Analyzing New Vaccination Recommendations for Dogs

Written by Jan on November 15, 2011 – 1:01 am

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) recently issued its 2011 Canine Vaccination Guidelines.  The 2003 report, revised in 2006 and 2007, caused quite a stir.  Many veterinarians and pet parents didn’t trust the findings –and still don’t – even though the report was backed by scientific studies and written by 14 well-respected experts. Change can be scary.

The report’s recommendation to eliminate or limit many unnecessary and/or dangerous vaccines, and to give the important “core vaccines” no more often than every three years (NOT annually!), was and is unpalatable to many practices.  It could represent a huge drop in income.

Though veterinary organizations and every North American vet school changed their vaccination protocols to accommodate the report’s findings, most clinics continue to over-vaccinate.  Read more »

Tags: bad reactions, booster, dog, dog shots, over-vaccination, rabies, recommendations, symptoms, titer test, Vaccination, vaccination schedule, vaccine, vaccine reactions
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Vaccination Reactions Can Mimic Disease Symptoms

Written by Jan on October 2, 2011 – 1:00 am

Chronic and acute disease in dogs can be caused by the very vaccines given to prevent disease. Read what homeopathic veterinarian Dr. Michael Dym has to say. 
 
Vaccination is often thought of by the conventional veterinary community as a benign procedure intended to prevent acute diseases, with side effects occurring only rarely. However, vaccination in certain sensitive individuals can result in a chronic disease state that is long lasting or even fatal.  
 
Vaccine-induced disease, called “vaccinosis,” is understood as the disturbance of the life force or chi of the patient that may result in mental, emotional and physical changes. These are induced by laboratory modification of a virus or bacterium to make a vaccine. Then, instead of seeing acute expressions of disease, we are seeing symptoms of chronic illness over years or even a lifetime.
 
For example, symptoms of acute distemper virus infection in dogs include eye and nose discharge; conjunctivitis; vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite; watery feces with blood, mucous and often a foul odor; spasms or seizures and paralysis; eruptions around the mouth; swelling of feet often with red foot pads; pneumonia; skin eruptions; and in chronic cases, emaciation.  
 
What I have seen in my many years of private practice is that distemper and other vaccines administered to prevent acute illness can contribute to symptoms seen in chronic disease and pathologies. Some symptoms often seen in chronic canine illness include chronic runny eyes and conjunctivitis (tear stains in dogs, dry eye, chronic eye allergies); chronic vomiting, diarrhea, appetite issues; emaciation; pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, GI lymphoma;  chronic spasms and seizures (epilepsy, brain tumors); skin eruptions and swelling of feet and red feet pads; itching from lifelong skin allergies; and eruptions around the mouth (seen in lip fold dermatitis).  That is, adverse reactions from vaccination may mimic symptoms of the very disease the vaccine was meant to prevent.  Reactions may occur immediately or months or even years later.
 
Symptoms of acute rabies infection include restlessness, viciousness, avoidance of company, unusual affection, desire to travel, and inability to be restrained. Other symptoms are self biting; strange cries and howls; inability to swallow resulting in gagging when eating and drinking; staring eyes; swallowing wood, stones and other inedibles; destruction of blankets, clothing, etc.; convulsive seizures; throat spasms; increased sexual desire; disturbed heart function; or excited and jerky breathing.
 
My biggest concern with pets are behavior changes presenting after vaccination with either the distemper or rabies vaccine. This is usually along the lines of aggression, suspicion, unusual fears, etc. The essential aspect in rabies vaccinosis is loss of impulse control. (Read more from Dr. Dym about reactions seen after the rabies vaccine.)
 
Many pets may exhibit behaviors such as “reverse sneezing” and increased mounting by neutered pets. Conventional medicine does not explain these odd symptoms, but homeopathically these pets may be exhibiting symptoms of rabies vaccinosis.  In my opinion, they are fairly common.
 
Other vaccines may also contribute in their own way to chronic illness in our pets.  Bordatella (kennel cough) vaccination can lead to chronic coughing (diagnosed as collapsing trachea, COPD, or possibly eventual heart disease). Leptospirosis vaccination often leads to chronic liver or kidney disease down the road, as well as chronic skin allergies. You certainly need to follow the law with regards to rabies vaccination, however, most other vaccinations are optional,  particularly in adult pets vaccinated as puppies.
 
A homeopathic remedy given at the time of some immunizations can help reduce adverse reactions. Seek out a veterinarian trained in homeopathy. If your pet is suffering from cancer or another acute or chronic disease, know that more and more states and localities will allow an exemption to rabies vaccination.  We hope that states will soon allow a rabies antibody titer blood test instead of vaccination. (Please see the nonprofit study of the rabies vaccine by the Rabies Challenge Fund).
 
