Comments on: Is Your Dog’s Vet a Vaccination Expert?

By: Jan

Jan — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:22:48 +0000

Sheri, I wish I didn’t have to keep writing this same sentence to everyone, but you need a new vet. Your vet has given your dog at least three shots most vets know not to give except in rare circumstances (if ever): coronavirus, lyme, leptospirosis. Bordetella is next to useless and should be given only if required when boarding.

If it were my dog, I would get a titer test (pronounced like TIGHTer) for parvo and distemper. If the test show immunity, and it should, I wouldn’t vaccinate again, although some would say to vaccinate 7 years later. Read about titer testing here: http://www.dogs4dogs.com/blog/category/titertesting/ Don’t go to the same vet. He/she will probably try to talk you out of this. At the risk of sounding cynical, some vets over-vaccinate to make money giving shots and treating adverse reactions and probably won’t change. Find someone who believes in science and the 21st Century!

By: Sheri

Sheri — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 08:44:56 +0000

Hello,
I adopted a dog from a shelter in December 2008, he was three months old then.The shelter gave him a rabies shot and neutered him. Since then he has received his recommended series of puppy shots. He also received shots that I have since found are not recommended such as, corona, giardia, lyme and bordatella. His last shots were in January 2009 when he received corona, distemper/parvo LA, giardia and lyme all at once. He was very lethargic afterward and seemed to be stiff and sore. (This was before I began researching.) Now a year later I receive a notice that he is due for an exam and shots. From what I’ve read, I should only get him the distemper/parvo. I’m really hesitant to do even that. Do you have any advice? After reading and researching vaccines, I really don’t want to vaccinate him ever again.

Thanks so much,
Sheri

By: Jan

Jan — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:51:44 +0000

Hi Koko, I’m so sorry for your dog’s illness by vet. I strongly recommend you get homeopathic therapy. It’s the only thing I know of that works. Just hoping your dog will get better won’t make it happen.

Make sure all the information gets recorded in your dog’s file and get a copy of the file. You’ll want an exemption next time your dog needs a rabies shot and you’ll need documentation.

Complain to everyone: shot manufacturers, drug manufacturers, the state vet board.

Trouble walking is not an uncommon response to the rabies shot. This shot, by the way, should not be given with other shots. I hope you’ll read two articles: http://www.dogs4dogs.com/blog/2009/10/08/protecting-dogs-from-vaccine-reactions/ and http://www.dogs4dogs.com/blog/2009/04/22/no-unnecessary-dog-shots/

Don’t just be angry. Change things!

By: Koko

Koko — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:03:20 +0000

My dog was very healthy before she got 3 shots- anti rabies, distemper and bordetela. After a week or so, my dog could barely walk, very weak, sad and shivering on and off. I took her to the VET and gave her METACAM which made her sicker and sicker. After the metacam, she could barely stand up or walk around. I told the VET about the 3 injections earlier and he said it was not an issue. Next time, I will NOT believe EVERYTHING my VET will tell me. I hope my dog survives this! I will never EVER let someone inject my dog with TOXIC drugs or CHEMICALS. My poor dog is always sleeping, cant barely walk. She wasnt the same energetic dog before all these UNNECCESARY INJECTIONS which in my opinion is being promoted by PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES in COLLUSION with VETS to make lots of MONEY and PROFIT!!!! NEVER AGAIN!!!!

By: Jan

Jan — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:52:48 +0000

On the way to pick up Stan, stop at a health food store and pick up some Arnica Montana. It’s a homeopathic remedy that helps with swelling and bruising. Have the store tell you how to give it.

I give it to my dogs, and use it myself, after any injury. You can give it every two hours the first day — three beads dissolved in spring water, 20 minutes away from food. Then switch to 4 or 5 times a day for a few days. It really helps with bruising and swelling. Start it as soon as you can. This is what my vet tells me to do.

I’m glad the surgery went well.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:56:32 +0000

update – hes come through the surgery thank god! They cut into it and got as much gunk out as they could but all around it was bruised where it had tried to push up through the skin. He has a tube draining the rest off but can come home at 4! They might have to take out his microchip as they think there might be a connection. Will find out more later when we pick him up as my other half got the phone and you know what men are like for getting half the story!!

By: Amanda

Amanda — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:44:44 +0000

Stan is having surgery as we speak. Its gone beyond an abscess. The drug manufacturers are paying the fees also. He looked so sad this morning but the vet said he should be able to come home tonight. A lot of TLC I think is needed when he comes home and NO he will not have another booster ever!

By: Jan

Jan — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:05:34 +0000

Hi Amanda. Lepto and Pi, which I presume is parainfluenza, are both shots not recommended except if your dogs have special needs. Lepto, in particular, is very dangerous. It is also seldom effective. There are many strains of Lepto and not many strains in the shot. It’s like a cold where there are different viruses causing it. So, unless your vet can prove that the strains in your area are a big danger AND are the same strains that the shot gives protection against, why give it. And parainfluenza is mostly for kennel dogs. Scroll to the bottom of this page http://www.dogs4dogs.com/shots and click on the AAHA Canine Task Force link and read about it. Also the WSAVA link.

Two articles on my blog to read are http://www.dogs4dogs.com/blog/2009/10/08/protecting-dogs-from-vaccine-reactions/ and http://www.dogs4dogs.com/blog/2009/04/22/no-unnecessary-dog-shots/

Re: “There are so many arguments for and against,” there really aren’t. The only reason to give shots that aren’t absolutely necessary is to make your vet rich. Read these articles and research with the AAHA and WSAVA documents.

I especially would never give Leptospirosis unless there was an important local need. It’s a highly reactive shot. In fact, both organizations I mentioned say not to give it to small dogs. Even sellers of the vaccine say that.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:37:45 +0000

Hi Jan
According to the 2 stickers inside my dogs vaccination card 1 says lepto 2 and the other says Pi, it wasn’t a rabbies shot. I have always got him vaccinated and one year we left it a year and a half and they said we had to start the process again by having one vaccine and then going back for another a couple of weeks later.
I don’t know what to do for the best next year as I don’t want to go through all this again (neither does stanley beagle) but then am I putting him at risk by not getting it done.

I also have a 1 and a half year old Labrador, not sure whether to continue his or not!

There are so many arguments for and against,

Amanda

By: Jan

Jan — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:13:31 +0000

Hi Amanda. You said your dog got a booster but didn’t say for what. Was it rabies? If so, you should know that the one-year shot and the three-year shot are the same vaccine relabeled. Yes, really. The only reasons to have had a one-year shot and then another shot the next year is if the first shot was your dog’s first rabies shot ever or if the law changed from one year shots to three (which is less likely).

I have more to say, but need to know if you’re talking about rabies or some other vaccine.