Are you and your vet at odds about how often your dog should be vaccinated for the core vaccines? We’re here to help.
First, it is important to understand that the core vaccines are not required by law – only rabies can be. Nobody can force you to vaccinate your dog with any other vaccine. This is a decision best left up to you and your vet. Before that decision is made however, make certain that you are both aware of the duration of immunity of those vaccines and the potentially lethal consequences of giving just one vaccine too many.
More is not better
When it comes to immunity and duration of immunity for vaccines, there is one clear expert. Dr. Ronald D. Schultz is one of perhaps three or four researchers doing challenge studies on veterinary vaccines – and he has been doing these studies for 40 years. It is Dr. Schultz’s work that prompted the AAHA and AVMA to re-evaluate vaccine schedules. In 2003, The American Animal Hospital Association Canine Vaccine Taskforce warned vets in JAAHA (39 March/April 2003) that ‘Misunderstanding, misinformation and the conservative nature of our profession have largely slowed adoption of protocols advocating decreased frequency of vaccination’; ‘Immunological memory provides durations of immunity for core infectious diseases that far exceed the traditional recommendations for annual vaccination.’
‘This is supported by a growing body of veterinary information as well-developed epidemiological vigilance in human medicine that indicates immunity induced by vaccination is extremely long lasting and, in most cases, lifelong.’
“The recommendation for annual re-vaccination is a practice that was officially started in 1978.” says Dr. Schultz. “This recommendation was made without any scientific validation of the need to booster immunity so frequently. In fact the presence of good humoral antibody levels blocks the anamnestic response to vaccine boosters just as maternal antibody blocks the response in some young animals.”
He adds: “The patient receives no benefit and may be placed at serious risk when an unnecessary vaccine is given. Few or no scientific studies have demonstrated a need for cats or dogs to be revaccinated. Annual vaccination for diseases caused by CDV, CPV2, FPLP and FeLV has not been shown to provide a level of immunity any different from the immunity in an animal vaccinated and immunized at an early age and challenged years later. We have found that annual revaccination with the vaccines that provide long-term immunity provides no demonstrable benefit.”
Below is the result of duration of immunity testing on over 1,000 dogs. Both challenge (exposure to the real virus) and serology (antibody titer results) are shown below:
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Table 1: Minimum Duration of Immunity for Canine Vaccines
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Vaccine
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Minimum Duration of Immunity
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Methods Used to Determine Immunity
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CORE VACCINES
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| Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) | ||
| Rockbom Strain | 7 yrs / 15 yrs | challenge / serology |
| Onderstepoort Strain | 5 yrs / 9 yrs | challenge / serology |
| Canine Adenovirus-2 (CAV-2) | 7 yrs / 9 yrs | challenge-CAV-1 / serology |
| Canine Parvovirus-2 (CAV-2) | 7 yrs | challenge / serology |
It is important to note that this is the MINIMUM duration of immunity. These ceilings reflect not the duration of immunity, rather the duration of the studies. Dr. Schultz explains “It is important to understand that these are minimum DOI’s and longer studies have not been done with certain of the above products. It is possible that some or all of these products will provide lifelong immunity.”
Dr. Schultz has seen these results repeated over the years. In 2010, he published the following with newer generation, recombinant vaccines. It is important to note that not only did the vaccines provide protection for a minimum of 4 to 5 years, it did so in 100% of the dogs tested.
Vaccine Dangers
Why is it important to understand Dr. Schultz’s work? Because vaccines can create very real health problems in dogs. It is important that vaccines are only given when necessary because every vaccine has the potential to kill the patient or create debilitating chronic diseases including cancer and allergies.
