Vaccinations Have Never Been Totally Safe…
While greatly reducing mortality rates worldwide, those receiving (and administering) vaccinations are not without their critics. There are countless examples in history of their inappropriate use and failure. Just as polio was decreasing across the US in the 1950′s, a new vaccine said to cure it (Salk vaccine) was released under great fanfare. Incidences of polio shot up across the country. Despite countless warnings by the National Institute of Health of it’s inherent dangers, the financial clout of cash hungry pharmaceutical companies pushed sales into the millions. In 1976 Dr. Salk, the vaccines creator, publicly noted his vaccine was “the principle if not sole cause†of all reported polio cases in the US since 1961. The Centers for Disease Control stated that 87% of all polio cases in the US between 1973-’83, and all cases between 1980-’89, were attributed to it. Tens of thousands of people affected for the sake of profit.
There are a huge number of other studies out there in this vein. So many so that in 1988 the US formed the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. Cases are heard in the “Vaccine Court†under the US Court of Federal Claims. To cover the cost of these schemes, $ 0.75c is added to every single vaccine purchased in the States today (not sure if this applies in canine vaccines). It’s still a very new science.
Side Effects in Dogs…
In the lesser controlled area of veterinary medicine, the news is unlikely to be better. While still miles behind the human literature, evidence implicating vaccines in triggering immune-mediated and other chronic disorders (vaccinosis) is growing (Dodds 1999). In 1999, Hogenescha et al. were the first to document a statistically significant link between vaccination and an auto-immune disease in dogs (immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, if you’re interested). More recently the vaccination of pet and research dogs for rabies was recently shown to induce the production of antithyroglobulin autoantibodies, a crucial finding with implications for the subsequent development of hypothyroidism (Scott-Moncrieff et al., 2002).
There are a great number of adverse vaccine reactions now documented in the literature. Issues have arisen from contaminated or poorly attenuated batches of vaccines, others reflect the host’s genetic predisposition to react adversely to the antigen in question. Others still react to the adjuvant (used to magnify the immune systems response) and preservatives therein (a lot of vaccines contains bovine serum for all you beef allergy dogs). These reactions can include fever, stiffness, sore joints and abdominal tenderness, susceptibility to infections, cancer, neurologic disorders and encephalitis, jaundice, organ failure and collapse with auto-agglutinated red blood cells (Phillips et al., 1989; Tizard, 1990; Duval and Giger, 1996; Dodds 1999, 2001; Hogenescha et al., 1999; Horzinek, 2006). If I could recommend anything by Jean Dodds here, a giant in the field.
While there are a great number of documented adverse reactions it is highly unfortunate that the supportive science for the dangers of over vaccination is still relatively thin on the ground. Much like the dangers of neurotoxic flea drops and flea collars, a wealth of small studies and anecdotal evidence is available (just have a browse in google scholar for articles and letters written by concerned vets, citing hundreds of case studies). But it’s not enough and the problem is time. Moore et al. (2005) found that reactions can occur within three days of vaccine administration in dogs. These would be the violent anaphylactic reactions, seizures or noticeable welts (inflammation) at the injection points, which are just about possible to link to the vaccination (in court, say). Vaccinosis on the other hand (disease resulting from vaccinations) is more chronic, taking time to develop. Delayed-type immunologic response takes 10–28 days to set in. The onset of any autoimmune disease is expected to occur 30 to 45 days post-vaccination (Dodds, 1983; Dodds, 1985; Duval and Giger (1996). Reactions to canine distemper antibodies causing joint disease and feline injection-site fibrosarcomas can take even longer (Dodds, 1999). These ones are even less likely to be pinned on vaccinations. Thus, despite the likes of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), who came out with revised guidelines for vaccine schedules in 2006, concluding “every effort should be made to change laws that require vaccination more often than every three years since annual vaccines cannot be shown to increase efficacy and it is known to include adverse events†(2006), vaccine manufacturers are free to push “for best results boost once a year†on their products unperturbed. Odious eh?
How Strong Is Your Dog’s Immune System?
