Overvaccinating Cats and Dogs

[Guest guest]

http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/miamiherald/living/home/pets/14564355.htm?sour

ce=rss & channel=miamiherald_pets

Miami Herald

Posted on Sun, May. 14, 2006

PET DOCTOR

War against overvaccinating cats and dogs continues

Dr. Fox

Q: I have a red, longhaired tabby cat, 9 ½ years old. At her annual checkup,

she receives vaccines (leukemia, distemper, etc). They always make her feel

rather poorly. I've heard you say the vaccines aren't necessary each year.

I've questioned the vet, even presented one of your columns, but I am always

told this is not correct information. For the last couple of years, my cat,

Precious, has been limping when getting up from naps. She acts like it's her

shoulders where the injections have been given each year.

I've read of vaccine-related cancers, arthritis, etc. What is your opinion

on this?

Q: When my house cat gets her rabies vaccine (in the scruff of her neck),

she gets stiff and sore muscles all over her body. This lasts for two days.

She likes to be on my lap but can't jump up, and we can't lift her, either,

as she meows a painful cry. She is now due for the vaccine again.

The vet had me try Prednisone on her, but it didn't work. She has been

getting the vaccine every two years: There's a law in our small town that

pets need to be up-to-date on their vaccines.

I would need a written note from a qualified vet, and they would have the

state's attorney rule on this. Does my cat need the vaccine now that she is

7 years old?

Q: I often wonder why it is necessary to give cats several annual shots,

especially in cats such as mine, which were obtained as young kittens and

have never been outside. They are strictly indoor animals.

Then I read in Consumer Reports for July 2003 that the American Veterinary

Medical Association no longer recommends annual booster shots, either. I

also read in your column that you do not favor annual boosters. When I

questioned my vet about the annual boosters, he said that had not definitely

been decided yet.

I live in a rural area, so finding another clinic where the vets advise

against annual boosters is not an option. What choices do I have?

A: I receive many letters like yours, and I have been waging a war against

overvaccination of dogs and cats for years, which is why several newspapers

may have dropped my column, following complaints from local veterinarians.

My advice to all of you is to have your veterinarians contact the American

Association of Feline Practitioners to learn that vaccine injections should

not be given between cats' shoulders; and annual booster shots are not

necessary except for rabies. If the vet is in doubt, he or she should run a

blood titer.

Cat specialists advise giving injections as far down cats' legs as possible,

because if an injection-site cancer develops, it is easier to treat, with a

better prognosis than if it were to develop at the back of the neck or

between the shoulder blades.

Cats that have adverse reactions to rabies vaccinations (mandated by law in

many states) may do better on the canary pox vectored antirabies vaccine.

Dogs and cats at risk from any type of rabies vaccination should have a

veterinary certification of this condition, and owners must keep their

animals indoors to avoid possible exposure, risk and liability.

Adverse reactions to vaccines and veterinary medicines in pets are common.

If you think your animal is having an adverse reaction, phone your

veterinarian and describe the symptoms, when they first occurred and what

medicines or vaccines had been given and when.

Some adverse reactions may not appear until weeks and months after

vaccination, making it difficult to be certain the vaccination was

responsible. I am not opposed to vaccinations, but, since I am very aware of

their risks because of letters from readers like you, I applaud this

caution.

You and your veterinarian should contact the Center for Veterinary

Biologics, which monitors and collects reports of adverse reactions,

sometimes asking manufacturers to make recalls. Call 800-752-6255, or go to

www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/cvbic/adverseeventreport.htm. Also, contact the

manufacturer. Some adverse reactions may be delayed in cats and dogs,

appearing later as thyroid disease, anemia, skin cancer, immune-system

impairment and various autoimmune disorders.

Send questions to Dr. Fox, Tropical Life, The Miami Herald, 1 Herald Plaza,

Miami, FL 33132.

--------------------------------------------------------

Sheri Nakken, R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath

Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Nevada City CA & Wales UK

$$ Donations to help in the work - accepted by Paypal account

earthmysteriestours@... voicemail US 530-740-0561

(go to http://www.paypal.com) or by mail

Vaccines - http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/vaccine.htm

Vaccine Dangers On-Line course - http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/vaccineclass.htm

Reality of the Diseases & Treatment -

http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/vaccineclass.htm

Homeopathy On-Line course - http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/homeo.htm

[Guest guest]

I would say no...as long as they are healthy I would not take them to the

vet...or find a vet that will support you no vax.

[Guest guest]

My son Henry was just gifted an apricot Standard Poodle from a friend of a

friend trying to help a child with autism. He had a rabies shot before we got

him and he's 5 months old. I will not bring him to the vet because I know they

will strongly suggest more vaccinations. My husband googled Standard Poodle and

found out that this breed has a bad track record for adverse reactions to

vaccines. There are holistic vets on LI, but I'm wondering if I need to bring

him in at all. I am new to this and would appreciate any advice from the group.

TIA,

Anita

Sheri Nakken <vaccineinfo@...> wrote:

http://www.thatsracin.com/mld/miamiherald/living/home/pets/14564355.htm?sour

ce=rss & channel=miamiherald_pets

Miami Herald

Posted on Sun, May. 14, 2006

PET DOCTOR

War against overvaccinating cats and dogs continues

---------------------------------

Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+

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[Guest guest]

I'm a member of 2 lists I highly recommend. As valuable as this Vaccinations

list has been to me for the human aspect of not vaccinating, these 2 lists have

helped me tremendously for our 5 year old Westie who had a reaction to one of

his puppy shots (this is what started me on my journey to homeopathy and no

vaccines for anyone in our home, animal OR human.)

TruthAboutVaccines/

ClassicalHomeopathyPets/

Kay

Re: Overvaccinating Cats and Dogs

My son Henry was just gifted an apricot Standard Poodle from a friend of a

friend trying to help a child with autism. He had a rabies shot before we got

him and he's 5 months old. I will not bring him to the vet because I know they

will strongly suggest more vaccinations. My husband googled Standard Poodle and

found out that this breed has a bad track record for adverse reactions to

vaccines. There are holistic vets on LI, but I'm wondering if I need to bring

him in at all. I am new to this and would appreciate any advice from the group.

TIA,

Anita

[Guest guest]

Thanks Kay, unfortunately I can barely keep with the groups I'm on now. He came

out of nowhere and I wasn't really prepared. I know I will eventually join at

least one of these groups, but for now I was just looking for advice regarding

the need to take to a vet. What do you think? He seems healthy except

for soft stools. He's new and nervous so I thought transitioning might be

causing that, otherwise, he is happy and playful. I prefer to leave well enough

alone, but don't want to make a major mistake with this puppy.

Anita

Kay <dr-ky@...> wrote:

I'm a member of 2 lists I highly recommend. As valuable as this Vaccinations

list has been to me for the human aspect of not vaccinating, these 2 lists have

helped me tremendously for our 5 year old Westie who had a reaction to one of

his puppy shots (this is what started me on my journey to homeopathy and no

vaccines for anyone in our home, animal OR human.)

TruthAboutVaccines/

ClassicalHomeopathyPets/

Kay

Re: Overvaccinating Cats and Dogs

My son Henry was just gifted an apricot Standard Poodle from a friend of a

friend trying to help a child with autism. He had a rabies shot before we got

him and he's 5 months old. I will not bring him to the vet because I know they

will strongly suggest more vaccinations. My husband googled Standard Poodle and

found out that this breed has a bad track record for adverse reactions to

vaccines. There are holistic vets on LI, but I'm wondering if I need to bring

him in at all. I am new to this and would appreciate any advice from the group.

TIA,

Anita

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/21/2006 5:38:34 P.M. Central Standard Time,

mydurney@... writes:

The law here is your dog MUST be vaxed for rabies; the rest is optional. If

he bites or even nips someone who reports him because I can't prove he's been

vaxed for rabies, they will take him from me and put him down. That is what

I am told anyway.

that is the law here as well...but I would NEVER vax a dog again... I never

had a problem with no rabies vax...or had a situation in which he had to be

vaxxed (if we went out of town I hired a doggie sitter or he came with

us....my dog was super friendly and would never bite soul)...if you your dog is

not

so friendly make sure he is not in any situations in which he could nip

someone...

My dane had vaccine induced epilepsy (among other issues caused by puppy

vaccines)- so not even a law could get me to vax another dog ever again.

Good luck

Amy

[Guest guest]

I totally understand about group overload! LOL

I'm not really one to ask advice regarding taking any living thing to an

allopathic practitioner unless it's an emergency. Many " holistic " vets are

holistic in name only. Maybe call around to some of them and find out their

stand on vaccinating before making a decision on who to go to.

Are you feeding a raw diet? That would help firm up his stools and be the best

thing for his immune system overall.

HTH

Kay

Re: Overvaccinating Cats and Dogs

Thanks Kay, unfortunately I can barely keep with the groups I'm on now. He

came out of nowhere and I wasn't really prepared. I know I will eventually join

at least one of these groups, but for now I was just looking for advice

regarding the need to take to a vet. What do you think? He seems healthy

except for soft stools. He's new and nervous so I thought transitioning might be

causing that, otherwise, he is happy and playful. I prefer to leave well enough

alone, but don't want to make a major mistake with this puppy.

Anita

[Guest guest]

I know I must research this, but may I ask what the main foods are in a raw diet

for a dog?

Anita

Kay <dr-ky@...> wrote:

Are you feeding a raw diet? That would help firm up his stools and be the

best thing for his immune system overall.

HTH

Kay

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[Guest guest]

The law here is your dog MUST be vaxed for rabies; the rest is optional. If he

bites or even nips someone who reports him because I can't prove he's been vaxed

for rabies, they will take him from me and put him down. That is what I am told

anyway.

Anita

Algaveda@... wrote:

I would say no...as long as they are healthy I would not take them to the

vet...or find a vet that will support you no vax.

[Guest guest]

Like any good diet, variety is the key. My dog gets raw beef, pork, chicken,

turkey, lamb, rabbit, fish... This includes bones, organs and muscle meat.

Contact me offlist if you'd like more info. I can give you some links as well

that will assist you.

Kay

Re: Overvaccinating Cats and Dogs

I know I must research this, but may I ask what the main foods are in a raw

diet for a dog?

Anita

[Guest guest]

Email me offlist about this as well, Anita.

Kay

Re: Overvaccinating Cats and Dogs

The law here is your dog MUST be vaxed for rabies; the rest is optional. If he

bites or even nips someone who reports him because I can't prove he's been vaxed

for rabies, they will take him from me and put him down. That is what I am told

anyway.

Anita