The importance of Vaccinating your dog in The Antelope Valley, CA

Dog vaccinations are an essential step towards a healthy immune system for your pet. Vaccines help prevent the spread of deadly and highly contagious diseases like rabies, distemper, parvovius and hepatitis. Though there is some debate on the need for annual vaccinations and how many shots a dog really needs, vaccines are essential for your dog’s health.

How Vaccines Promote Dog Health

Vaccines are a weakened or killed version of bacteria or virus that is injected into a dog’s immune system to stimulate the creation of antibodies that block against disease. Puppies have a natural immunity from their mother’s milk but this immunity wears off over time and so the puppies need vaccinations to bolster the immune system and prevent disease and illness.

Modified live virus (MLV) vaccines are made up of a weakened strain of a disease and are injected into a dog’s immune system to stimulate an immune response. MLVs offer stronger and more lasting immunity with less shots or doses but can cause disease in rare cases and must be stored and handled carefully.

Killed vaccines are inactivated or killed strains of a disease or virus that are introduced to the immune system to stimulate a response. These types of vaccines must be administered several times and are generally less effective than MLV vaccines but are less likely to have adverse side effects.

Recommended Core Dog Vaccines

• Parvovirus: The parvo vaccine protects against a deadly but common virus, especially in puppies, that is highly contagious through contact with infected animals stool. The virus attacks the intestines and causes severe diarrhea and vomiting which can lead to dehydration and death. Rottweilers and Doberman Pinschers are high risk breeds for parvo.


• Rabies: A fatal and incurable disease, the rabies virus attacks the nervous system of dogs that have been exposed to the saliva of an infected animal through an open wound or bite. Rabies vaccines should always be kept up to date.


• Distemper: This deadly contagious disease is caused by the virus CDV and has no cure. Distemper mostly affects puppies and attacks multiple systems including the respiratory and central nervous systems.

Potential Side Effects of Vaccines

Side effects of vaccinations include allergic reactions, low fevers, pain, suppressed immune systems, abortions in pregnant dogs, muscle aches and low energy.

The potential side effects of vaccinations and rare possibility that the vaccines won’t work should be balanced against the risks of contracting a disease like rabies or parvovirus, which can be deadly.

Are Annual Vaccinations Safe?

There are many debates among veterinarians and pet care workers over vaccination schedules and the need for booster shots each year. Each year thousands of dogs avoid disease because of vaccines, but annual vaccinations are not always necessary; especially for older dogs that have little contact with other animals or have suppressed immune systems. Senior dogs are less likely to contract diseases like parvo or distemper and may be harmed from too many vaccines. Vets recommend annual checkups for senior dogs but are not giving vaccines each and every year. Check with your veterinarian to see what vaccination schedule is best for your dog’s age and health

Read more: The Importance of Dog Vaccinations – VetInfo

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Vaccinating Cats and Small Dogs: A Special Danger

A Purdue University vet school study (by Moore et al), published in 2005 in the AVMA Journal and widely-cited elsewhere (see AAHA Guidelines p. 22), tracked vaccine reactions occurring within 72 hours of vaccination for 1.2 million dogs vaccinated at 360 veterinary hospitals. It showed that small breed dogs receiving multiple vaccines per office visit were at greatest risk of a vaccine reaction. The report recommends: These factors should be considered in risk assessment and risk communication with clients regarding vaccination.

“The VAAE [reaction] rate decreased significantly as body weight increased. Risk was 27% to 38% greater for neutered versus sexually intact dogs and 35% to 64% greater for dogs approximately 1 to 3 years old versus 2 to 9 months old. The risk of a VAAE significantly increased as the number of vaccine doses administered per office visit increased; each additional vaccine significantly increased risk of an adverse event by 27% in dogs ≤ 10 kg (22 lb) and 12% in dogs > 10 kg.”  (Find the article: JAVMA, Vol 227, No. 7, October 1, 2005) Ask your vet to find the article at http://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/abs/10.2460/javma.2005.227.1102?journalCode=javma 

Note too: In the WSASA Guidelines Q & A: Are certain vaccines or combinations of vaccines more likely to cause adverse reactions than others? Yes. Although the development of an adverse reaction is often dependent on the genetics of the animal (e.g. small breed dogs or families of dogs), certain vaccines have a higher likelihood of producing adverse reactions, especially reactions caused by Type I hypersensitivity. For example, bacterins (killed bacterial vaccines), such as Leptospira, Bordetella, Borrelia (Lyme) and Chlamydophila (Chlamydia) are more likely to cause these adverse reactions than MLV viral vaccines.