A defence commonly used by manufacturers is “vaccines are proven to be perfectly safe in a healthy individualâ€, and this is true. Vaccinations arouse the immune system. Some, certainly in the case of modified live virus (MLV) vaccines, give the system a good hammering (and are therefore the least recommended). You might get a few symptoms of the disease for a day or two but the immune system is expected to engulf and overcome whatever is innoculated, expelling the toxin debris from the body via the usual exit points such as the skin, eyes, ears and faeces. As long as your body is fit and healthy, it’s no big deal. Herein lies the problem.
The dogs’ immune system today is positively bombarded with antigens. Bar the cat, there is no other animal on the planet, including humans, absorbing such a degree of environmental toxins. Going through them briefly, dogs are the only animals on the planet existing solely on unnatural, processed foods. These contain processed meat proteins (antigenic), cooked fats (free-radicles) and synthetic chemicals, all of which require your immune system to clean up and clear away. Then there’s gluten. Dogs as carnivores must be worse than us at digesting gluten. As 40% of humans suffering the immune thumping protein, resulting in inflammation (skin rash, bunged up eyes and ears, stomach upset from an irritated bowel), in the very least one in two dogs are suffering greatly from this inclusion alone. It’s now wonder that fresh fed dogs are now proven to have a far less aroused immune system than dry fed dogs (ANTECH 2003). Then you add in neurotoxic flea drops and lots of chemical wormers. All before we consider floor disinfectants and weedkiller licked off paws, air fresheners at nose height. On and on.
As the immune system becomes aroused you get inflammation. We see it every day. Inflammation is a result the blood rushing all the immune-troops to a certain part of the body, the area swells and becomes inflamed, visible as a red rash on the skin. This unfortunately has side effects for the patient. Itchy skin rash. Inflamed ear infection. Inflamed gut from all the food antigens, causing constant stomach upset. Our answer? Copious amount of immune-suppressing drugs such as the all powerful cortisone to quieten the immune reaction, anti-inflammatories and anti-spasm drugs for the upset gut. Like a plaster on gangrene. Strong arousal, strong suppression, toxins are stored, strong arousal, strong suppression, toxins build. Weaker and weaker.
Your immune system is not an infinite resource. Like all armies in constant battle mode, it weakens. Unfortunately for the dog, on the outside, he’s still happy out. The tail is wagging, his temperature is normal. He’s eating his food. He’s chasing the pigeons. Sure he has an odd itch and his ears won’t clear up and he’s on anti-spasm drugs to control his diarrhoea, but he’s looks good. Without blood tests pre-vaccination there is no way the average vet can check under the hood if this is actually the case, if this immune system is actually capable of withstanding a punch in the face. From a train.
At this point two things can happen depending on a number of factors which are outside the scope of this article (and excuse me for simplifying here). One is a hyper-sensitive reaction. This is the immune system freaking out. NO MORE! And it proceeds to react violently to the latest stimulus, aware that this is life threatening. You will know about this very quickly or shortly thereafter (termed an immediate hypersensitivity or anaphylactic reaction, these are very dramatic occurrences and thankfully rare as a result). The other is a hypo-responsive reaction. This is the immune system laying down, broken. It’s resources are entirely depleted and it can’t do anymore. The gates are now open and disease slowly sets in. Baddies have a free reign. Suddenly your dog is getting Staph infections. Staph, a friendly enough bacteria that covers all our skin, is in all our cuts and scrapes. Your dog ages rapidly and over time chronic disease of the organs develop. Cancers can no longer be repressed.
None of this is a new understanding. The legendary microbiologist Antoine Bechamp, second only to Pasteur for notoriety in the field, said “the germ is nothing, the terrain is everythingâ€. Pasteur agreed on his death bed. It is the individual’s system and it’s response to the antigen that determines the onset of disease.
“The client is paying for something with no effect or with the potential for an adverse reaction. I believe that adverse effects are increasing because we are putting more and more components into these animalsâ€
Schultz, 2006
The Breeds Most Affected Are…
All dogs are affected by over-vaccination.Importantly smaller dogs are more likely to suffer. There is a huge size disparity in dogs yet canine vaccines are not dose related – its the same dose for a Yorkshire Terrier as it is for a Great Dane. Considering vaccines are made ten times stronger to ensure efficacy, that a lot of pow for a poodle. Small dogs are thus significantly more likely to suffer adverse reactions than larger dogs (Moore et al. 2005; Novak, 2007).
