I am not against vaccination; I am for a healthy immune system.
PETS ARE OVERVACCINATED IN THIS COUNTRY—OFTEN TO THEIR detriment. However, the judicious use of vaccines can be beneficial and lifesaving. I believe river otters in Illinois benefited from vaccinations. During my junior year in vet school, I was part of the otter release team that inoculated them.
Rivers in Illinois were so polluted that river otters had become extinct. But there had been great strides in cleaning up the rivers. My professor, Dr. Laura Hungerford, was working with several other states to vaccinate and then reintroduce otters to Illinois waterways. I remember worrying about possible side effects from the vaccines. However, otters can contract distemper or parvovirus from dogs, foxes, raccoons, and skunks. They would have to contend with these deadly viruses after being released back into nature, and they could increase the spread of these diseases as well. Therefore, the benefits of vaccination outweighed the risks.
Were I to be reincarnated, I would hope to be an otter. There are thirteen different types of otters and they all play with vigor, eat with gusto, sleep like babies, and seem to live every moment to the fullest. Adorable fuzzballs as babies, clever and ingenious as adults, they float, swim, play tag, use tools, and seem to be bursting with a joie de vivre. I have seen them in ocean kelp forests, and frolicking in the rocks and pools of a winding river. Even in zoos and aquariums they are active and entertaining.
The first otters we were to release were from Louisiana. They were animals that had been trapped and were slated to be killed as vermin. This would be my first experience up close with one of my favorite species. I recall the first group of otters arriving in the back of a pickup truck. Once the engine stopped, I could hear the hissing and grumbling of the caged otters. Their combined voices whirred like a Vespa. When I looked inside, I saw that the state of their health varied. Our job was to do an exam, suture, fix, clean, medicate, vaccinate, tag, and release them into the Little Wabash River. Several groups were to be released over the next year for a total of 346 founding otters to start the population.
My friend Jane and I transported the first batch to our makeshift hut/clinic by the river. It was disheartening to see the injuries they had sustained from being captured. They had broken, lacerated, or swollen feet from traps, and various cuts and bruises. They were not thrilled to be in cages. The hissing and irritated chatter was constant. They were more adorable and wilder than I imagined.
We worked quickly, handing each other instruments and recording each procedure. The hut smelled of their musk. We had to allow ample time for them to fully recover from anesthesia before releasing them early the next day. We set them up in warm cages for the night. The worst vaccine reactions typically happen within the first twenty minutes of the shot, so we watched them carefully. Thankfully, none of the otters had a reaction.
The next morning, we went to a site we’d chosen as the most likely to be hospitable to a group of wild otters. The wire cages were cold, unwieldy, and hard to unlock. I struggled with the door to one of my favorite otters. He had lighter fur on his head and had lost a toe in a trap. I had sewn up the wound with purple suture. I named him RipTide. Even though he tried to bite me, I loved him anyway.
The agitated otters were ready to go after a big breakfast of sardines and canned cat food. A few more hisses, and we had released them all. No fanfare, no instructions about how to hunt or eat in their new river home. They seemed ecstatic to be released, and we were thrilled to release them. Each in turn, when released from their carrier, slid quietly into the river and never looked back. There are now thousands of river otters in Illinois.
Because we only had a day with these wild animals, we had no choice but to do all our treatments and vaccines at one time. We wanted them protected from the diseases, and we also didn’t want them to become vectors for spreading disease. In regard to pets, we do have options. We can choose when and how often we vaccinate. And we have ways to limit exposure to disease until immunity is complete. A vaccination schedule should be individualized and carefully considered for each pet.
IMMUNE SYSTEMS ARE AFFECTED by many factors—diet, stress, exercise, circulation, toxins, disease, and vaccinations. Where possible, I choose to minimize the use of vaccines, employing them only after they are proved both safe and effective.
