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Free canine parvovirus vaccinations to be given Thursday

WOODINVILLE — The nonprofit Homeward Pet Adoption Center announced Monday that it will provide free parvovirus vaccinations to any dog brought to its Woodinville office on Thursday.

No appointment is necessary, the organization said. The vaccinations will be provided as long as supplies last.

It said it decided to take this action after recent reports indicating that veterinarians in King County have noted an alarming number of parvovirus cases in King County.

Canine parvovirus is a highly infectious viral disease. Symptoms of parvovirus manifest within three to seven days after the dog’s initial exposure to the virus, and without medical treatment, death can occur within 48 to 72 hours.

The free combination-vaccine being offered by Homeward Pet Adoption Center protects against the parvovirus and distemper, the nonprofit said.  Having up-to-date vaccinations will help give dogs a fighting chance against the deadly parvovirus, if they are ever exposed.

Homeward Pet Adoption Center is a no-kill shelter serving the Greater Seattle area since 1990.  It is located at 13132 NE 177th Place, Woodinville, 98072.  Its website is www.homewardpet.org

The Dangers of Dog Vaccines You Need to Know Now

There is a lot of conflicting information about the benefits or dangers of dog vaccines. This short article will help shed some light on what the World’s top veterinarians think about vaccines for dogs. You’ll also learn of an easy test, called a titer test, your dog could take to minimize the chances of bad reactions. There are many different types of dog vaccinations. They include dog vaccines for parovirus, canine distemper virus, rabies, canine adenovirus, lyme disease, canine parainfluenza virus, leptospirosis, giardiasis, canine coronavirus, bordetella bronchiseptica and a few others.

The simple fact is that many of these vaccinations for dogs are unneeded. Over-vaccinating your canine is very common today. Its most likely that vaccinating your dog does not have to be a yearly ritual. That’s probably too much. After vaccinating your dog for the first time ever, they should probably be given a “booster” vaccination about a year later. After that, dog vaccinations should probably only be given about once every three years.

Dog vaccination dangers, bad reactions and side effects include neurological disorders, allergic reactions, autoimmune diseases, skin disorders and disease, thyroid problems, seizures and overly aggressive behavior. The most important dog vaccines that should be given to your dog are for rabies, canine distemper and parovirus. Parovirous is a particularly nasty disease that could be fatal. When vaccinating your dog, try to spread the vaccinations out over a period of a few weeks instead of giving them to your furry friend all at once.

This will allow your dog’s immune system to not get overwhelmed and decrease the chances of a bad reaction. Another great thing to do is to have your canine buddy take a “Titer Test” before getting any dog vaccination. A titer test is a test that reveals whether or not your dog has enough antibodies to the disease that the dog vaccine is supposed to prevent. If the titer test shows that your dog does have enough antibodies to the disease, then you don’t have to vaccinate your dog that year. Whats more important than not over vaccinating your dog is making sure to feed him or her a truly healthy dog food everyday, but that’s a whole other article.

Robert Riley is an investigative dog health researcher and the Author of the most downloaded pet health PDF in history, The Dog Food Doctrine. The Dog Food Doctrine reveals the exact reasons why the health of the dogs we love has declined so much since the 1960′s. For a limited time, Ezine Article readers can get a copy of The Dog Food Doctrine absolutely FREE by visiting: http://www.DogFoodDoctrine.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Riley

Can anyone give me instructions on how to administer puppy shots.?

The Vet charges too much so I figured I could do it myself with some instruction.
Answers:
no problem; i used to do this for all my animals.
typically these shots are meant NOT to go into the blood supply. get a hold of a bit of skin near the hind end and insert the needle. draw back on the plunger to cause some vacuum and ensure you are not drawing blood. if you are getting blood try another spot. i used to get my supplies from the drug store in a farming community. city stores won’t carry them.shots for 6-7 dogs typically cost me about $ 35 for 3 sets of shots. parvo distemper rabies

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No, take the dog to your vet. You wanted a dog, now you have the responsibility of the vet bills. Besides, you would still need the medication to give the dog, and they don’t just hand that stuff out at the local department store.

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ok i had a dobie puppy who hated shots so what i did was give it some meat in a bowl while it was eating i stuck the needle in the neck and injected the shot the pup didnt even care just kept on eating

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First where do you plan to get the meds. Second unless you are trained to evaluate the dogs health like heart rhythm, you can give shots to a sick dogs which can cause harm. Please see a vet, there are low cost places.

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get a big pinch of skin at the back of the neck, and go into that.

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DO NOT GIVE SHOTS YOURSELF. ALWAYS HAVE A LICNESED VETERINARIAN ADMINISTER THEM.

When you choose to get a dog you knowingly accept the responsibility for that dog. Routine vaccinations and vet care are part of that responsibility. Your dog needs to go to the vet. LEGALLY your dog has to have a rabies shot, and LEAGALLY only a licensed vet can administer it. Also, accoridng boarding facilities, kennels, groomers you dogs must be fully vaccinated. The vaccinations are null and void if they can’t be proven by a veterinary medical record.

IF you can’y afford vet care, I suggest you rehome your dog because you don’t have the means or ability to care for the dog properly. I consider failure to ger routine vet care for a dog animal cruelty. Your dog also needs to be on heartworm, flea, and tick prevention.

IF your dog is a puppy it really needs to be seen, because those Tractor supply vaccines aren’t always stored properly and your dog IS EXTREMELY SUSCEPTIBLE TO PARVO. This disease CAN KILL YOUR PUPPY!

Do the right thing, stop being cheap and take the dog to the vet please!

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Hello ~ I just signed %26 saw your question ~ I can help. Have you ever given a shot before to human or animal?
How old is your dog?

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BE CAREFUL.
First, you have got to understand what meds you are giving and if they are IM (intramuscular – in the muscle tissue) or Sub-Cue (under the skin but not in a muscle) or IV (intravenous – in the vein) .
Most; but NOT all, pet vaccines are Sub-Cue.
It is very important NOT to hit a vein or vessel when injecting shots, as you can cause sudden death with the wrong vaccine in the wrong place.
Also be sure to have on hand, always if you are giving shots yourself – a shot of epinephrine available close by- in case your pet goes into anaphalactic shock (having a reaction to what you injected). That can happen even with a shot that they have gotten before.
All that being said, it is not a bad idea for a pet owner to know how to give routine shots. Just don’t diagnose ailments and treat them yourself! Just know and understand the risks. Most people feel it is not worth saving $ 50 a couple times a year, to risk their pets life. It is a calculated risk that you can choose, and most breeders DO give their own shots. You can do a web search for proper techniques, but if possible have a trained breeder or vet teach you how. Its like trying to teach someone how to swim by reading a book. hands on is the best way.

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What are you going to do if you accidentally give it into a blood vessel? (happens to untrained people all the time, yet they don’t realize it.) There’s more to ‘giving a shot’ than just poking a needle into the skin. You figured wrong. This is not something you can learn over the Internet. I’ve even seen trained MD’s and RN’s give their own pets’ vaccinations incorrectly.

