer 10

I do wish that states would allow rabies titers! Studies show that most often, the vaccination given after a year old gives lifelong immunity..what I see as problems with the rabies vaccine, is that it so often causes tumors at the injection site, as the dog gets old. ..These tumors have been studied, and do show the dna of undiluted rabies vaccine.

As my breed ( or, at least my lineage) lives to be quite old, I have had to have these tumors removed, when the stress of anesthesia is greatest...and they can become malignant if not removed!

Answer 11

I feel the same way.

Where I am after the first year rabies its every three years so I only do their yearly shots every three years. I do belive the entire series of puppy shots should be taken seriously. They are given this way due to the fact the moms antibodies may still be in the pupp and the first shot may have been destroyed by the antibodies. I do also suggest the first year, but after that I don't see a reason./ I do rescue and bring more crap in my house than you can imagine. As long as I don't have a momma dog I take all the parvo dogs. None of mine have gotten it except one that came to me that way years ago.