Innoculations - Page 2

I have attended a seminar with Jean Dodds. I *think* she might actually feel a bit different about vaccines than what her protocol suggests but she also needs to be very cautious with her recommendations being a professional etc. There are breeds/dogs that are more suceptable to adverse reactions to some vaccines. THe only big differnce in her protocal vs what I like to see would be single antigen vaccines. This is a much better choice when possible but more expensive so some don't choose it. I also live in a province that does not require rabies, so I don't have to give it to my dogs. However, the ones that travel and go to the U.S. get it but not til they are almost 2 yrs. of age. Again a much better choice when possible. For raw, I feed my chicken ground up (bones and all). Butcher does it for me, so I don't worry about bones. I have done this from the beginning due to a few dogs that 'gulped' their food and it worried me. Then as the dogs age, giving it ground makes much more sense as thier bodies don't have to work as hard digesting thier food and thier energies can go to keeping them healthy instead.

Thanks for the info Winnie---I like the idea about grinding up the raw food and bones together.

Your Puppy's First Vaccinations Many vets will insist that your puppy: "Needs" his first shots at 6 or 8 weeks old. "Needs" vaccinations against canine distemper, hepatitis/adenovirus, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus - all put together into one shot called a DHLPP vaccine. "Needs" vaccinations against coronavirus, bordatella, and Lyme Disease. "Needs" the vaccination repeated two or three weeks later, and then repeated yet again, two or three weeks later, and sometimes even a third or fourth time. -None of this is true.- The immune system is not designed to withstand that onslaught. Dogs and cats immune systems mature fully at 6 months. If a modified live virus(MLV) vaccine is given after 6 months of age, it produces immunity, which is good for the life of the pet (ie: canine distemper, parvo, feline distemper). If another MLV vaccine is given a year later, the antibodies from the first vaccine neutralize the antigens of the second vaccine and there is little or no effect. The titer is not "boosted" nor are more memory cells induced. Not only are annual boosters for parvo and distemper unnecessary, they subject the pet to potential risks of allergic reactions and immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia. There is no scientific documentation to back up label claims for annual administration of MLV vaccines. Puppies receive antibodies through their mothers milk. This natural protection can last 8-14 weeks. Puppies & kittens should NOT be vaccinated at LESS than 8 weeks of age. Maternal immunity will neutralize the vaccine and little protection (0-38%) will be produced. Vaccination at 6 weeks will, however, DELAY the timing of the first highly effective vaccine. Vaccinations given 2 weeks apart SUPPRESS rather than stimulate the immune system. A series of vaccinations is given starting at no less than 8 weeks and given 3-4 weeks apart up to 16 weeks of age. Another vaccination given sometime after 6 months of age (usually at 1 year 4 months) will provide lifetime immunity. As for the Rabies vaccine, if possible, try to get the 3 year "killed" form rather than the 1 year form. And don't give the Rabies vaccine within 3-4 weeks of any other vaccination. An alternative to vaccinations are called Nosodes. These are homeopathic remidies intended to sensitize the body to a particular virus. Nosodes are very safe and are administered by mouth, you could even administer Nosodes to young puppies.

For those living in the USA, you might be ineterested in viewing the new vaccination recommendations of the AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) which many local vets are members of. Their new official recommendations are based on the most current emperical research and I find them very reasonable. They are much more conservative that I would have expected and recommend far less vaccinating than usual before now, which can decrease the local vets cash flow significantly. I believe that this adds to their credibility.

Preston, thanks a lot. I downloaded the file and saved it for future reference. Excellent contribution. Bob-O

IMO puppies should be vaccinated, I vaccinate at 6 and 8 weeks before pups go to new homes. After the series of 4 to 5 puppy vaccines and then another at 1 year, I don't have a problem with titers on the adults and not vaccinating every year. There are a lot more pups getting sick from not vaccinating than they do from vaccinating. Pia

Oh, also, I use only a high titer vaccine on pups.