More importantly, what are you going to do if you give it and your puppy has an anaphylactic (immediate, life-threatening) reaction? If not treated LITERALLY within minutes, your pet will die. Veterinarians are equipped with the drugs and medical knowledge to handle such emergencies faster than Speedy Gonzalez if/when they happen..and the fatality rate is almost zero if it happens in front of the doctor. If it happens at home, you likely won’t be able to make it to the clinic in time if your pet suddenly collapses and stops breathing as soon as the vaccine enters its body. (This is thankfully not an extremely COMMON scenario, but it does happen a few times a year. Why take that chance with YOUR pup just to save a few dollars?) There is a risk of this each and every time an animal is vaccinated. The risk goes up as the animal ages, in fact. Just because they’ve had vaccines in the past with ‘no problems’ has no bearing whatsoever on whether they might or might not have a reaction with the next vaccination.

Also..mail-order and feed-store vaccines are notorious for having about a 50% failure rate due to the fact that their handling is not regulated unless they are shipped directly from the manufacturer to the veterinarian, with no stops in between. Because of this, many mail-order/feedstore vaccines have been mishandled by untrained delivery people somewhere along the way (allowing them to get either too hot or too cold/frozen), rendering them ineffective and totally useless..even though they might arrive at their final destination at the proper temperature. There is no way to tell from looking at them. That’s why vaccines distributed by what is termed ‘ethical’ distribution.DIRECTLY from the manufacturer to an authorized medical facility.are the only ones which should be used. We treat puppies suffering from parvo and distemper all the time after they’ve been vaccinated at home. Many die.there’s actually a HIGHER mortality rate, because they are presented to us later in the course of the disease (since the owner was convinced that it couldn’t possibly be one of the diseased THEY had vaccinated for.)

Most veterinarians no longer sell vaccines to clients, due to the legal liability to us if an anaphylactic reaction occurs in the pet at home, the stricter legal requirements for disposal of medical waste.which costs US money when you bring it back to us for that (it’s illegal for you to throw the vials/syringes/needles in the trash in just about every state now)..and when the owner accidentally sticks him/herself with the needle, or a child gets ahold of it. Lawsuits have resulted over that, and it’s just not worth the risk for us to take to save you a few bucks when we have to pay outrageous insurance premiums in case that happens.

If you can’t afford the cost of basic, routine vaccination visits..what are you going to do later? Spay your puppy yourself? Do orthopedic surgery on it yourself when it breaks a leg?

The most IMPORTANT part of routine vaccination visits are the examination by an experienced doctor, to find potential problems in early stages before they get out of control (and end up costing you MORE money to treat)..and to instruct you how to prevent the common medical problems we see on a daily basis..which also saves you money, and prevents your pet from going through needless pain and suffering that could have been easily avoided.

The people who end up with the lowest veterinary medical bills over the course of their pets’ lifetimes are those who seek our knowledge and help on a regular basis. The ‘do-it-yourselfers’ end up spending much more (if their pet lives to the point we can even help) when disasters they didn’t foresee happen.

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Beaware that improperly administered vaccinations can cause problems. No one on an internet sight can tell you/teach you how to correctly administer vaccinations. Also be aware that it is illegal in most states to administer a rabies vaccination unless you are a licensed veterinarian.Also be advised that many vets, kennels, day cares, groomers, etc don’t accept owner vaccinations. While self vaccianting may be cheaper then getting it at a vet it can also pose a lot of risk..you have no way of knowing if it was properly stored %26 handled, no way of knowing exactly where it came from, it could be expired and if your dog has a negative reaction to it you don’t have a vet to fall back on.Also the drug companies won’t guarantee it if it isn’t purchased/administered through a licensed vet. Also if your dog is harboring any illness and is vaccianted it can be very serious even fatal.A dog may look healthy to the owner but may be harboring something that the owner is unaware of.

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take them to the vet – call around to find the best price. You’re not a trained professional. You wouldn’t want to sit at home and do your child’s shots, would you?

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First of all go to your local farm supply and get a 7 in one shot or/ 5 in one. Some vets will sell them to you also to administer your self.

Take the vials out of the package.

take the syringe and stick the needle into the vial of liquid
pull all the liquid into the syringe.

put the syringe into the dried vial and let it go into it.
Pull the syringe out
shake the vial and mix well

Put the syringe into the vial again and slowly pull the liquid into the syringe. when all liquid is into the syringe, push slightly upwards to get the air out of the syringe being careful not to loose your vaccine otherwise you will have to pull it back in.

Take your fingers and get loose skin on the back of the neck toward the right shoulder blade, carefully inject the needle into the skin and inject. RUB the spot several times it is normal for a knot to form on some dogs and puppies keep rubbing the spot and the knot should go away. Sometimes the knot will stay for a couple days.

Read the instructions carefully before giving injections and it will have a demonstration on the enclosed paper also for you to follow. You cannot administer rabies yourself, they have to be taken to the vet for the rabies shot

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Do NOT get your dog or yourself vaccinated.

A vaccinated dog or person person is MORE likely to get a disease than a non-vaccinated dog or person. The whole theory of vaccination is flawed. It causes a weakening of the immune system thus making those who are innoculated more susceptible to disease.
There are so many awful side effects to vaccination that it should be considered extremely dangerous.
Just sit back and think for a while.
Is there any sense in injecting a disease directly into the bloodstream.
We have been subjected to an awful mind control program to enable the drug manufacturers to make a fortune.

The Vaccination Hoax
http://www.whale.to/b/hoax1.html.

If you go to the vaccination liberation web page, at
http://www.vaclib.org/exemption.htm.
You will find all the forms necessary to provide exemption for your child.

If you want to study the history of vaccination, see
http://dgwa1.fortunecity.com/body/vaccin.

Vaccination Schedule for Puppies | Shots for Puppy Dogs

When puppies are born, they do not have an immune system that is fully capable to fight off diseases which in turn makes them susceptible to infections. Antibodies that do help the puppies initially come directly from their mothers milk i.e. colostrum. Thereafter puppies have to be vaccinated mostly against certain commonly known harmful diseases such as distemper, rabies, canine parvovirus etc. Pet owners also need to remember that the dog vaccination schedule should ideally begin only once the antibodies present in colostrum are minimized in the puppy. Else if the vaccine is administered, these antibodies will identify the vaccines as harmful organisms thereby nullifying the effect.

Typically, a vet will recommend that for an average puppy the first vaccine against Parvovirus be administered when the puppy is almost 5 weeks old. Thereafter, when the puppy is between 5 – 9 weeks old the vet will administer a combination vaccine, which will safeguard the puppy against adenovirus cough, hepatitis, Para influenza, parvovirus and distemper. When the puppy reaches around 12 weeks of age and is an overall healthy puppy, it is then administered a vaccine against rabies as per the dog vaccination schedule. Rabies is a highly dangerous and often fatal viral infection which directly attacks the functioning of the dog’s central nervous system and brain. Additionally this disease is contagious in nature is can be easily transmitted from dogs to humans or vice versa via blood or saliva that has been infected. Hence in most countries it is now legally mandatory that all puppies have to be administered the rabies vaccine. When the puppy is between 12-16 weeks old, the vet will generally administer vaccines against diseases like Leptospirosis, Lyme and Coronavirus. These dog vaccines are generally administered if the puppy is likely to travel to areas where such diseases are rampant. Once the puppy is of around 6 months of age and is basically an adult it is has to go for regular visits to the vet where he is physically examined and given booster shots against the above mentioned diseases and Kennel cough and de-worming as well. Booster shots are generally given on an annual basis.