Breeds Most at Risk Listed in Order (for breeds with more than 5000 dogs studied)

Dachshund  (by far the most reactive)
Pug 
Boston Terrier 
Miniature Pinscher
Chihuahua 
Maltese 
Miniature Schnauzer 
Jack Russell Terrier 
Toy Poodle 
Yorkshire
Terrier
Boxer 
Pomeranian
Pekingese 
Shih Tzu 
English Bulldog 
Lhasa Apso
Weimaraner 
Beagle 
Bichon Frise 
American Eskimo Dog 
American Cocker Spaniel
Shetland Sheepdog 
Shar Pei 
Miniature Poodle
Golden Retriever 
Basset Hound 
Welsh Corgi 
Siberian Husky
Great Dane 
West Highland White Terrier
Labrador Retriever 
Doberman Pinscher 
American Pit Bull Terrier 
Akita 
Mixed 
Australian Shepherd 
Dalmatian 
Australian Cattle Dog
Border Collie
Collie 
Chow Chow
German Shepherd Dog
Rottweiler

Read the study abstract for dogs.

Read the study abstract for cats: Adverse events after vaccine administration in cats: 2,560 cases (2002-2005).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Although overall VAAE rates were low, young adult neutered cats that received multiple vaccines per office visit were at the greatest risk of a VAAE within 30 days after vaccination. Veterinarians should incorporate these findings into risk communications and limit the number of vaccinations administered concurrently to cats.  

Articles of Interest

Vaccinating Small Dogs: Risks Vets Aren’t Revealing          

Short video and article on vaccine reactions

Study about  increased hospitalization and deaths in children receiving multiple vaccines 

 

 

Tags: boston terrier, cats, chihuahua, combo shots, dachshund, little dog, Maltese, miniature pinscher, poodle, Pug, shih tzu, shots, small dog, small dogs, terrier, toy dog, toys vaccine reactions, vaccination, yorkie

Thoughts on Vaccinating at Home

“I’m just here for a rabies shot. I give my dog the distemper vaccine at home myself.” This sentiment has repeated so often lately it’s become somewhat of a theme.

I grew up on a farm. We gave our farm dogs distemper vaccine at home. For this budding veterinarian, it was fun to play doctor. And it certainly was economical.  Now, as the Practical Pet Vet, I appreciate self-sufficiency and I understand the desire to save money. My goal as a preventative medicine practitioner is to help owners make the best decision for their animal’s care from youth until old age. Today’s blog is not meant to persuade you not to vaccinate at home. I hope to enlighten you, the reader, about aspects of vaccination you might not have considered.

Parvovirus is highly contagious and often deadly,
especially in young puppies.

I believe vaccination is an important part of preventative health care. Periodically there are outbreaks of canine distemper and parvovirus that trigger rumors of “new” deadly virus strains against which current vaccines are not protective. In actuality, across the U.S. there are pockets of unvaccinated and inadequately vaccinated dogs that are highly susceptible to these preventable diseases. A dog would be inadequately protected if it did not receive vaccine boosters according to schedule as a puppy and young adult. If you’re going to vaccinate at home, PLEASE consult your veterinarian to make sure you’ve timed your puppy’s distemper series properly.

An emerging sentiment among many clients is that pets are over-vaccinated. Based on recommendations from independent researchers on vaccine effectiveness, many veterinarians now vaccinate against rabies and distemper every three years. The canine 5- and 7-way vaccines I’ve seen for purchase at pet stores are labeled to be given every year. Most likely this over-the-counter vaccine is protective for longer than a year. However, because you can’t be certain the vaccine was handled properly (meaning kept at the proper temperature during transport and on the loading dock) it may not be as effective as those carried by your veterinarian whose vaccine shipments are more precisely controlled. Boostering annually with the pet store distemper vaccine increases the odds your pet has received a potent dose at several points in time.

Facial swelling may be a
symptom of a vaccine reaction. 

Vaccines, like all medicines, provide many benefits to health but are not completely without risk. Most dogs and cats respond as expected to vaccination and enjoy the benefits of protection with just a moment of minor discomfort. A potential side effect of vaccination in some pets is vaccine reaction, the severity of which ranges from mild GI upset to moderate facial swelling to severe anaphylactic shock and death! I worry that owners who vaccinate at home do not anticipate a vaccine reaction in their pet. Imagine the horrific irony of vaccinating your dog at home on a Sunday night to save some money, then having to rush to an emergency clinic for treatment of a life threatening reaction. If you’re going to vaccinate at home, try to do it when your veterinarian is available to help you in the event of complications.

In the end, if it comes down to choice between not vaccinating your dog at all or vaccinating at home I’m certainly in favor of home vaccination. As with any medical treatment there are risks and benefits to consider. I hope to have made some educated consumers today.

ECO DOG Tuesdays....... over vaccinating???

I thought today we should talk about vaccinations and whether or not we are over vaccinating our animals… and the effects it has on our pets.