Below is a list of potential adverse vaccine reactions, according to Dr. Schultz:
Common Reactions:
- Lethargy
- Hair Loss, hair color change at injection Site
- Fever
- Soreness
- Stiffness
- Refusal to eat
- Conjunctivitis
- Sneezing
- Oral ulcers
Moderate Reactions:
- Immunosupression
- Behavioral changes
- Vitiligo
- Weight loss (Cachexia)
- Reduced milk production
- Lameness
- Granulomas/Abscesses
- Hives
- FacialeEdema
- Atopy
- Respiratory disease
- Allergic uveitis (Blue Eye)
Severe Reactions triggered by Vaccines:
- Vaccine injection site sarcomas
- Anaphylaxis
- Arthritis, polyarthritis
- HOD hypertrophy osteodystrophy
- Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia
- Immune Mediated Thrombocytopenia (IMTP)
- Hemolytic disease of the newborn (Neonatal Isoerythrolysis)
- Thyroiditis
- Glomerulonephritis
- Disease or enhanced disease which with the vaccine was designed to prevent
- Myocarditis
- Post vaccinal Encephalitis or polyneuritis
- Seizures
- Abortion, congenital anomalies, embryonic/fetal death, failure to conceive
Dr. Schultz summarizes his 40 years of research with the following:
“Only one dose of the modified-live canine ‘core’ vaccine (against CDV, CAV-2 and CPV-2) or modified-live feline ‘core’ vaccine (against FPV, FCV and FHV), when administered at 16 weeks or older, will provide long lasting (many years to a lifetime) immunity in a very high percentage of animals.”
We understand vets are frightened because they have seen animals die and suffer from preventable disease. Vaccine-induced diseases are also deadly and they are also preventable. Our companion animals rely on vets to make the right decisions when it comes to vaccines. We are begging vets to stand up and take notice – our pets’ lives depend on it.
Here is a printable download of this article you can share: More is not better
Vaccine damaged dogs
(click on thumbnail to enlarge) – many thanks to Patricia Jordan DVM
I only titer now. My old male border collie was regularly vaccinated and one year the injection went from between his sholder blades to his leg. When I questioned this the vet told me “if he develops a reaction we can amputate the leg” START THE CAR!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi there! I have a 10 week old chihuahua pup (4lbs so she is larger sized) who was vaccinated from the breeder at 6 weeks for distemper and parvo. I would like to take a conservative/holistic approach to vaccination and am wondering what your opinion is on the future vaccinations for my pup. So as I understand it, 6 weeks was way too early to have given vaccines anyways as maternal anitbodies likely countered the vaccine. Is that correct? And if so, then if I vaccinate at 12 weeks for distemper and parvo, is she likely good or does she require booster of that? Or is it possible that she does not need any further vaccination at all and that she may have enough immunity from the 6 week vaccines? What would you do?
I have the same issue. Help us!
In reference to the Titer testing, they can do that on all the required annual vaccines ?
Kim, there are no required annual vaccines. If you are in the US, the only vaccine that is required is rabies and I believe the 3 year is accepted in all states now. However, titers are available for all the core vaccines and the new Canine Vaccicheck is an inexpensive alternative to titers and does all the core vaccines.
THE MERCK VETERINARY MANUAL ADMITS THAT VACCINES CAUSE CANCER:
“Soft Tissue Sarcomas” – http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/72217.htm
“Three forms of fibrosarcoma are recognized in cats: a multicentric form in the young (generally 70% within 1 yr of the initial surgery). The rate of recurrence is >90% for vaccine-associated sarcomas. Even when surgical excision is clinically and histologically complete, recurrence is still the rule.”
VACCINES CAUSE CANCER. SCIENTIFIC DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE AT: http://www.noble-leon.com/resourcesAdvanced/vaccines.html
ARTICLES OF INTEREST:
“Do Vaccines Cause Cancer” – http://www.noble-leon.com/letters/vaccines-p1.html
“Why Are We Over-Vaccinating? – http://www.noble-leon.com/letters/vaccines-p3.html
COLLECTION OF HELPFUL ARTICLES AND WEBSITES THAT PERTAIN TO VACCINES: http://www.noble-leon.com/resourcesLayman/vaccines.html
I work at a daycare and boarding faciliy. We accept titers from all our clients. The only thing we demand is a fecal check every six months to rule out parasites. We check every dog for fleas and ticks before they go back into the boarding/daycare area. In order to protect your facility from an outbreak you must have some vaccination requirements in place. A pet sitter is an alternative but they charge by the visit and some times can be just as costly and your pet is alone all day. It is a personal decision based on your situation. Our boarding dogs are in daycare all day, playing and being loved by our handlers!