Most people are under the misconception that the smaller the size/breed of the puppy the smaller is the vaccine dose to be administered, however this is incorrect. All puppies once they are of the stipulated age, irrespective of size, breed, gender, weight etc have to be administered the same type and quantity of the vaccine dose.

Speaking for Spot: Dog Health Care Tips & Veterinary Advice

Learn how to become a savvy medical advocate for your dog. With a sense of humor and explanations that are easy to understand, Dr. Nancy Kay provides a wealth of dog health care tips and teaches you how to navigate the expensive, complex, and often overwhelming world of veterinary medicine. Visits to your vet will never be the same!

Dangers in Pet Vaccinations - Are They Really Necessary?

Most pet owners aren’t aware of the dangers in animal vaccinations that have been discovered in recent years. The major veterinary associations now agree that vaccinations can trigger all sorts of maladies, from allergies to cancer – but most pet caretakers (and many veterinarians, it seems) haven’t gotten the word.

“With vaccines that are repeated year after year, the frequency and severity of these side-effects in our pets has increased dramatically. Most of the problems involve the immune system. After all, the immune system is what vaccines are designed to stimulate. But they do so in a very unnatural way that can overwhelm and confuse the immune system.”Dr. Donna Starita Mehan DVM

Dr. Ronald D. Schultz, Ph.D..- “Annual revaccination provides no benefit and may increase the risk for adverse reactions. The percentage of vaccinated animals (those vaccinated only as puppies) protected from clinical disease after challenge with canine distemper virus, canine parvovirus and canine adenovirus in the study was greater than 95%.” Current and Future Canine and Feline Vaccination Programs.Dr. Ronald Schultz is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Pathobiological Sciences at the School of Veterinary Medicine, UW-Madison. Schultz, R.D. – Current and Future Canine and Feline Vaccination Programs. Vet Med 3: No. 3, 233-254, 1998

Dr. Charles E Loops DVM – “The first thing that must change with routine vaccinations is the myth that vaccines are not harmful. Veterinarians and animal guardians have to come to realise that they are not protecting animals from disease by annual vaccinations, but in fact, are destroying the health and immune systems of these same animals they love and care for Homeopathic veterinarians and other holistic practitioners have maintained for some time that vaccinations do more harm than they provide benefits. Vaccinations represent a major assault on the body’s immune system…. Vaccine induced chronic diseases range from life-threatening conditions such as auto-immune crises to conditions destroying the quality of life of an animal as in chronic skin allergies.”

Dr. Dee Blanco, D.V.M – “You take healthy animals and often very quickly after you vaccinate, you can see simple things like itching of the skin or excessive licking of the paws, sometimes even with no eruptions and licking of the air. We see a lot of epilepsy/seizure, often after a rabies vaccination. Or dogs or cats can become aggressive for several days. Frequently, you’ll see urinary tract infections in cats, often within three months after their [annual] vaccination. If you step back, open your mind and heart, you’ll start to see patterns of illness post-vaccination.” (veterinarians have also observed vaccinosis symptom of severe inflammation of the tail)

Dr. Pat Bradley, DVM  –
“In a general and frightening context, I see the overall health and longevity of animals deteriorating. The bodies of most animals have a tremendous capacity to detoxify poisons, but they do have a limit. I think we often exceed that limit and overwhelm the body’s immune system function with toxins from vaccines. The most common problems I see that are directly related to vaccines on a day to day basis are ear or skin conditions, such as chronic discharges and itching. I also see behavior problems such as fearfulness or aggression. Often guardians will report that these beginshortly after vaccination and are exacerbated with every vaccine.”

Dr. Dennis Macy DVM – “We should not allow politics and tradition or greed to enter the decision (on frequency of vaccination). Changing vaccination schedules doesn’t have to mean less profit, but that you have more income from some clients and less from others. Veterinarians and the industry need to have guts to be honest with ourselves and assess the risk and not be trapped in tradition.” – Dr. Dennis Macy in “Are We Vaccinating Too Much?” AVMA Journal, 1995

Dr. Christina Chambreau, DVM – “Routine vaccinations are probably the worst thing that we do for our animals. They cause all types of illnesses but not directly to where we would relate them definitely to be caused by the vaccine. Repeating vaccinations on a yearly basis undermines the whole energetic well-being of our animals. Animals do not seem to be decimated by one or two vaccines when they are young and veterinary immunologists tell us that viral vaccines need only be given once or twice in an animal’s life. First, there is no need for annual vaccinations and, second, they definitely cause chronic disease. As a homoeopath, it is almost impossible to cure an animal without first addressing the problems that vaccines have caused to the animal, no matter what the species.”

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association – Adverse events diagnosed within three days of vaccine administration in dogs
A study of more than 2,000 cats and dogs in the United Kingdom by Canine Health Concern showed a 1 in 10 risk of adverse reactions from vaccines. This contradicts what the vaccine manufacturers report for rates of adverse reactions, which is “less than 15 adverse reactions in 100,000 animals vaccinated” (0.015 percent).  Additionally, adverse reactions of small breeds are 10 times higher than large breeds, suggesting standard vaccine doses are too high for smaller animals.

The Pet Wellness has been successful in getting the Texas Department of Health Services to propose a rule change. It will be published for public comment in October. In the meantime, we must truly marshal our forces to counteract what is surely to be a nasty fight. There is so much myth and misinformation surrounding rabies in companion animals. Our laws are at least 20 years behind our knowledge of vaccinology.  Please help  (sign the petitions) us get wider awareness of the proposed rule change and the need for people to speak out on the need for reform in rabies laws, starting with an exemption for sick and senior pets.

A great number of studies have shown that when you vaccinate an animal, the body’s inflammatory cytokines not only increase dramatically, but so do the brain’s inflammatory chemicals. Many pet guardians observe changes in a pet subsequent to the first series of animal vaccinations – lethargy, vomiting, itching, ear or eye discharge, to name but a few. The veterinarian will reassure you that these symptoms are normal. Sadly, for some companion animals, these symptoms worsen and lead to death. For other pets, they lead to a lifetime of health problems.

[Quotes found on Shirley"s Wellness Cafe]

Guide to Common Dog Vaccines - DHPPV, DA2PPV, DHLPPV, -C

Sometimes this particular vaccine is titled DHPPV, DA2PPV or DHPPV-C or some other similar variation. This particular vaccine is commonly referred to as the “Distemper-Parvo” vaccine or the “5-in-one” or “seven-in-one”. Although there are some differences between them, you can tell what’s in the vaccine based on the letters.

The D in DHPPV stands for Distemper. This airborne disease is actually a virus and attacks the nervous system in dogs causing the dog to have seizures, cough, vomit, and sometimes foam at the mouth. This disease is incredibly contagious and all dogs should be vaccinated with DHPPV as a result. Although secondary infections can be treated, most cases of Distemper are incurable and untreatable. Since this is a neurological disease, all dogs should be vaccinated for Distemper regularly. Puppies should receive a series of DHPPV shots before they are five months of age.