There is also a breed effect. The breeds most predisposed to vaccine reaction are:
Akita
American cocker spaniel
Dachshund, all varieties
German shepherd dog
Golden retriever
Great Dane
Irish setter
Kerry blue terrier,
Old English sheepdog
Poodle, all varieties but especially in the standard poodle
Rottweiler
Scottish terrier
Shetland sheepdog
Shih tzu,
Vizsla
Weimaraner
Dodds, 2001
Also any breeds of white or predominantly white coat color or with coat color dilution such as blue and fawn Doberman pinschers, the merle collie, Australian shepherd, Shetland sheepdog, and harlequin Great Danes (Day and Penhale, 1992; Duval and Giger, 1996; Dodds, 2001). Sheepdog, akita and weimaraner owners need to have a read here.
These same breeds listed above are also more susceptible to other adverse vaccine reactions, including post vaccinal seizures, high fevers, and painful episodes of hypertrophic osteodystrophy or HOD (Dodds, 1999).
See the pic of our great Dane above. I’m not one for annecdotal stuff but…..this is Chad. This pic was taken 48hrs after an injection of 8 in 1. Chad and his brother were the only ones in the litter to received multiple jabs at the time (his brother got a 5 in 1 and a jab for Leptospirosis), both reacted within 72hrs, the only ones to do so. His pictures are up on the Great Dane Lady’s website. This is typical Hod Vaccinosis. The pics get worse and they are for another article. Chad is doing fine now, almost completely recovered, something nobody thought was possible, thanks to some great herbs, a tight wrap and a cracking diet. Recovery is possible.
So What is Recommended…
The heavy weights in the field are in general agreement (Pitcairn, Dodds, Goldstein, Schultz). I follow their recommendations which are based on the sound, sensible and independent studies mentioned above. They state that your dog needs to be vaccinated against any disease that is serious or life threatening. Moreover the dog needs to have a chance of exposure (no need to take malaria pills in Leitrim). Thus in Ireland this would include for your dog vaccinations for Parvovirus, Distemper and Adenovirus (Hepatitis). Rabies is not required. They recommend vaccinating your dog beginning at 11 weeks at the earliest. Many products say on their packets that administration can safely begin at 6 weeks, thus many vets begin at this age. Repeat jabs for these diseases are often two months following the first though this all depends on your vet. Booster jabs at one year of age is recommended to establish base immunisation (Horzinek, 2006; Schultz, 2006).
Vitally, the above authors (Dodds, Goldstein and Schultz) advise that vaccinations should be given one at a time. Moore et al., after studying the data from 1.2 million dogs in over 360 veterinary hospitals, found that multiple vaccine doses per visit significantly increases the risk of vaccine-associated adverse events. They are not recommended at any time.
Until more data on duration of immunity become available, vaccination at 3 to 5 year intervals after this point is the agreed best practice. To determine immunity levels you can ask your vet for a “titre tests†(blood test) every three to five years to determine immunity levels. It’s not too costly as you are only testing for three elements (Parvo, Hep, Distemper), around €50 – €90. The WSAVA (World Small Animal Veterinary Association) now advocates this approach over unnecessary boosters after the initial 12-month booster. This way, if an adequate immune memory is established, there is little reason to introduce unnecessary antigen, adjuvant, and preservatives by blindly administering booster vaccines. By titering every three years, you can assess if your dog’s immune response has fallen below levels of adequate immune memory (bet them the price of the next visit that it hasn’t!). In the event that it does, an appropriate vaccine booster can then be administered. Antibody tests work great for the core vaccines, though not for non-core vaccines (such as parainfluenza).
