Vaccine Risks: Should You Still Get Them?
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Updated Vaccine Guidelines
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Dog vaccinations: Should your dog have them?… What are the RISKS? What can you give INSTEAD of Vaccines?
The conventional approach in the past was to get annual ‘booster shots’, in the belief that vaccines only provided immunity for approximately one year, and that revaccination was required in order to boost or maintain a dog’s immunity. This was the advised protocol of veterinary associations for decades, and most veterinarians followed that protocol.
Recent American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) guidelines advise that all core vaccines are recommended every 3 years, with the 1 year Rabies being the exception. They have also stated that distemper virus, parovovirus, and adenovirus vaccine immunity lasts for at least 5 years; AAHA though still suggests that your dog is given the vaccine more frequently than the length of immunity.
More pet owners are now making the decision on whether or not to re-vaccinate by checking immunity levels with antibody titers. These titers have become more standardized, and when measured at a particular level, will give a good indication if your pet has enough antibodies to be protected.
The vaccine regimen I suggest is based in my own research and experience in veterinary practice. Puppies only need a series of two vaccine boosters, one at 8 weeks then repeated at 12 weeks. I find the most critical time to prevent infectious disease is at this young age. In small puppies, I prefer to wait until 12 weeks. The traditional third booster in puppies is not necessary. If possible, delay giving the rabies vaccine until 6 months.
Puppies should only be vaccinated for parvovirus (MLV – modified live vaccine) and Distemper (MLV). Only give bordetella (kennel cough) vaccines if going to a kennel or puppy class. Give rabies vaccine (KILLED) at 6 months.
I do not recommend vaccinations for corona virus, leptospirosis, lyme or giardia vaccines for dogs
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THIS is NEW, and you should be aware of it
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The 1 year boosters of which I had earlier advised are now considered no longer necessary- now even this is being advised from the vaccine manufacturers..the next booster would not be required until 3 years later. I personally would only give my dogs the 8 and 12 week puppy boosters for CPV and Distemper, then Rabies vaccine if I felt there was risk of contracting Rabies, or as required by law
The KEY to keeping your dog healthy, and preventing disease is NOT with vaccines…
1.Give your pet as FEW vaccines as INFREQUENTLY as possible.
2.Feed Quality Holistic Diet
3.Effective NATURAL Supplements, specifically those which aid in disease prevention, such as Colostrum, Essential Fatty Acids and and Probiotics
4.Regular Exercise/Avoidance of toxins
5.USE holistic options whenever possible
Heal Your Pet At Home!
Best Wishes,
Dr Andrew Jones, DVM
P.S. Perhaps 40 years ago vaccine were very important.
Not so much now.
What you feed, and DON’T feed is far more important.
Such as…
EFA’s, Probiotics, Colostrum, Antioxidants.
These are also in my supplement.
Which you can get for 50%OFF here:
I need help with a feline cat I just adopted from a friend I need info on what vaccines to give her and what is the best time to spray her she was born Dec/8/2023 . I watch your videos religiously, so much respect for you
Here’s an articles that can help: https://veterinarysecrets.com/cat-owner-cat-vaccines/
This article will help you understand what cat vaccines are; you will find some of the reasons for vaccination. I will go over the new cat vaccine recommendations by AAFP (American Association of Feline Practitioners), and share my suggested vaccine protocol. I’ll reveal the chief alternative to vaccines, and highlight the current risks associated with feline vaccination. Ultimately the decision to vaccinate your cat can have serious implications, and I suggest that you carefully read this article, making an informed decision that is fully discussed with your veterinarian.
Vaccinations have their effect by stimulating your pet’s immune system; their primary benefit being to protect against infectious disease. Vaccines cause the immune system to produce a type of immunity called humoral immunity. This type of immunity is the protection with small protein substances called antibodies. Antibodies attach to so called pathogens (ie viruses) to disable them, preventing them from replicating and doing harm to your cat.