The H in DHPPV stands for Hepatitis also known as canine adenovirus type 2 (therefore when “A2″ appears as part of this vaccine abbreviation, it refers to the same disease as the “H”). This disease, like the hepatitis in humans, attacks the liver and is contracted through a healthy dog’s exposure to the feces, urine, blood, saliva, and nasal discharge of a dog who has the disease. Dogs are especially susceptible to this disease simply because they use their nose to sniff and evaluate their surroundings. Although hepatitis will correct itself in healthy individuals, it does come with symptoms that need treatment. These symptoms include diarrhea and poor immune response. Puppies and weak dogs are especially at risk.

One P in DHPPV stands for Parainfluenza. This is a respiratory tract infection (upper respiratory infection) in dogs, much like a cough or cold in humans. Some symptoms of it include nasal or eye discharge, coughing, and labored breathing. This is different than “kennel cough” or Bordetella, which is a separate vaccine.

One P in DHPPV is for Parvovirus. This is an incredibly contagious, often deadly virus that lives in soil for up to seven to ten years (depending on the study). Infected individuals shed the virus for up to three weeks and it can take up to ten days to two weeks for an infected animal to begin showing signs or symptoms. If an owner believes his or her animal has been exposed to parvo, the dog should be tested (at a vet’s office) and vaccinated if he or she has not yet received the proper doses of the DHPPV vaccine. Parvo is very, very contagious.

Infected animals, usually young dogs and puppies, usually stop eating and drinking, lay around with little energy, and eventually have severe, dark, bloody diarrhea. Although some of these symptoms are the same as hookworm infestations, immediate action is necessary to ensure the dog’s survival. There is no cure for parvo. Dogs will die from the dehydration and intestinal trauma, not the virus. Young dogs and puppies sometimes die within days of the beginning of symptoms.

Overnight care and IV fluids are required to keep dogs hydrated and comfortable while the virus runs it’s course. This treatment often takes a few days and is very expensive. Owners should keep their puppies away from strange, potentially contaminated soil (like parks, strange yards, and dog parks) until the puppy is fully vaccinated (“fully vaccinated” means a series of vaccines 2-3 weeks apart from one another while the animal is still young).

The V stands for “Virus”. CPV, for example, is simply the term used for Canine Parvovirus and is the abbreviation for a vaccine that only covers Parvo.

The L in DHLPPV stands for Leptospirosis. This disease is spread through urine and dogs contract the disease by licking a contaminated surface. Basically, leptospirosis, or lepto, is common mostly in kennels where strange, unknown, potentially contaminated dogs might urinate. The disease affects the liver and causes yellow eyes, lethargy, and sometimes renal failure. Many veterinarians have ceased giving a leptospirosis vaccine due to low risk under most circumstances.

The C in DHPPV-C stands for Coronavirus. This disease is spread through contaminated feces and causes diarrhea and vomiting in the infected dog. Although this disease is easily treated, it does manifest symptoms within three days of contamination. Because of the high level of exposure, kennel dogs are usually vaccinated for this disease.

DHPPV should be given annually to dogs under five years of age. Puppies should be vaccinated with DHPPV every 2 to 3 weeks until they are four months of age.

Consult your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns about your animal’s vaccinations.

03 | September | 2012

Categories: Humor, Pet Photo | Tags: dog, humor, photo | Permalink.

A man asked me if I accepted titer testing instead of a vaccination record for my home pet sitting business. To my embarrassment, I had no idea what he was talking about. I did some research and this is what I discovered. Annual vaccinations may be doing your loved one more harm than good!

A “titer” is a measurement of how much antibody to a certain virus is circulating in the blood at that moment. Titer testing takes blood from your dog annually to test his level of immune defenses to replace the annual vaccinations, some of which may not even be needed depending on where you live.

If a dog has satisfactory levels of vaccine titers, the dog is considered sufficiently immune to the disease and doesn’t need further vaccination against the disease at that time.

Lyme Disease Map-Click to enlarge

For example, Lyme disease vaccination; ticks carrying the Lyme disease pathogen can be found in only a few regions of the United States.

Another common vaccine that is unnecessary protects against “kennel cough,” an often mild respiratory disease contracted during boarding or dog shows. This is the bordetella vaccine.

According to Shultz, professor at the School of Veterinary Medicine, over-vaccination can actually jeopardize a dog’s health and even life. Side effects can cause skin problems, allergic reactions and autoimmune disease.

“These adverse reactions have caused many veterinarians to rethink the issue of vaccination,” says Schultz. “The idea that unnecessary vaccines can cause serious side effects is in direct conflict with sound medical practices.”

Schultz says that core vaccines, or the ones that protect against life-threatening disease, are essential for all dogs, yet he does not recommend dogs receive these shots yearly.

Related Articles:

• 
  Schultz: Dog vaccines may not be necessary  (news.wisc.edu)


• 
  Take the Titer Test (whole-dog-journal.com)


• 
  Shots You Can Administer to Your Dog (clancyaussiedoodles.wordpress.com)


• 
  In-Office Titer Test for Dogs: Test Before Revaccinating (dogs4dogs.com)


• 
  14 states Have Passed Molly’s Law. It Allows Dogs That Have Had A Reaction To The Rabies Vaccine Or Are Immune Compromised To Be Exempt From Having To Get The Vaccine (reikiforallcreatures.com)

Categories: Dog Tips, Health, Vaccination, Weekly Wag, Wellness | Tags: dog, health, immune system, Lyme, Lyme disease, schultz, shool of veterinary medicine, titer testing, United States, Vaccination, Vaccine, vaccinination alternative, Veterinary medicine | Permalink.

Distemper in Dogs

About Distemper
Canine distemper is a highly contagious and sometimes fatal disease that is seen in dogs worldwide. Though its incidence has diminished greatly due to vaccination, distemper cases and outbreaks are still seen sporadically.
Cause
Canine distemper is caused by the canine distemper virus. This virus can also infect several other species including ferrets and wild animals such as coyotes, foxes, wolves, skunks, and raccoons. Animals usually become infected by direct contact with virus particles from the secretions of other infected animals (generally via inhalation). Indirect transmission (i.e., carried on dishes or other objects) is not common because the virus does not survive for long in the environment. The virus can be shed by dogs for several weeks after recovery.
Risk Factors
Puppies under four months of age (before vaccinations are fully protective) and unvaccinated dogs are most at risk. Because canine distemper also occurs in wild animals, contact with wild animals may contribute to the spread of distemper to domestic dogs.
Signs and Symptoms of Distemper
Canine distemper causes symptoms in multiple body systems, including the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, and the brain and spinal cord. The appearance of symptoms and course of distemper can be variable, ranging from very mild illness to fatal disease. Any of the following can be seen:

• fever (often one episode a few days after infection that may not be noticed, followed by a second episode a few days later when the other symptoms begin to show up)


• discharge from the eyes and nose


• loss of appetite


• lethargy


• vomiting and diarrhea


• coughing


• labored breathing


• hardening of footpads and nose (distemper has sometimes been called hardpad disease)


• inflammation of various parts of the eye


• secondary bacterial infections


• neurological symptoms are variable

Neurological symptoms of distemper may not develop at all or develop later in the disease (sometimes even after several weeks). Neurological symptoms of distemper may include any of the following:

• muscle twitching


• weakness or paralysis


• seizures (of any part of the body, but seizures that look as if the dog is chewing gum are unique to distemper)


• uncoordinated movements


• increased sensitivity to touch or pain

Diagnosis of Distemper
Diagnosis is based primarily on the the history and clinical signs. Because signs are variable and may take time to appear, and secondary infections are common, diagnosis can be complicated. Additionally, other infections can produce similar signs to distemper. A variety of laboratory tests can help confirm the diagnosis (and some may be done to rule out other infections).
Treatment of Distemper
There is no treatment specific to the distemper virus, so treatment involves managing the various symptoms and secondary infections. Even with treatment, distemper can be fatal. Treatment depends on the symptoms shown, and may include fluids to combat dehydration, medication to reduce vomiting, antibiotics and other medications to treat pneumonia, antibiotics for secondary infections, and anticonvulsants to treat seizures. Neurological symptoms may get progressively worse and not respond to treatment, and even with recovery some neurological effects may persist.
Prevention of Distemper
Vaccination is effective at preventing distemper. Puppies are typically vaccinated starting at 6 weeks of age and at regular intervals (every 2-4 weeks) until they are 14-16 weeks old (as with other vaccines, presence of antibodies received from the mother can interfere with vaccines so a puppy is not considered fully protected until the final vaccine in the series has been given). Vaccination should be repeated a year later, then at regular intervals. Your vet will discuss an appropriate vaccination schedule for your dog based on your dog’s history and risk factors.
Until puppies have received all the vaccinations in the series (at 14-16 weeks) it is prudent to be careful about exposing them to unknown dogs (e.g., at dog parks) to avoid exposure to the virus as much as possible.

New treatments for cat / dog / pet allergy, vaccinations and novel medicines - examples what the future may hold

The pet-allergy dilemma is discussed in the Swedish newspaper http://www.expressen.se

http://www.expressen.se/nyheter/dilemmat/1.2324347/dilemmat-del-4-kattallergi

I am sure many Will there be any new treatments coming for reducing the burden of allergy and allergic symptoms in the future? The answer to that question is surely yes, but the weakness is that it is difficult and expensive to register new medicines, and “market reality” influence decisions within the pharmaceutical industry. Fortunately, allergic rhinitis (Hay Fever) and asthma are usually efficiently treated with inhaled and nasal medicines, such as glucocorticoids. For allergic rhinitis, the nasal glucocorticoids  are complemented with antihistamines (allergy tablets). Most patients with only allergic rhinitis are efficiently treated with these medications, but a very large proportion of patients is uncontrolled despite using combinations of the different medications currently available. I really hope that the industry invests in finding new and even more effective medications that may even be disease modifying (making severe disease milder, or maybe even curing milder disease). BUT, it will probably take at least five years before any new revolutionary medication becomes available.

A vast series of new medications are being tested for the treatment of allergic disease, and have been reported over the last few years. Here are a few “random” examples.

New types of vaccines are being tested airway allergy, including cat allergy. http://bit.ly/ie4KMl Basically, these vaccines contain cat allergen, but only the part of the allergen that will help in the vaccination process without causing side-effects.

Influencing the balance of the immune system by activating systems that otherwise defend us against pathogens such as viruses, is another way to prevent progression of allergic disease: http://bit.ly/h4G5tp . This has been tested in experimental animal models, and have resulted in a long-term attenuation of signs of allergic airway disease.

Allergic symptoms such as sneezing, itchy eyes and blocked nose are caused by the release of histamine and other chemicals that irritates the mucosa and activates the immune system. New drugs that have the capacity to totally block such immediate reactions have been tested and. These molecules have been shown to reduce symptoms induced by exposure to pollen http://bit.ly/eoarGT, and could also possibly block reactions in different allergic diseases, as they effectively block also other histamine releasing cells in the blood http://bit.ly/h2Ptoe.

In other words, science is moving forward rapidly, and hopefully the future will provide us with better medications against many allergic diseases including allergic rhinitis, asthma, food allergy and skin allergies.

FROM A PREVIOUS BLOG, about anti-IgE for treating cat-allergy, very expensive but efficient:

Investigators in the US and Canada are reporting on a study where they have exposed individuals with a history of cat-induced asthma to the allergen in a controlled room environment.

http://bit.ly/e5zH2i

Then they have allocated the patients treatments with either placebo or Omalizumab (anti-IgE, market name Xolair), which reduces the binding of IgE to mast cells. A good protective effect could be observed with the anti-IgE therapy, reducing the drop in lung function with close to 50%. Symptoms from the eyes and nose were also overall reduced with the anti-IgE therapy, which reduction in number of sneezes recorded. In a clinical setting, anti-IgE can really reduce allergic symptoms, and it is a pity that it is such a very expensive therapy, varying from USD7000-USD40000 / year (http://www.aafp.org/afp/2005/0115/p341.html). Even though the therapy is effective, it is certainly very difficult to prove cost-effectiveness unless the treated patient has severe allergic asthma with repeated exacerbations.

Blocking IgE can also be used to protect patients against side effects during allergen immunotherapy (allergen vaccination: http://bit.ly/htKUF0). With such approaches, it is possible that immunotherapy could be further enhanced, and could allow more severely allergic individuals to be treated with such approaches. It is also likely that the very allergic individuals would tolerate higher doses of immunotherapy, with possibly greater efficacy. This aspect is further discussed here http://bit.ly/gjWmQ9 .

Omalizumab is a monoclonal antibody, and is obviously expensive to produce, and has been expensive to develop as a therapy. However, if it became less costly, a vast population of allergic individuals would be likely to benefit with this treatment.

http://www.expressen.se/nyheter/dilemmat/1.2322905/dilemmat-del-3-kattallergi

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Vaccination care for dogs

Having a puppy is a wonderful experience, but also is a responsibility assumed. Preventive treatment when you offer can increase your chances of having a harmonious development and a better state of health when he grew up. Adequate immunization is an essential part of this treatment.

To ensure healthy puppy you have to match: responsibility and a good relationship with your veterinarian. Your veterinarian will prepare a program of vaccinations and parasite control appropriate for your puppy. Type of vaccine is influenced by lifestyle and where you live puppy. Manufacturer’s recommendations are that if a baby comes into frequent contact with other dogs will have a different schedule than the one that never leaves the yard. However, owners, especially in urban agglomerations areas, frequently come in contact with other dogs, they themselves can become a vector for bringing home germs.

 If before the age of 6 months, has not made ​​all vaccines, there is no chance to develop immunity to certain serious diseases. During vaccination is very important not to take your pet to places where dogs are strong in presence, eg in the park.

But socialization is very important for puppy development. He must learn how to behave in the presence of other dogs, but this must happen in a controlled environment. Let him play with dogs who know and are vaccinated. Avoid parks and public places until they complete the vaccination (usually 4-6 months).

All about antibody

Puppies receive antibodies (proteins that fight disease) when the uterus by feto-maternal circulation and after birth through colostrum (first milk produced by mother in 24-72 hours after birth). The babies receive antibodies from colostrum who can provide protection against disease level approaching that of the mother.

These antibodies protect babies from disease by so-called passive immunity, but protection is not persistent in time. This is where the vaccine. It contains small amounts of specific antigens, fragments or inactivated protein that stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies against certain diseases.