Unfortunately by following the best advice of all the above, you may find yourself excluded by many kennels and dog shows who are bound by insurance companies that base their cover on annual vaccination. This will change with time and pressure. Others are concerned that they will not be covered by their insurance should they flout the manufacturers guidelines. Again this is possible. Ring them and ask. Keep in mind however that the core vaccines will certainly last 3-5 years and that you should titre at this point. It is highly unlikely that your dog will succumb to either of the core diseases under this plan.
Follow vaccinations with some natural anti-oxidants (which are essentially Vitamins A, C, E and selenium; human versions fine, available in any health store, dose according to body size) to help purge the body of toxins for three days afterwards.
The Good, the Bad and The Ugly
Leptospirosis
After vaccinating for Parvo, Distemper, Hepatitis, it get’s a little grey. A large number of vets, certainly in Ireland, recommend vaccinating for Leptospirosis (a bacteria that can be picked up from rat / livestock urine or any stagnant body of water that rat / livestock urine could percolate into). If you do choose to concern yourself with Leptospirosis you need to be aware that immunity here, as with most vaccinations for bacterial disease, does not last. You will need to repeat the vaccinations at certain intervals, at least every year (Schultz, 2006), possibly every 6 months to be sure. Thus even if you were one of the diligent owners and took your dog to the vet every 12months, for half of that time it’s expected the Lep vaccine was ineffective. In the opinion of every author mentioned above, you would want to be walking by ponds every day, or living in Shrek’s house by a marsh for this to be even considered. Furthermore there are a great number serovars of Leptospirosis, only a few of which are pathogenic. Leptospirosis vaccines are species-specific so you’re hoping your dog picks up the right one. Asides not lasting long the Leptospirosis vaccine has more adverse effects reported than all other canine vaccines combined, especially for smaller dogs (Dodds, 2001). So it looks like even with the vaccinated dogs worldwide have been dodging (invisible) bullets for some time.
So it’s not very effective and even when it does give protection, it doesn’t stop the dog shedding Leptospirosis in its faeces (Schultz, 2006). So how come we’re all not dropping of it? In Ireland Leptospirosis is usually picked up from rats, “although a milder form can be caught from cattle or dogsâ€, and is easily treated with an antibiotic. According to our Health Prevention Surveillance Centre (HPSC), the majority of people infected have a flu-like illness, with a persistent and severe headache. A few people can develop meningitis and occasionally it can develop into the severe form (Weil’s Disease) with liver and kidney failure. The HPSC fact sheet on the disease (http://www.hpsc.ie/hpsc/A-Z/Zoonotic/Leptospirosis/Publications/AnnualReports/File,4270,en.pdf) highlights there were 30 cases in Ireland in 2008, 90% of whom were men. Half ended up in hospital and one elderly patient unfortunately died. They say the most likely source of contamination is rat urine and the most likely places is occupational contact with farm animals and during water sport (9 were water sports, 5 were farmers, 6 were gardening, 3 were from outside of Ireland, no info was available for the other 5, none from dogs). I like those odds. It’s not a reportable disease in the U.S. with many states not even detecting it in their environment. Still the jabs go in.
So the leptospirosis vaccine is a highly questionable jab in your dog. “A Shot in the Dark†accuses drug companies of conspiring to format a market for their product with only anecdotal evidence of the existence of any Leptospirosis problems. I cannot advise you either way but I don’t go near it and no Leptospirosis yet. I’ve never met or known of a dog succumbing to the illness though everyone seems to heard of one. It thrives in warm climates which is a great start for the Irish dog population and I can’t think of a local stagnant pool. Perhaps they have picked it up at some stage and i haven’t noticed. If it does happen I reckon I’ll have time to get to the vets for the antibiotic. If I don’t have time my dog must have been very sick to begin with, or simply highly, highly unfortunate. If your local vet recommends annual jabs ask them about the local leptospirosis issue, they may have a point. If there is no issue, then why bother? Please post your experiences of Leptospirosis on Dogs First’s Face Book page.