Lets begin with this…. did you know in Orange County, the only vaccination your pet MUST have is the Rabies vaccine. All other vaccines are optional. Every County may have different rules and regulations regarding pet vaccinations, be sure to check with your local animal control office.

History of “recommended vaccine schedules”

Life saving vaccines have been developed for various canine diseases over the last half a century. Pet owners and veterinarians alike, have embraced them in an attempt to save and “prolong” the life of pets’ but for veterinarians the effect providing (requiring) annual vaccination has on their bottom line has made it indispensable.

No one really knows the exact and full life span of the vaccinations our pets are required. Research shows they have been tested for a minimum of 10 years, but we don’t really know if they last longer than that, because they have not been tested for it.

So how do vets determine the longevity of vaccinations? Why are pet owners told to vaccinate their pets annually?

1. Well here is my personal belief….. you must believe everything in life is a business first. A vile of a particular vaccine can be purchased for less than $ 6 dollars in some states… and in some states it is perfectly legal to vaccinate you own pets. So why is it that a round of vaccinations at your vet may cost no less than $ 70-90 for a Chihuahua? May it be because its a business first? A highly profitable one at that?

2. There is no universally accepted “standard vaccination protocol” that has the approval of say, the American Veterinary Medical Association and/or the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine. The prevailing vaccination recommendations and schedules that most veterinarians and veterinary colleges recommend have been based on the research and suggestions of the manufacturers – not on independent scientific research.

Who is Jean Dodds, DVM?

Dr. Dodds is a highly respected hematologist, founder and president of the non-profit HEMOPET; and pioneer of the vaccine debate, now considered one of the leading authorities on the canine vaccine protocol.

According do Dr. Dodds, at least 95% of subjects retain immunity after vaccination years after the administration of the vaccine. She states that the “evidence implicating vaccines in triggering immune-mediated and other chronic disorders (vaccinosis) is compelling.” Now vaccinations also suspected of creating vulnerability to illnesses and chronic conditions such as anemia, arthritis, seizures, allergies, gastrointestinal and thyroid disorders, and cancer.

Given the possible health risks of administering too many vaccines, especially if a dog is likely to retain immutability, how can a responsible dog (pet) parent decide on a safe and effective vaccine schedule for their pets?

ANSWER: Its called the Titer Test

The term “titer” refers to the strength or concentration of a substance in a solution. When testing vaccine titers in dogs, a veterinarian takes a blood sample from a dog and has the blood tested for the presence and strength of the dog’s immunological response to a viral disease. If the dog demonstrates satisfactory levels of vaccine titers, the dog is considered sufficiently immune to the disease, or possessing good “immunologic memory,” and not in need of further vaccination against the disease at that time.

Which titers tests? From the Whole Dog Journal.

Some dog owners, aware that there are dozens of vaccines available, are concerned that they would need to order titer tests for each vaccine. Actually, measuring the titers for just two vaccines, according to Dr. Dodds, can offer the dog owner a reliable “picture” of the dog’s immunological status. Good immunity to canine parvovirus (CPV) and canine distemper virus (CDV), she says, indicates proper “markers for the competence of the dog’s immune system.” Although the laboratories will also perform vaccine titer tests for other canine diseases, such as coronavirus and Lyme, Dr. Dodds deems these tests a waste of money. Protection from coronavirus, Dr. Dodds explains, depends on the current state of health of the dog’s gastrointestinal tract, not on what’s in the dog’s blood, so serum tests are not conclusive. Lyme is regionally based and not a significant threat to the general canine population, so only dogs in a high-risk environment need titer testing for Lyme. Dr. Dodds emphasizes that titer testing is not a “guess” at immunological response in a dog; when dealing with CDV and CDP, there is absolute correlation between certain high titer values and what is frequently referred to as “protection” from the diseases in question. In this case, the animal’s owner and veterinarian can feel quite confident that the animal possesses sufficient resources for fighting off a disease challenge. When the tests reveal that the animal has borderline or low titer values, the owner and veterinarian should consider re vaccinating and then testing the titers again. It may turn out that the animal simply needed a booster to stimulate a stronger immune response. Or, maybe the people involved learn that the animal lacks the ability to respond normally to vaccines, that is, by mounting a proper immune response. In this case, the owner and veterinarian have gained very valuable information about the dog’s compromised immune status – information they never would have gained by simply vaccinating and assuming the dog was “protected” as is usually the case with healthy dogs. As you can see, in reality, simply administering vaccines to dogs every year is more of a guessing game than using titer tests to learn about the dog’s immune competence. Studies worldwide support titer test results as comprehensive information about a dog’s immunological response capabilities. (http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/titer_test.htm)

Dog Responsibly…… University of Doglando