I have a 13.5 week puppy who had a DHPP at 7 wks. I know it was too early. I’m wondering if I should have her titered, or just the same at 16 weeks, and call it good. Of course, it’s been suggested she get the DHLPP at that time. I don’t think that’s necessary. ?? Thanks.
You don’t have a choice when you are using a Boarding Facility, Training Facility, they will not take you without those vaccines give annually. When is the standard going to change? How do we get the standard to change?
Of course, you have a choice – and when you start executing that choice, they will change their policy. Instead of a boarding facility, hire someone who will come into your home to watch your dogs – they are less expensive than you would think. Alternately, hire a veterinary student, they are always looking for extra cash.
In regard to Training facilities, opt instead for private lessons or support only those who will not demand harmful vaccinations. I’m afraid that is the only way things will change. If you (and all of us) continue to go and abide by their rules, then there is no impetus for change. Like the vets, they need to suffer financially before they stand up and take notice. As long as we do nothing, nothing will change.
Seriously, almost EVERYTHING we see in veterinary medicine is vaccine induced disease. My colleagues have also found this to be true now that we see that the un natural immune assault from vaccination is actually mistuning the immune system. In most cases it takes a healthy Th1 cell mediated immune system and replaces that with a very unhealthy chronically inflammed Th 2 humoral immune bias. Then most of the medicines that are given, antibiotics, NSAIDS, steroids, immunosuppressive and even chemotherapy like Atopica, this is all the answers to take synthetic chemicals and try to reduce the upregulated IgE and other immune reactions made dysfunctional with the injection of vaccines. This is a very very very sad fact, an inconveninet truth. Even the appearance of parasites in heavily vaccinated populations that now have a dysfunctional immune system due to unsafe and unecessary vaccine administration. The vaccines, will ruin a cellmediated immune system rendering it paralyzed and make a mucosal immune system atrophied. They also get cytotoxic T cells and damage to the organs that are indeed there following vaccination, the development of auto antibodies something that happens with vaccinated populations. So much of disease that we see is Type I – IV hypersensitivity reaction, immune mediated, autoimmune , cancer, or the allergies, asthma, atopy, anaphylaxis and exchema from aluminum in vaccines. It is a very inconvenient truth.Never ever let your vet get away without filing these as adverse events following vaccination.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jordan
Great article, good information. However I have heard Dr. Schultz state one dose on or after 12 weeks of age. So is the 16 weeks stated in this article a change in his view, or just an error in the article?
In the case of parvo, puppies can still have sufficient maternal antibodies at 12 weeks to block the vaccine. A large number of vaccinated puppies were still getting parvo and, given the fact that maternal antibodies for parvo can last weeks in some puppies, Dr. Schultz has changed his recommendation.
My 7 yr old English Springer Spaniel got his boosters and rabies at the same time back in 2009 (not knowing what I know now about vaccines), had a lump there for a few months and was told it was nothing. 3 months later he was diagnosed with stage 2 Lymphoma. After much research it was determined that the multiple vaccines given was most likely the cause of the rapid spread of his cancer. I now do not give boosters to any of my dogs. Instead I have titre tests taken on my dogs-the tests has always come back with complete immunity to the diseases. My Cocker is now 6 years old and has not needed ANY boosters. Think about how many needless vaccines he would have gotten if I would have just done what the vet suggested!!!!!
My 9 month old beagle had his first seizure after his rabies booster. He no longer gets any vaccinations, flea & tick medication or heartworm meds. He is on a raw diet and lots of supplements, potassium bromide and Lepsilyte. (skullcap & valerian) His seizures are much milder now but he still has episodes. My other two dogs will only get titers from now on as well. Dog owners need to educate themselves and not just trust what their vets tell them. If you love your pets, do your homework!
Will this be published in a future issue of DNM?
My papillon had a severe reaction to rabies vaccine.
I would like for his vet to do more research. Any suggestions?
Thank you for this information. I have seen many pets getting abscesses from vaccines, especially when injected in the same place year after year!