Others
Very much like the leptospirosis vaccine, unless you’re in an area of concern, your dog is not likely to require a jab for Lyme disease (the only deaths in the US occurring from this disease in the last ten years are from a bat and raccoon bite). A big no to Bordetella vaccination (kennel cough), it simply doesn’t work and in most cases induces cold symptoms. I can testify to the uselessness of this one, having worked with disability dogs all my life, in kennels of over 50 dogs. All dogs in this field regularly receive this vaccine par course. And every year kennel cough will pass through the kennels. So what’s the point? Millions of dogs vaccinated, millions of dogs still getting kennel cough regardless, so more vaccines are needed. A constant stream of dogs coming out of kennels with colds and coughs. Absolutely pointless. I was recently reassured that this vaccine has less documented side effects compared to the others. Where do you start with that one?! If your dog gets cough, get him some antibiotics.
A big no to Guardia vaccine. The American Animal Hospital Association states that the Guardia vaccine does not prevent infection from the disease. Incidentally the same group also state that canine hepatitis is so rare that it renders the vaccine (CAV type 1) defunct. Not one case has been reported in 20 years in the states. Don’t be talked into the coronavirus vaccine either. Most dogs have coronavirus in their intestine all their lives. Except in very young puppies, coronavirus does not seem to cause clinical disease in dogs. The disease can’t even be induced in dogs in the laboratory (Schultz, 1995). And parainfluenza is not a killer of healthy dogs (Schultz, 1995). Your dog requires a flu jab as much as a human adult does. Only those at risk (sick or old) need to concern themselves with it and even then I absolutely do not. It is self-limiting over 4-6 days and most animals do not even require treatment. With the same symptoms as kennel cough it is often mistaken for it. Unfortunately most kennel owners insist on it as it can spread through kennels like a cold through the office.
Nobody seems to be a fan of MLV (modified live virus) vaccines. They stimulate the immune system far more rigourously. The increased antigenic load has been linked to delayed hypersensitivity reactions (Phillips et al., 1989; Tizard, 1990). Best steer clear if at all possible.
“There is little scientific documentation that backs up label claims for annual administration of most vaccines. In the past, it was believed that annual vaccination would not hurt and would probably help most animals. However concerns about side effects have begun to change this attitude. The client is paying for something with no effect or with the potential for an adverse reaction.â€
Dodds, 2001
Canine Vaccinations In Conclusion…
The bottom line is boosting dogs every year for Parvovirus, Distemper and Hepatitis is recommended against by the highest authorities. Multiple vaccinations are proven to significantly increase the likelihood your dog will suffer and many dogs are receiving 7 in 1 booster jabs every year. These dogs are most at risk, certainly if they are smaller in size. Then you need to factor in your breeds susceptibility.
The only ones still recommending annual boosting is vaccine manufacturers. Remember it’s not up to your vet to check the effectiveness, efficacy, or safety of the drugs they inject into your dog.
Going by the drug manufacturer’s advice is clearly not ideal. The sad truth is the pet chemical world is grossly under-regulated. A totally unacceptable level of chemicals are fed, injected and administered in levels far exceeding anything permitted in humans. Neurotoxic flea drops that we are advised to wear gloves for dropped on a pup’s skin. Flea collars that have caused paralysis in human children. I found a plastic “indestructible†dog bone in a pet shop. It had beef flavour in it and was 29% MSG. Imagine a babies soother with strawberry and MSG?! Don’t worry about the plastic lumps, they go right through!
The trend in the dog chemical world is more, not less. This is completely against modern theory and holds no grounds but to profit manufacturers. Don’t make it easy for them.
Any owner of a dog with autoimmune disease or any major illness for that matter needs to take a look at their pets medical history (request from your vets in an email, you’re entitled to it). Check when your dog was last vaccinated prior to the symptoms.
Anything you find please send it on to us at info@dogsfirst.ie, we’ll put it to good use.
References
Dodds W.J. (1983). Immune mediated diseases of the blood. Adv Vet Sci Comp Med, 27: 163-196.
Dodds, W.J. (1999). More bumps on the vaccine road. Adv Vet Med;Â 41: 715732.Â
Novak, W. 2007. Predicting the “unpredictable†vaccine reactions. Proceeding of the NAVC North American Veterinary Conference. Jan. 13-27, 2007, Orlando, Florida.
Tizard, I. (1990). Risks associated with use of live vaccines. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1990; 196
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