The best strategy is to begin vaccination during the action of protective maternal antibodies decreases. The vaccine will not act until the maternal antibodies will not stop action. If baby is too soon _ is vaccinated, vaccination and maternal antibodies will annihilate each other, leading to vaccine failure. If vaccinated too often, the baby is exposed to over activity of the immune system, can give rise to autoimmune disease, anaphylactic shock or leukemia type syndrome.

In the past, vaccines were made with booster vaccination one year after the initial vaccination of the puppy. Today, veterinarians remeasuring the vaccination schedule. In 1989, American Veterinary Association (AVMA) has formed a special unit that investigated the duration of immunity provided by vaccines. The findings were published in a report recommending annual booster vaccination of dogs and cats, though some vaccines, like those against coronavirus and Lyme borreliosis, were not in the book report was written.

Since then, numerous signals that allow existing work to specify how long vaccination immunity (how long the vaccine protects the animal). Unfortunately, until 2004, regarding the duration of immunity studies are lacking, in addition to not knowing the level and duration of immunity given to each animal. Debate about how often to be made boosters are still burning.

Many vaccines, that the vaccine for Bordetella, leptospirosis and against  influenza vaccines can not provide effective immunization of more than 12 months. Your veterinarian may recommend booster depending on the risk of exposure to diseases of animals.

In the future, vaccines can be divided formally into two distinct categories, essential and nonessential. Essential vaccines (rabies, against diseases Carre, antiparvo and hepatitis) are recommended for all dogs, because diseases can be serious or highly contagious, and pose a risk to humans. Those animals are at risk of contracting certain diseases because of their lifestyles or exposure to certain diseases can benefit from some non-essential vaccines, the vaccine for borreliosis, Giardia, babesiosis, etc..

A life without diseases

When your baby becomes an adult should receive booster. Ask your veterinarian how often your dog must be vaccinated and the vaccine also must be made​​. Although debates on certain vaccines that create immunity for many years are increasingly heated, reveals a non-uniformity of this, some dogs get this strong immunity, others not. Also, overall the body, state of parasitism, nutrition, lifestyle and general dog’s medical history are factors affecting antibody levels after vaccination, and their remaining in the body. In light of these considerations, physicians recommend annual vaccination of dogs throughout their lives.

Being up to date with vaccines will help your dog, to be healthy for long.

The Scoop About Vaccine Titers

The Scoop About Vaccine Titers October 24, 2012

Filed under: Events,Natural Pet Care,Vaccines — Jennifer Forsyth, VMD @ 10:07 am
Tags: adenovirus, alternative, bordetella, distemper, hepatitis, holistic, influenza, Jennifer Forsyth, jennpetvet, Marmalade & Mobile Vet, natural, parvo, parvovirus, rabies, vaccine, vaccine titer, veterinarian, vmd

Which Vaccines Does My Pet Need???

Sometimes deciding the appropriate way to vaccinate your pet can be very confusing. Beyond deciding which vaccines, there is also the question of how frequently should your pet get those vaccines. The vaccine titer is a useful tool that can help determine when your pet needs a vaccine and result in your pet getting fewer vaccines.

So what is a vaccine anyway?

A vaccine is a weakened form of the disease that it is meant to prevent. When a live vaccine is administered it will cause a mini-disease in order to stimulate the immune response. This immune response should then, in theory, protect your dog or cat from the real deal.

A vaccine is not 100% effective. There are many factors that contribute to a vaccines effectiveness. If a pet is sick, has a problem with their immune system, or is otherwise weak their immune response to the vaccine will be diminished.

What is a vaccine titer and what are the pros and cons?

A vaccine titer is a blood test performed by a veterinarian. It measures the amount of antibody in the blood to a specific disease. An adequate titer indicates that the body should be able to fight off that disease.

Pros: The benefit to performing a titer over blindly giving vaccines at predetermined intervals is that it provides a much more fine tailored approach for vaccination. The decision to vaccinate or not is determined by the individual’s immune response, not an arbitrary vaccine schedule. And because vaccines have been linked to autoimmune diseases and other chronic conditions like allergies, seizures, arthritis, endocrine disorders, gastrointestinal problems, and cancer – the fewer vaccines, the better.

Cons: A vaccine titer does cost more than the actual vaccine. But providing a pet with good health is definitely worth the extra cost. There is also a small possibility that because vaccine titer can’t predict future immunity, your pet’s immunity could drop in the months after the titer test.

For which diseases are titer tests performed?

The main diseases that are titer tested for in dogs are Parvovirus and Canine Distemper Virus. There are titer tests for Rabies but this is a vaccine that is required by state law. There are times when a rabies titer might be accepted by a certain jurisdiction, but you will need to contact the local authority that issues rabies licenses in your area to see if they will accept a titer result instead of a vaccine.

For cats the main disease that is titer tested for is Feline Panleukopenia.

If you are performing titer tests for your dog or cat make sure that your veterinarian is able to give individual viral vaccines. This means Parvovirus, Distemper Virus, or Panleukopenia on their own, not the typical DAPP (Distemper, Adenovirus, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza) or FVRCP (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Panleukopenia) combination vaccines.

I hope that all of this information is helpful in helping you  and your pets on your journey towards good health!

If you’d like more information on vaccinations, please consider joining me on November 3rd from 7 pm until 9 pm at WonderDogs in Berlin NJ for my complete vaccination discussion. 

Peace, love, and plenty of tail wags~

Jennifer Forsyth, VMD

 

 

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Low Cost Pet Vaccination Clinics

Sunday July 14 & July 28 from 3pm to 5pm 

Paws and Claws is offering low cost pet vaccinations in our store every other Sunday from 3-5 with Pet Amigos.

PET AMIGOS is an Oakland based business that partners with independent pet stores to offer low cost vaccinations for cats and dogs. In addition to vaccines, they will have microchips, heartworm testing and prevention, FIV/FeLV testing for cats, fecal testing for parasites, and treatment for both roundworms and tapeworms.

Pet Amigos takes pride in offering excellent customer service and kind, gentle, professional care for your pet. Pet Amigos is owned and operated by Travis Thayer DVM & Lindsey Hassell RVT. Come on out and see the Pet Amigos difference!

Over-vaccination of pets - an unethical practice

Many dog owners are still not being advised that there is no scientific evidence to support annual OR triennial revaccination with core modified live virus (MLV) vaccines for parvovirus, distemper virus and adenovirus.

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association’s (WSAVA) Guidelines for the Vaccination of Dogs and Cats note that duration of immunity after core MLV vaccination is “many years and may be up to the lifetime of the pet”.[1]   It is misleading for veterinarians to demand that already immune pets have bogus ‘booster’ shots every year or every three years.  (Core MLV vaccines for dogs can be compared to the live Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR) jab for children – adults are not revaccinated with the MMR jab every year or every three years as these vaccines are likely to provide lifetime immunity.)  

Many pet owners remain unaware of the option to have titre-testing to verify their pet has responded to core MLV vaccination.  Non-core vaccines of questionable benefit and safety for diseases such as Bordetella bronchiseptica (often referred to as ‘kennel cough’) continue to be prescribed indiscriminately.