If your pet is suffering from the above chronic disease symptoms, especially in the days to months following a vaccination, he/she should be evaluated by a homeopathic veterinarian to try to cure this disease state over time.  Important note: Vaccine labels state that vaccines are to be administered to “healthy pets only.”
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To learn more about Dr Dym, see his website at www.canineworld.com/drdym To schedule a homeopathic phone consultation, please phone 856-577-8064 or 609-413-2194. You can also e-mail Dr Dym for a homeopathic or holistic consultation.
 
Post your dog’s rabies reaction and read other readers’ stories here: The Rabies Vaccine and Your Dog: Side Effects   

Get Our Vaccination DVD
:  World-renowned scientists W. Jean Dodds, DVM and Ronald D. Schultz, PhD spoke at our Safer Pet Vaccination Benefit Seminar in March 2010. A DVD of the event, along with articles by the speakers, is available here.  Or learn more about it at http://www.dogs4dogs.com/saferpet.  Click these links to learn more about rabies vaccination and about canine vaccination in general and read articles elsewhere on this blog. 
Tags: distemper, dog, dog shots, homeopathy, puppy shots, rabies, reactions, side effects, symptoms, Vaccination, vaccine
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Rabies Vaccination Medical Exemptions for Unhealthy Dogs

Written by Jan on June 15, 2010 – 10:42 am

Note: This letter by Dr. Jean Dodds is important to everyone living in a state (including California) that does not allow medical exemptions from rabies vaccination even if  vaccination may kill the animal.  See the rabies laws in the US, plus the states offering medical exemptions, at www.dogs4dogs.com/rabies-laws  PERMISSION TO CROSS POST.

California is currently considering AB2000, a bill to allow dogs with health problems an exemption to rabies vaccination until their health improves enough to get the vaccine. Early on this bill had a quarantine clause which was removed because of public outcry. This law, called Molly’s Law because Molly’s owners asked for an exemption that was not allowed, is supported by me and by the Rabies Challenge Fund.  The Concerned Dog Owners of California, another supportive group, report that AB2000 is supported by the California Veterinary Medical Association, Save Our Dogs, PetPac, HSUS, ASPCA  and dog owners all over the state.  However, the California of Public Health has recently come out against it.  Below is Dr. Jean Dodds’ response to their letter. It is posted here with Dr. Dodds’ permission. Read more »

Tags: AB 2000, AB2000, dogs, exemptions, Jean Dodds, medical, rabies, Rabies Challenge Fund, rabies law, rabies shot, rabies vaccine, Safety, sick dogs
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Vaccinating Small Dogs: Risks Vets Aren’t Revealing

Written by Jan on September 30, 2009 – 12:01 am

small dogAt last, a smoking gun … discovered pointing directly at Chihuahuas, Dachshunds, Maltese, Yorkies and other small dogs … in fact, pointed at all dogs receiving multiple vaccines during one clinic visit.

Many scientific studies and taskforce reports have altered my view of vaccination over the years, but none have stunned me as much as “Adverse events diagnosed within three days of vaccine administration in dogs” by Drs. Moore, Guptill, Ward, et al.   This two-year study of vaccine reactions (from data gathered at 360 Banfield clinics in 2002 and 2003) concluded: “Young adult small-breed neutered dogs that received multiple vaccines per office visit were at greatest risk of a VAAE [Vaccine Associated Adverse Event] within 72 hours after vaccination.” And that’s not all the report revealed. Read more »

Tags: dog, dog shots, dog vaccinations, puppy shots, puppy vaccination schedule, puppy vaccinations, rabies, rabies shot, reactions, small dog vaccination risk, toy dogs, Vaccination, vaccine, vaccine reactions
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Treating Adverse Vaccine Reactions by Jean Dodds, DVM

Written by Jan on August 6, 2009 – 12:01 am

Jean Dodds, DVMWorld-renowned pet vaccination expert Dr. Jean Dodds has written a wonderful article on managing and treating adverse reactions to vaccination (published here with her permission).  She also clears up common misconceptions about vaccination, titer testing and vaccinating against rabies.

This is an important article. I hope you’ll read it and bookmark or print it for future reference and also send it to your veterinarian and to friends.


CLINICAL APPROACHES TO MANAGING AND TREATING ADVERSE VACCINE REACTIONS

by W. Jean Dodds, DVM

Background
There is no doubt that application of modern vaccine technology has permitted us to protect companion animals effectively against serious infectious diseases.

Viral disease and recent vaccination with single or combination modified live-virus (MLV) vaccines, especially those containing distemper virus, adenovirus 1 or 2, and parvovirus are increasingly recognized contributors, albeit relatively rare,  to immune-mediated blood disease, bone marrow failure, and organ dysfunction.  Read more »

Tags: adverse reactions, dog, dogs, Dr. Dodds, Jean Dodds, over-vaccination, rabies, shot, symptoms, titer testing, treating adverse reactions, vaccinating, Vaccination, vaccine
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