WEIGHING THE RISKS
1. Is the vaccine safe (few life-threatening reactions)?
2. Is the vaccine required by law?
3. Is the timing appropriate? (Is there still immunity? Is there a longer-lasting vaccine?)
4. Is the pet healthy enough to mount an immune response?
5. Is there a reason not to give the vaccine (possible signs of illness or upcoming stressors)?
6. Is there really a risk of this disease for this pet?
7. Is the disease serious enough to require protection via vaccination?
8. What is required for kenneling/grooming/boarding or by the city or dog parks?
Currently, the vaccination for leptospirosis (a dangerous bacterial infection that can lead to liver and kidney failure and is spread by rats, cows, and several other vectors) is being encouraged by veterinarians. I am not convinced it is a good idea. One of many reasons I feel this way is that two types (serovars) of leptospirosis have been a part of the annual vaccination combo for twenty years and many adverse reactions to the combo vaccine in the past were considered to be due to the leptospirosis portion of it. Currently there is a newer, “cleaner” vaccine on the market that includes four serovars of lepto. It allegedly causes fewer adverse reactions. I am thrilled that pharmaceutical companies are trying to make these universally used vaccines safer. Despite this, I have seen severe adverse reactions to the new formulations. Just because they say it is safer, doesn’t mean it is safe enough.
A client brought their twelve-year-old German shepherd, Bank, in for rehab following surgery to remove a brain tumor. The tumor had caused seizures and made him unable to walk. After integrative treatments that included a diet change, acupuncture, and underwater treadmill therapy, Bank regained his mobility. Although he looked a little drunk when he walked, he recovered well enough to be able to go up and down stairs, and play outside. His seizures had stopped since the surgery.
Two years later, Bank seemed to be maintaining a healthy life. At that point, his regular vet, concerned about a recent increase in the number of lepto cases in the city, recommended giving him the new lepto vaccine. The owner called me for my opinion and I strongly recommended against it. I was concerned about the seizure side effects associated with that particular vaccine. I advised him that lepto, while life-threatening, can often be treated and cured with antibiotics. I also pointed out that the vaccine provides immunity only for about nine months. The owner, however, was very concerned about Bank contracting lepto and decided to allow him to be inoculated with the vaccine.
Within two days, Bank presented with serious cluster seizures and was hospitalized at an ER specialty clinic. Thankfully, the neurologist managed to stop the seizures by treating him for this vaccine reaction. Bank returned to my clinic for integrative detox and rehab therapy. He improved over time and regained much of his mental and muscular functions. However, he never fully returned to his happy pre-vaccine state. He stared into corners much more frequently and was more anxious than he had previously been.
Everyone involved in Bank’s case was motivated by concern for his well-being. What troubles me is the default acceptance of pharmaceuticals as the only safe treatment of choice, regardless of circumstances.
Many people have a blind faith in pharmaceutical medicine. TV shows have taught us to expect miracle cures from high-tech procedures and medications. Dedicated doctor, plus brilliant diagnosis, plus last-minute pharmaceutical/surgical intervention equals a happy ending.
Pharma is a gargantuan business motivated by gargantuan profits. They have much to lose if doctors, vets, and patients examine other, nonpharma options. But I am concerned about the health of animals. A reevaluation of all annual vaccines is warranted, especially the ones associated with higher risk.
Subcutaneous and intravenous injections bypass the body’s security systems. The gamble is that the antigens will strengthen the immunity of the animal to win against the disease. However, any time you inject an agent into an animal, there are risks. It is a veterinarian’s job to make those medical judgments. Don’t hesitate to ask your vet about the rationale and risks of any injection.
If you do opt for a vaccination, keep in mind that a vaccine is not protective the moment you give it. In fact, most vaccines cause an immune suppression for about ten days after administration. Therefore, it’s best to keep a newly vaccinated animal in a restricted environment for the days immediately after the vaccination.
The law places limits on the recommendations a veterinarian can provide. Rabies vaccination protocols, for example, are established by law, so veterinarians are only allowed to recommend state requirements. In some states that means yearly vaccines; in others a three-year rabies vaccine is accepted. Owners can sign a waiver declining rabies vaccination for their pets. In those cases, I always recommend running a rabies titer test to check for immunity.
Research has shown that the one-year rabies vaccine does, in fact, last much longer than one year, after the administration of the second dose. As a result, you may have the option to give your pet the three-year vaccine, unless it is a puppy. In Illinois, I recommend the three-year vaccine rather than the one-year for all adult pets to avoid stressing the immune system unnecessarily.
