Important! What we need to know about vaccines!

[Jac]

I realize that I am not the first to jump onto this bandwagon...and I'll be the first to admit that I have heard of potential reactions to vaccines before...but my motto has always been "better safe than sorry" or "the benefits outweigh the risk".
But I am slowly coming to the conclusion that there is something very important for us to do...record and report any potential reaction to vaccines. The problem? Most of us are only aware of the initial reactions, the type that a good dose of benedryl would help...but there are many more, long term and serious reactions that, if we can link them to vaccines, we may just be able to change the law requiring rabies vaccines without titer testing and to cause the industry (and vets) to evaluate doseages!
It is amazing that every dog, regardless of size, gets the same dose of rabies vaccine. I didn't know that.
So, if you want to learn more and I hope you do, here are two good starting points:

http://www.labbies.com/immun.htm#Vaccin ... 20Invasion

http://www.dogs4dogs.com/truth4dogs.html

My vet has changed thier vaccine policy. They are starting to do titers and only vaccinate when needed. They still have to get rabies every 3 yrs because that is the law but at least the others they will not get unless they need them

[OLIVER DOODLE]

Thanks for the post JAc. You always have such great advice and stuff for us to think about and educate our selves with. I had never thought of the rabies vaccine before in this way.

[pringle's mom]

It's

[MaxandMe]

i say one must weigh the odds of vaccines and at same time consider the area you live in, what predominat threats are there
and HOW many reported cases in your area as well.

Rabies? ny has highest rate of rabies thus living on 6 acres with raccoon, fox etc.......they get rabies
and this summer they got lepto not sure if they'll get it next year they didn't have a reaction but ......but doing more research for now

Thanks for the reminder jac!!

[PlainJane]

For anyone else that doesn't know what "Titer Testing" is

http://www.dogs4dogs.com/blog/category/titertesting/

[cocoandjane]

Oh! Thanks Jane....I was just going to do a search
and read more about that!
Appreciate the link!
And Thank you! to Jac.....I was aware of the over-vaccinated situation...
but good to refresh my memory!

[sarahann]

For those of you with problems that you think might be due to over vaccination I would highly recommend seeing a holistic vet. As many of you know we had a few issues with Manchego that our normal vet couldn't do anything about. The problems seem to have gotten MUCH better with homeopathic treatment.

My holistic vet doesn't recommend re-vaccinating Manchie because of the issues I've had. I will most definitely be doing titer tests for both dogs from here on out.

I'm not 100% sure but I think in BC a titer test is enough to avoid re-vaccinating for rabies. We don't have rabies West of the Rockies according to my vet office.

[sdrudge]

Thanks Jac. I have been thinking about vaccinations. Cacao goes to the vet at the end of the month. Thanks again for keeping us all informed.

[MaxandMe]

here's a decent article to read when you have time
http://www.thepetcenter.com/exa/vac.html

[Lucky Me]

I have all my dogs on the 3yr shots for parvo, distemper...& something else.
Does anyone know what is that makes it every 3 yrs? Is is a super heavy dose?
Only some vets here carry it.

[Jac]

Judi, it isn't a particular vaccine that lasts 3 years, but the protocol of the various vets that determine whether or not a vaccine needs to be repeated annually or every 3 years. Here is an article that explains it:
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Conten ... &A=589&S=0

[Lucky Me]

Huh.....when I one of my dogs got their rabies shot out of town at a Petsmart shot clinic(Banfield Hosp.?), I requested a 3 yr. shot also since I was there.
She said that she had to talk to the vet, who told her no....it was only availble to the dogs in some kind of medical program they have. I would have to get the one-yr. vaccine.
So.....I just waited till the next vet visit and got it done locally. They have never done any titer testing before giving it.
They sure make it sound like 2 different kind of vaccines!!

[Jac]

Pretty interesting article, AM...long, but interesting. hahaha
It just makes my head spin...everyone disagrees and then you hear horror stories...and I always feel so guilty because I am the one giving the vaccines...and people like Dr. Dodds warns against regualr vaccines (not this article, but in her practice) and some vets do want to do extras for more money and even though vaccines are not that much, some vets are truely motivate by money...what's a good Doodle owner to do????

Originally Posted by MaxandMe

here's a decent article to read when you have time
http://www.thepetcenter.com/exa/vac.html

[cocoandjane]

Yes, a good article on the link you sent AM and Jac, too.
It is not unlike EvERYTHING else I am
investigating right now.....I question who to believe, what to use, where to go, if I do this then that will, or might happen, if I don't do this, what then???
Sometimes the truth eludes us.....the amount of greed and grubbin' going on
across the board out there...is mind boggling!! I must pray for more wisdom and discernment to know what
path to take.....don't know if I'll have it otherwise....too many overwhelming opinions and choices!
Now, off the Whole Foods.....looking into their dog food choices.....another mind boggling issue.

Geesh......