In Australia, pet owners Bea Mies and Elizabeth Hart have been campaigning for ethical and evidence-based vaccination of companion animals.  As a result of their persistence, change is slowly happening in companion animal vaccination practice.

It is a disgrace that members of the public have to be the leaders for change due to the failure of self-interested experts/professionals in the veterinary vaccine industry.

Elizabeth Hart’s essay “Over-vaccination of pets – an unethical practice” provides some background on this subject.  The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) announced a new reduced vaccination policy[2] soon after Elizabeth’s essay was widely circulated in June 2009.  (After demands from dissenting AVA members, the AVA’s vaccination policy was subsequently downgraded to a position statement in July 2011).[3]

In January 2010, the government regulator of veterinary vaccines, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), issued a position statement on Vaccination Protocols for Dogs and Cats, acknowledging matters of concern in regard to re-vaccination intervals.  State veterinary boards in Australia subsequently blatantly disregarded the APVMA’s request for the APVMA’s Position Statement to be circulated to veterinarians in Australia.

In August 2010, CHOICE, Australia’s consumer watchdog, published its report on over-vaccination of pets i.e.

“Pet vaccination: Over-vaccinating your pet could be harmful to their health as well as your own hip pocket”.  The ABC also reported on this story i.e. Questions raised over pet vaccination, broadcast in October 2010.

In May 2011, specialist dog breeder magazine, National Dog, published Elizabeth’s article  “Vaccination failure!” which warns there is a potential for maternally derived antibodies (MDA) to interfere with a puppy’s response to core vaccination, and calls upon the World Small Animal Veterinary Association’s (WSAVA) Vaccination Guidelines Group to provide clear and objective advice on optimal puppy vaccination, and an optional titre test confirmation protocol.

In February 2012, Bea Mies addressed the industry sponsored WSAVA Guidelines for the Owners and Breeders of Dogs and Cats, arguing that advice to pet owners contradicts scientific findings published elsewhere.

Bea’s latest email to Professor Michael Day, Chairperson of the WSAVA Vaccination Guidelines Group, and Sarah Mitchell of Pfizer Animal Health, provides critical analysis of their Canvac vaccine study paper, recently published in the December 2012 edition of the Australian Veterinary Journal[4].  Bea argues their paper is the latest instalment of willfully misleading and ethically dubious veterinary education on canine vaccination.

Elizabeth supported Bea’s recent email to Michael Day and Pfizer Animal Health (January 2013)  with a call to the industry-funded WSAVA Vaccination Guidelines Group to publicly provide an objective, simple and effective message on vaccination to pet owners.

For more information contact:

Elizabeth Hart: eliz.hart25@gmail.com

Bea Mies beatemies@gmail.com

For more background re over-vaccination of pets see below articles, some correspondence, submissions etc:

Recent correspondence:

• 
  Email to Michael Day, World Small Animal Veterinary Association Vaccination Guidelines Group and others re the Canvac vaccine study and label update / Summary of Over-vax of pets (16 January 2013)


• 
  Email to Michael Day, World Small Animal Veterinary Association Vaccination Guidelines Group and the Pfizer Team re the Canvac vaccine study and label update (14 January 2013)

Key documents:

• 
  Critique of the WSAVA VGG Vaccination Guidelines for Owners and Breeders of Dogs and Cats (6 February 2012)


• 
  Over-vaccination of pets – an unethical practice (16 June 2009).  This essay summarises the issue of over-vaccination of pets.


• 
  Is over-vaccination harming our pets? Are vets making our pets sick? (13 April 2009).  This detailed and fully-referenced report was tabled at a special meeting convened by the APVMA on 15 April 2009 to discuss the problem of unnecessary vaccination of pets.

Articles and summaries re over-vaccination of pets:

• 
  The Australian campaign for ethical and evidence-based vaccination of companion animals (February 2012)


• 
  Vaccination failure!  There is a potential for maternally derived antibodies (MDA) to interfere with a puppy’s response to core vaccination. (Article published in the May 2011 edition of National Dog).


• 
  Important Information for Dog Owners – Vaccination Update July 2010 (an earlier version of this article was also published in National Dog Volume 13, No. 6).


• 
  Letter to the Editor of The Veterinarian magazine (8 June 2010), response to Aine Seavers’ article “Three-year vaccination intervals: a different view from the parvo trenches of practice-land”.


• 
  Letter to the Editor of The Veterinarian magazine (7 June 2010): ‘A pet owner’s perspective of the vaccination controversy’.


• 
  Too many needles !  Unnecessary vaccination exposed (February 2010, article published in National Dog in April 2010).


• 
  The over-vaccination controversy continues (article published in National Dog in December 2009).


• 
  Over-vaccination: Are vets making our pets sick? (June 2009, article published in National Dog in July 2009).

Correspondence – Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), Australian Veterinary Association (AVA), and others

• 
  Email to James Suter, Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (20 April 2011) with further questions re the APVMA’s responses to adverse experience reports being marked ‘COMMERCIAL-IN-CONFIDENCE’.


• 
  Email to Australian Veterinary Boards (19 May 2011) enquiring if the APVMA’s Position Statement on Vaccination Protocols for Dogs and Cats had been circulated to veterinarians, as requested by the APVMA in September 2010.


• 
  Open letter to Barry Smyth, President of the Australian Veterinary Association ; Peter Punch, Chair of the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council; Eva Bennet-Jenkins, CEO, Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (26 March 2011): A formal complaint re the continuing calls for already immune animals to be needlessly, and possibly harmfully, revaccinated.


• 
  Email to James Suter, Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (6 March 2011) “Request for information re adverse experience reporting / possible conflicts of interest”.


• 
  Email to Allen Bryce, Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (31 January 2011) re adverse experiences after vaccination


• 
  Open letter to the veterinary profession and industry (9 August 2010) re use of the media to promote over-servicing in the veterinary profession- unnecessary, and possibly harmful, vaccination of companion animals.


• 
  Response to Allen Bryce (23 June 2010), Program Manager, Veterinary Medicines, Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority re unnecessary, and possibly harmful, vaccination of companion animals, and the APVMA’s Position Statement on Vaccination Protocols for Dogs and Cats.


• 
  Open letter to Allen Bryce (17 June 2010), Program Manager, Veterinary Medicines, Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority re unnecessary, and possibly harmful vaccination of companion animals, and the APVMA’s Position Statement on Vaccination Protocols for Dogs and Cats.


• 
  Open letter to Mark Lawrie (May 2010) (Immediate Past) President of the Australian Veterinary Association re over-servicing in the veterinary profession – unnecessary, and possibly harmful, vaccination of companion animals  (6 May 2010, with an update added on pages 3-4 on 23 May 2010).


• 
  Open letter to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (24 January 2010), Australian Veterinary Association, Australian Small Animal Veterinary Association, and Competition and Consumer Policy Division, The Treasury re unnecessary vaccination of pets and the APVMA’s Position Statement on Vaccination Protocols for Dogs and Cats.


• 
  Open letter to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (8 January 2010), Australian Veterinary Association and Australian Small Animal Veterinary Association re unnecessary vaccination of pets and the APVMA’s Position Statement on Vaccination Protocols for Dogs and Cats.


