Pets Information

Are All Those Pet Vaccinations Really Necessary?


Would you like to save money and have a healthier pet? Let me tell you a story. One day, my German Shepherd asleep, as usual, when suddenly, he started convulsing so intensely that I thought he must be dying. It went on for a few minutes, which seemed like forever. After, I couldn't believe he was OK. It turned out to be a seizure, and it was then that I began to learn about alternative medicine for pets.

The most interesting thing I found out was that vaccinations seem to be a main cause of seizures in dogs, and annual vaccinations are not necessary, possibly causing more harm than good. After that incident, we stopped vaccinating and the seizures became less and less. I'm going to tell you how it's in both your and your pet's best interest to avoid yearly vaccinations. Annual re-vaccination is simply not necessary.

Here is an excerpt from page 205 of Current Veterinary Therapy XI, a reference considered to be the premier resource for the entire veterinary field.

"A practice that was started many years ago and that lacks scientific validity or verification is annual revaccinations. ALMOST WITHOUT EXCEPTION THERE IS NO IMMUNOLOGIC REQUIREMENT FOR ANNUAL REVACCINATION. Immunity to viruses persists for years or for the life of the animal."

If you're concerned about not vaccinating yearly, you can get proof of immunity even years after the shot, by a blood test called a titer. Many veterinarians, especially holistic vets, will provide these tests. See http:// www.AlternativesForAnimals.com for a directory of holistic vets.

Overvaccination can even cause more harm than good. This is something that almost all holistic vets agree upon, and some of the top vets in the country attribute many health problems to vaccines.

Dr. Richard Pitcairn, a holistic pioneer and well respected vet who researched immunology extensively, believes that the biggest factor contributing to epilepsy in dogs is yearly vaccinations. (1) Many seizures happen within a few weeks of dogs getting their shots.

According to this theory that overvaccination causes harm, vaccines work with immunity, and overvaccination weakens the immune system. This in turn causes auto-immune problems in cats and dogs like skin problems, hair loss, tumors, and arthritis. A weakened immune system leaves your pet open to all kinds of potential health problems. (2)

Why do almost all conventional vets recommend yearly vaccinations? It's been the industry standard. According to veterinarian Dr. Carolyn Blakey, it accounts for up to 80% of a vet's business. To recommend less frequent vaccination, vet businesses would take a big financial blow.

If it concerns you to avoid vaccinations, are there any alternatives? There are a couple options. Some holistic vets follow a modified program of vaccinations, giving them at less frequent intervals.

Another option is homeopathic. Homeopathic nosodes are a remedy administered to pets that are believed to assist in disease prevention. Nosodes are made from the actual virus, just like a vaccine, but are made differently and are totally safe.

According to Donna Starita, DVM, a leading homeopathic vet, many studies show homeopathic nosodes to be just as effective or more so than conventional vaccines in preventing disease. (3)

Some breeders, such as author Celeste Yarnall, Ph.D., that are interested in more natural methods use exclusively nosodes in place of regular shots. They swear by it's effectiveness and they say their animals are much healthier than earlier generations that got shots. (4)

So, it's OK to question the necessity of yearly pet vaccinations, with their questionable necessity and potential adverse effects on your pet's health. This is the beginning of this movement, and over the coming years, it's my opinion that we'll probably see more movement away from such frequent vaccination. Some veterinary schools are already changing their curriculum to advocate changes in vaccination frequency. In the end, it will save us all money, and we'll have healthier pets.

So next time you get that little reminder card in the mail that your pet is due for their shots, think twice! And switch your pet's care to a vet that is more careful about the use of vaccines.

See http://www.AlternativesForAnimals.com for a FREE online directory of holistic vets.

Sources: (1) Natural Health for Dogs & Cats by Pitcairn & Pitcairn (2) The Natural Remedy Book for Dogs & Cats by Diane Stein with excerpt by John Fudens, DVM (3) The Dangers of Vaccinations, and the Advantages of Nosodes for Diseases Prevention by Dr. Donna Starita Mehan (4) Cat Care, Naturally! by Celeste Yarnall

Angela M. Predhomme is the owner and creator of the online holistic pet directory, Alternatives for Animals, http://www.alternativesforanimals.com. Click on this link to find holistic vets and practitioners using alternative medicine for pets, as well as a directory of natural pet products.

  


MORE RESOURCES:

Pets of the week
The Argus, CA - 2 hours ago
More than 230 pets are available for adoption at the Tri-City Animal Shelter, run by the city of Fremont, and at the nonprofit Furry Friends Rescue ...
Cool city pets and fabulous felines: pet adoption events Examiner.com
Event benefits abandoned animals Indianapolis Star
Dogs, cats need homes for the holidays WBBH
Escanaba Daily Press
all 5 news articles


IGN

The Wonder Pets! Save the Animals! Review
IGN, CA - 3 hours ago
by Adam Ballard December 1, 2008 - In case you're not familiar with Nickelodeon's Wonder Pets franchise, it's an educational children's show about three ...
Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party Review IGN
all 2 news articles


Wilco shelter offers discounts on older pets
Taylor Daily Press, TX - 9 hours ago
By Philip Jankowski Pets older than 5 years are now available for adoption for $25, less than one-third of the normal price, $85. The promotion is aimed to ...


Holiday Deals Offered for Shelter Pets
NBC Los Angeles, CA - 7 hours ago
The Palm Springs Animal Shelter is waiving the adoption fee on all shelter pets through the end of December, it was announced Monday. ...


Pets Light Up Our Lives
NorthMyrtleBeachOnline.com, SC - 11 hours ago
by Jennifer Prince,North Myrtle Beach Humane Society DECEMBER 1, 2008 NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC – Pets Light up Our Lives is an event to honor our pets; past, ...


Pets available
Press & Sun-Bulletin, NY - 19 hours ago
Look for pets available at Stray Haven Humane Society at www.stray.petfinder.com. * The Chenango County Department of Public Health will sponsor free rabies ...
PETCO Shares Top Picks to Pamper Pets for the Holidays International Business Times
all 2 news articles


Pets may not have escaped burning home
Chillicothe Gazette, OH - 14 hours ago
Although no one was in the home, the fate of the family pets is still unclear. At least four township squads responded to the blaze at the home of Tom and ...
No injuries in Blain Highway Blaze Chillicothe Gazette
all 2 news articles


Cute though they may be, pets do not make good Christmas gifts ...
Waco Tribune Herald, TX - 21 hours ago
But making a present of a pet isn’t fair to the recipient or the animal, according to local animal welfare advocates. Hollywood romanticizes the giving of ...
PET CORNER: Shelters have animals in need of homes Marshall News Messenger
all 2 news articles


Give pets gifts that are secretly treats for you
StarNewsOnline.com, NC - 4 hours ago
By Linda Lombardi For The Associated Press Some think it’sa little crazy to give gifts to pets. But pet owners know that secretly, they’re also gifts to ...


Ted Nugent: Kids need pets; pets need kids
Waco Tribune Herald, TX - 23 hours ago
The fun factor with pets is extremely entertaining, but it is the list of required duties and chores — fresh water, good food and a warm, secure, ...

pets - Google News

Article List | Index | Site Map
All logos, trademarks and articles on this site are property and copyright of their respective owner(s).
The comments are property of their posters, all the rest is Copyright © 2006 CanadaSEEK.com - All Rights Reserved.