In the past, the conventional approach was to get annual ‘booster shots’; the primary thought was that vaccines only provided immunity for approximately 1 year. For decades the practice of going to the vet to get ‘annual shots’ has been maintained, although lately, times have changed. A number of scientific studies have shown most feline vaccines give immunity for several years. These include the core vaccines such as feline panleukopenia ( feline distemper), and feline herpes virus vaccine which have been traditionally given every year. New vaccine guidelines advise giving most feline vaccines every 3 years following the series of kitten boosters.
Vaccine risks are many and varied; they are underreported by veterinarians. These include acute, or short term effects of lethargy, pain at injection site, lethargy, loss of appetite, and fever. Then there are the serious side effects of sudden vomiting, seizures, respiratory distress, and collapse. Immune mediated diseases can occur, such as autoimmune hemolytic anemia, allergic skin disease, inflammatory bowel disease, kidney failure, and neurologic conditions. Lastly there are links with vaccines and cancer, such as leukemia, and vaccine induced sarcoma in cats. This is best explained via the immune system responding inappropriately. Your cat’s immune system can turn and attack itself, such as in autoimmune disease, or react at the injection site causing vaccine induced cancer. It is a long list of potential problems.
A safer way to make the decision on if you should be re-vaccinating your cat, and be made by assessing your cat’s antibody levels with titers. These titers when measured at a certain level give a good indication if your cat has adequate antibodies to be protected against feline panleukopenia, feline herpes virus, and rabies. Following the series of kitten boosters, antibody titers are a good way to see if your cat is in need of revaccination.
Homeopathic nosodes are the main alternatives to vaccines. Nosodes carry the mirror image of the disease; these are miniscule amounts. Nosodes sensitize your cat’s immune system and helps it get ready to defend it against the disease. Homeopathic nosodes are very safe, with virtually no side effects, but the actual effectiveness has come into question. The cat owners that use them claim they seem to offer some level of protection by lowering the severity of these diseases if your cat is exposed to these infections. The specific vaccine regimen I advise is based in my own research and experience in veterinary practice.
Kittens only are in need of a series of two vaccine boosters, one at 8 weeks then repeated at 12 weeks. The most critical time to prevent transmissible infectious disease in kittens is while they are young. Preferably in small kittens I suggest to wait until 12 weeks. If not legally required, I suggest delaying giving the Rabies vaccine until 6 months. Kittens should be vaccinated for the respiratory viruses and Panleukopenia (FVRCP – Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia) (MLV). Feline Leukemia (KILLED) vaccine should only be given to ‘high risk’ cats – those in multi-cat households or outdoor cats surrounded by a large cat population. Give Rabies vaccine (KILLED) at 6 months. Ensure that the vaccines are given in the subcutaneous tissue on the lateral sides of the right and left legs.
Currently I do not advise vaccinations for FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis), Feline Bordetella, FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) and limited use of Feline Leukemia vaccine in Cats. My current advice is to give the feline vaccines at 1 year, then every 3 years until the age of 10. As new research progresses, this may even become more infrequent.
Cat vaccination is an issue fraught with controversy; there are a large number of conflicting opinions. Vaccines offer real benefits, but unfortunately risks, such as short term not eating/drinking, to serious diseases such as vaccine induced cancer in cats. Fortunately organizations such as AAFP are now advising longer intervals between feline vaccines, although the frequency and number of vaccines is being debated. You should look a my suggested vaccine protocol, and educate yourself as much as possible about the cat vaccines and cat diseases where you live. It is your responsibility to make the decision about vaccines for your cat; your veterinarian should be making this decision in conjunction with you. A path to health in your cat should involve a diet high in nutrition: fresh food, fatty acid supplements, some raw meat and minimal carbohydrate. Avoid disease in your cat by boosting your pet’s immune system with increased exercise, and lots of positive interaction by you spending quality time with your cat.