• 
  Open letter to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (22 December 2009), Australian Veterinary Association and Australian Small Animal Veterinary Association re over-vaccination of pets / APVMA Position Statement / vaccine product labelling issues.

Correspondence – UK Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD)

• 
  Email to Anna-Maria Brady, UK Veterinary Medicines Directorate (23 June 2011) requesting evidence to support the veterinary industry’s call for revaccination of pets.


• 
  Email to Anna-Maria Brady, UK Veterinary Medicines Directorate (15 May 2011) with questions re core vaccine product labelling in regards to duration of immunity.


• 
  Email to Anna-Maria Brady, UK Veterinary Medicines Directorate (1 April 2011) providing a pet owner’s perspective on pet vaccination.


• More emails on this topic are accessible on the VMD website: http://www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/public/vaccines_letters.aspx#hart
  

Correspondence – Virbac Animal Health (Disease WatchDog)

• 
  Email to Mark Kelman, Virbac / Australian Small Animal Veterinary Association (7 February 2011) re further questions about the Virbac Disease WatchDog


• 
  Email to Mark Kelman, Virbac / Australian Small Animal Veterinary Association (26 January 2011) re alarming statistics regarding parvovirus and the Virbac Disease WatchDog.


• 
  Email to Mark Kelman, Virbac / Australian Small Animal Veterinary Association (31 July 2010), re canine vaccination protocols.

Submissions:

• 
  A Submission to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (24 June 2011), on the Draft Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Surgeons.


• 
  A Submission on the National Scheme for Assessment, Registration and Control of Use of Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Discussion Paper in relation to “Unnecessary, and Possibly Harmful, Use of Companion Animal Vaccines” (10 February 2010).


• 
  Submission to Craig Emerson MP (17 July 2009), Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs, on the Consumer Voices Issues Paper: “Request for consumer protection for consumers of veterinary services in Australia”.

Correspondence –  Members of Parliament:

• 
  Email to Senator Joe Ludwig, Minister responsible for the APVMA (26 November 2011), complaining about the failure of ‘self-regulation’ of veterinarians.


• 
  Letter to Craig Emerson MP (4 July 2010), Federal Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs re submission on the Consumer Voices Issues Paper: “Request for consumer protection for consumers of veterinary services in Australia”.


• 
  Letter to Tony Burke MP (17 June 2010), Federal Minister responsible for the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, re unnecessary, and possibly harmful, vaccination of companion animals, and the APVMA’s Position Statement on Vaccination Protocols for Dogs and Cats (17 June 2010).

Media reports

• Media reports re over-vaccination of pets in Australia August –October 2010


• 
  Examples of reports in the Australian media about parvovirus outbreaks during the period Dec 2009 to March 2011.

___________________________________

[1] MJ Day, MC Horzinek, RD Schultz. World Small Animal Veterinary Association’s (WSAVA) Guidelines for the Vaccination of Dogs and Cats. Journal of Small Animal Practice. Vol.51. June 2010.

[2] The Australian Veterinary Association’s policy on vaccination of dogs and cats was ratified by the AVA Board on 26 June 2009.

[3] “Position Statement are chosen when the AVA membership has conflicting views on the topic which is particularly the case with duration of immunity and there was lack of agreeance with the document produced.” E-ructations, AVA NSW Division Newsletter, Issue 26 May 2011.

[4] SA Mitchell, RJ Zwijnenberg, J Huang, A Hodge and MJ Day. Duration of serological response to canine parvovirus-type 2, canine distemper virus, canine adenovirus type 1 and canine parainfluenza virus in client-owned dogs in Australia. AVJ Vol. 90, No. 12, December 2012.

Should Your Dog Get the Lyme Disease Vaccine?

By Ruthie Bently

I have lived in southern Minnesota for almost twelve years now. We don’t usually see ticks of any kind before May, when the temperature warms enough up for them to become active; this year was the exception to the rule. After a ramble with Skye I found the first tick, not on Skye but on my own arm. It was only the second week of March.

There are eight ticks in the United States that are responsible for ten diseases people catch; Lyme disease is one that our dogs can catch too. The Deer Tick or Black-Legged Tick (Ixodes scapularis) is not the only tick that carries the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. It is also carried by a tick known as the Western Black-Legged Tick (I. pacificus) on the West Coast of the United States. It was originally thought that only the Northern Deer Tick (Ixodes dammini) was a carrier of Lyme disease. The Lone Star Tick (Ambylomma americanum), Ixodes Angustus, and Ixodes spinipalpis have been shown in experiments to be vectors of Lyme disease. This means that due to the development of the disease, there could be more than three ticks we have to worry about in the future. Depending on your location in the United States, from 1% to more than 90% of the ticks can be infected with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi that causes Lyme disease. The nymph stage of the tick life cycle is the most common for Lyme disease transmission.

Chemical and medical preparations for tick prevention have been around for many years: collars, powders, chewables and topical treatments to protect for a month at a time. There is currently a vaccine available for canine Lyme disease, but there are pros and cons for it. As a responsible pet owner, I always look at something from all sides before I make a decision, because I want the best for the creatures in my care. While the vaccine is reputed to keep your dog from getting Lyme disease, there are dogs that have been vaccinated that have still contracted Lyme disease. Proponents of the vaccine state that it will keep a dog from becoming a carrier and transmitting it to their owner. When I asked my vet about this, he stated you can’t get Lyme disease from your dog; it comes from a tick and cannot be passed from dog to human.

One manufacturer guarantees their vaccine and states that they will pay for 50% of any treatment a dog needs if they do contract Lyme disease. While this sounds good, I have to wonder why they’re only offering to pay for 50% of the treatment. This makes me question vaccinating my dog against the disease in the first place. Other things to consider are that the Lyme vaccine only provides immunity for a short time span, and needs to be administered yearly. It can cause an untreatable, fatal form of Lyme disease. None of the veterinary schools in the United States recommend it. Prolonged use of the vaccine can cause kidney problems in dogs.

Many dogs do not show symptoms of Lyme disease until they have had it for between four and six months, and some dogs never show symptoms. The Canine SNAP 3DX (or C6 SNAP) is a test for antibodies in a dog’s body specific to Lyme disease and should not be affected if you dog has been vaccinated for Lyme disease as the antibodies are only present after infection. Your vet can perform the test and it’s reputed to be very accurate in Lyme detection. If your dog tests positive, the Lyme Quantitative C6 Antibody test is suggested as a follow-up. It can be used as a baseline not only for diagnosis, but for indicating progress in the therapy of the disease.

If contracted by dogs, Lyme disease can be treated either allopathically or holistically. However, because of the seriousness of this disease to your pet’s health, this is not one you can attempt to treat by yourself at home, with an over the counter fix. You need to seek veterinary help.

In my opinion, vaccinating for Lyme disease is a bad idea, and I live in one of the states where Lyme disease is high for dogs. It may lull you into a false sense of security; there are other tick borne diseases that our dogs can contract. The other diseases aren’t going away any time soon and if history is any indicator they may just get worse. Tick prevention should be a consideration in your line of defense. After all, Lyme disease started in Lyme, Connecticut and now is nationwide. Whatever you decide to do, make sure you seek the counsel of your veterinarian before you decide whether to vaccinate for Lyme disease, or not.

Read more articles by Ruthie Bently