Are annual shots overkill!!!

[frawri]

Actually, it is possible. Smallpox and polio ring a bell?

There not eradicated, just cut down... Plus at the time I don't think the vaccination had all this other junk in it that is in our vaccinations now.

[frawri]

I think we all can have our own views on this with out getting at each other’s throats. We are not animals, lets not act like them. This topic was brought up to help others see there is something wrong with just letting others do our thinking for us. I think it has helped us talk about it. That is great, lets keep doing that. It helps out so many people. But please don't just take one or two persons idea of right or wrong. Look into it for yourself. Think for yourself. Do research. Then when you have it all sitting in front of you, make an educated choice as to right or wrong. Your animal is going to love you either way, but it is important for YOU to make that educated choice.

[Lady's Human]

Smallpox has been listed as ereadicated, with only lab samples of the virus known to exist. The last known case of smallpox was in Somalia in 1978. The last children in the US to recieve the smallpox vaccine were born in 1969 and 1970.

When was the last time you heard of a polio case in the US? If there was one, it would be huge news. Polio is known right now only to exist in 4 countries, according to the WHO

http://www.polioeradication.org/cont...hly_sitrep.asp

Vaccinations now have far fewer harmful ingredients in them now than they ever have, mainly due to a large increase in medical knowledge about what things do to our bodies. One of the ingredients you listed in your post was thimerosol, which is no longer in child vaccines, and is in vaccines for adults in such minute amounts that you would get more mercury from eating a can of tuna.

The dangers from vaccines are far outweighed by the elimination of the diseases that they prevent.

As to doing research, be VERY very careful about the studies you take a look at. The scientific methodology of many of the articles about vaccines on the web are doubtful at best. Look at the authors, who funded the studies, credentials, peer review, etc.

[shihtzulover850]

I thought it was the law here to get them vaccinated. I am pretty sure it is. I think they should get vaccinated. Rabies and distemper and parvo and everything else is scary.

[shihtzulover850]

Smallpox has been listed as ereadicated, with only lab samples of the virus known to exist. The last known case of smallpox was in Somalia in 1978. The last children in the US to recieve the smallpox vaccine were born in 1969 and 1970.

When was the last time you heard of a polio case in the US? If there was one, it would be huge news. Polio is known right now only to exist in 4 countries, according to the WHO

http://www.polioeradication.org/cont...hly_sitrep.asp

Vaccinations now have far fewer harmful ingredients in them now than they ever have, mainly due to a large increase in medical knowledge about what things do to our bodies. One of the ingredients you listed in your post was thimerosol, which is no longer in child vaccines, and is in vaccines for adults in such minute amounts that you would get more mercury from eating a can of tuna.

The dangers from vaccines are far outweighed by the elimination of the diseases that they prevent.

As to doing research, be VERY very careful about the studies you take a look at. The scientific methodology of many of the articles about vaccines on the web are doubtful at best. Look at the authors, who funded the studies, credentials, peer review, etc.

I agree.

[Jessika]

I thought it was the law here to get them vaccinated. I am pretty sure it is. I think they should get vaccinated. Rabies and distemper and parvo and everything else is scary.

Its required to get vaccinated against certain things. I think the only thing REQUIRED by law, here, is rabies, and I'm sure that is the same everywhere (in the US at least). But as far as vaccinating against other diseases like parvo, distemper, etc, those aren't required by law. