We always want to do what is best for our furry friends and for years annual vaccinations were a part of what was considered to be good for your dog. That is now changing.
Most people think of vaccinations to be part off the modern day miracle of western medicine without realizing that there is a dark side to vaccinations; that is until they have a very sick dog on their hands. At least that’s how it was for me. In the fall of 2001 I took my healthy three-year-old dog Romeo in to the vet for his annual health exam and vaccinations. Two weeks and over $1000 in tests later he was diagnosed with Auto Immune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA) – a life-threatening auto-immune disorder brought on by vaccinosis (a reaction to the vaccines administered).
I now had a sick dog and I was angry, confused and riddled with guilt. I thought that by keeping him “up to date” on his vaccines that I was doing the right thing. Of course it was only after this event that I discovered that the benefits of annual vaccinations has been a hotly debated subject in recent years with very sick dogs on one side of the debate and the successful control of highly contagious and life-threatening diseases on the other side.
For years alternative practitioners have been warning about the negative effects of the annual vaccination schedules, which really just amounts to a massive annual assault on the immune system. Auto-immune disorders (like AIHA) are becoming more prevalent as well as an increase in allergies and other chronic health issues.
This doesn’t mean that vaccinations are evil; they have had a wonderful impact on our ability to prevent life-threatening diseases. It is the notion that every dog needs an annual booster shot for every vaccination that needs to change. Think about it: do you need an annual update of every immunization you received as a child? No. After the necessary childhood shots you don’t get annual boosters. It’s been proven that the duration of immunity for most canine vaccines is at least three years and probably more than five.
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) both recognize that “different patients require different vaccines and vaccination programs” and that they “should be individualized based on the risk and lifestyle of the individual dog.” So you and your vet need to discuss the risks and benefits of various vaccines, explore all the options and decide together what vaccines your dog needs and how frequently he needs them. Your dog’s age, lifestyle, risk of exposure, geographic location and past immunization records are the main factors that should be considered.
One tool that veterinarians have available to them to help monitor your dog’s immunization needs are blood titers. Titers are blood tests that measure specific antibodies, which then gives a better understanding of the strength of your dog’s immune system and it’s ability to fight specific diseases.
After analyzing your dog’s needs and risks, it is up to you and your vet to decide whether or not it is time for some booster shots. If your dog does need some shots, it is best to only vaccinate a healthy dog and I strongly recommend that only one shot be given at a time, giving your dog at least two weeks in between shots. Also, some homeopathic practitioners recommend giving Thuja (a homeopathic medication) before immunizations to help prevent or reduce adverse reactions to vaccinations.
In March the AAHA released their 2006 Canine Vaccine Guidelines, available as a free PDF download from their website (www.aahanet.org). If you are interested in learning more about vaccinations this report is an excellent place to start. It’s not too long (28 pages) and it’s not too heavy on the medical language, making it an easy read and informative guide to keeping your friend healthy.