THE SEVEN-YEAR FIX
WE HOPE TO HAVE proof soon that the three-year rabies vaccine actually provides immunity for five to seven years. When that study is FDA-approved, I will recommend the five- or seven-year rabies vaccine.
Be aware that the one-year rabies vaccine must be given to puppies or to pets without a known treatment history. One year later, they can be given the three-year rabies vaccine as a booster. Separate vaccines to avoid overstressing the immune system. For example, give the distemper combo at one vet visit, then the rabies vaccine about three weeks later.
I obtain much of my information about vaccines from the brilliant and dedicated Dr. Jean Dodds in California. Her work has furthered the discussion about safe, effective vaccination. She and Dr. Ronald Schultz are on the front lines of the movement to prove that the rabies vaccine does last five to seven years. You can read more about her research and donate to the Rabies Challenge Fund by going to www.rabieschallengefund.org or www.hemopet.org.
Here are Dr. Dodd’s vaccine protocols for dogs and cats.
Note: The following vaccine protocol is offered for those animals where minimal vaccinations are advisable or desirable. The schedule is one I recommend and should not be interpreted to mean that other protocols recommended by a veterinarian would be less satisfactory. It’s a matter of professional judgment and choice. |
|
AGE OF PUPS |
VACCINE TYPE |
9–10 weeks |
Distemper + Parvovirus, MLV (e.g., Intervet Progard Puppy DPV) |
14 weeks |
Same as above |
16–18 weeks (optional) |
Same as above (optional) |
20 weeks or older, if allowable by law |
Rabies |
1 year |
Distemper + Parvovirus, MLV |
1 year |
Rabies, killed virus, 3-year product (give 3–4 weeks apart from distemper/parvovirus booster) |
Perform vaccine antibody titers for distemper and parvovirus every three years thereafter, or more often, if desired. Vaccinate for rabies virus according to the law, except where circumstances indicate that a written waiver needs to be obtained from the primary care veterinarian. In that case, a rabies antibody titer can also be performed to accompany the waiver request.
FELINE VACCINATION PROTOCOL—2011 |
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Note: The following vaccine protocol is offered for those animals where minimal vaccinations are advisable or desirable. The schedule is one I recommend and should not be interpreted to mean that other protocols recommended by a veterinarian would be less satisfactory. It’s a matter of professional judgment and choice. |
|
AGE OF KITTENS |
VACCINE TYPE |
8–9 weeks |
Panleukopenia, calicivirus, rhinopneumonitis virus (FVRCP) |
Same as above |
|
24 weeks or older, if required by law |
Rabies (e.g., Merial Purevax, recombinant) |
1 year |
FVRCP booster |
1 year |
Rabies, same as above but separated by 2–3 weeks from FVRCP |
Perform vaccine antibody titers (a blood test) for panleukopenia virus every three years thereafter, or more often, if desired. Vaccinate for rabies virus according to the law.
LIKE MY VETERINARY COLLEAGUES, I struggle with worries about adverse effects of vaccinations, while recognizing vaccines’ necessity. Adverse vaccine reactions include allergic reactions, skin lesions, hair loss, swelling, epilepsy, chronic allergies, autoimmune diseases, cancer, anaphylaxis, and death.
The Lyme vaccine has been implicated in causing some of the signs of Lyme disease, including joint pain, arthritis, swelling, and fevers. These vaccine-induced signs do not respond to the antibiotic treatment one would use on the actual Lyme disease. In other words, if you contract Lyme disease from the vaccine, antibiotics will not cure it. That is why I do not recommend the Lyme vaccine. A safe, effective human vaccine for Lyme disease doesn’t exist, despite the fact that Lyme disease is a troubling health issue on the east coast of the United States.
Bordetella vaccines can also cause the signs of the disease being vaccinated against, which is a honking cough and an upper respiratory infection. This vaccine is required by kennels and does have some protective ability as well. When it is given as nasal drops, rather than as an injection, I see fewer adverse reactions. Bordetella vaccine is given to animals at high risk for bordetella exposure in such places as boarding facilities, groomers, day care, and kennels where ventilation between animals is limited.