Vaccinating Our Loved Ones

by zmxncbv.com 

I'm sure most folks have heard of the controversy regarding the necessity of vaccinating children. The question under debate is whether those vaccines are the cause of a number of childhood diseases that  have apparently increased significantly since widespread vaccinations began (for example, autism.)

You may not be aware there is a lot of questioning in the pet world over the same issues.

People are questioning whether their veterinarian prescribed flea and tick medications are doing more harm than good, and whether the heartworm medication is truly helpful. Home remedies, both time tested and new, are either appearing on the market or being mixed up in home kitchens.

I regard all this questioning as goodness. It makes us better protectors and providers for our pets. Questioning also helps the vets and researchers include new ideas and medical concepts into their work.

One set of questioning focuses on the rabies vaccine. The argument goes that the initial rabies vaccination produces the desired antibodies in the pet's system--so why are there required booster vaccinations throughout a pet's lifetime?

I have heard there is a small but growing movement of people who are not submitting their pets to booster rabies vaccinations.

What are the factors that go into a decision like this?

These days it's sometimes hard to know whether to follow accepted medical/veterinarian procedures, or to walk an independent course. Wellness and alternative medicine practices can sometimes be difficult to evaluate.

One very important decision factor was recently brought to my attention while I was at a North Carolina Natural Sciences Museum gathering that included a number of veterinarians, vet students and members of the public.

Toward the end of the evening there was a short discussion on rabies vaccinations. A vet student asked this very question:

If the protective antibodies are already in a pet's system, why should that pet be required to submit to booster rabies vaccinations every few years?

The unscientific answer was surprising.

If your dog has not had the required vaccinations, and your dog is exposed to rabies, your dog will most likely be put down--by law. You will probably have no say in the matter.

Without required vaccinations, groomers can refuse to clean your dog, boarding facilities can refuse to care for your dog if you need to leave town. And, if there were an emergency evacuation, your un-vaccinated dog may have a hard time being sheltered (reminder: be sure to carry a copy of your dog's vaccination records in your disaster kit.)

I was fascinated how quickly the issue moved from the science of rabies vaccinations to the laws protecting people from this dreadful disease.

I'm interested to hear your thoughts on this matter.

Comments

[Barbara Swafford]

Hi Cousin Kaye,

Wow! I didn't realize the vaccine controversy has entered into pet care as well.

The unscientific answer didn't answer the original question at all, did it? Were they politicians? hehe.

BTW: I love the picture!

[Teri]

I have found out that a dog only needs the first puppy shots and a booster a year later and that should suffice for the dog's life time up to 12 years. That is how long these vaccines were meant to last. It brings up the point of when we were all vaccinated as children, most last a lifetime, with the exception of polio tetnus. I developed an allergic reaction to that shot. If this is the case for humans, why would it be different for dogs who have the same physiology as we do?
Yearly vaccinations are not needed and when I told that to my vet, she agreed with me. Many dogs have also died from being given a whole cocktail of shots at once, its just too much for the immune system to fight off.
There are also alternative medicines that do the same as these chemical vaccines. I always wonder what they are really made of, and am finding out more information each day.
I mean how many time does a dog come into contact with a rabied squirrel in a city?

Great post for all dog owners to know and decide.

[Kaye Swafford]

Very quick you are, Cousin Barbara. In fact, the person giving the unscientific answer was a veterinarian professor. He made sure we all knew he was aware he had not answered the scientific question. Nor had he explicitly said the rabies laws needed review and updating.

Raleigh is the state capitol, so politics is never far away! Kaye

[Kaye Swafford]

Teri,

Thanks for sharing your information. Please keep us informed as you gather more information on alternative health methods.

There are almost no instances of rabies death for humans in the US.

However, in many states, wild animals are carriers--squirrels, skunks, foxes, bats, etc. So rabies is still a disease to be reckoned with.

Thanks, Kaye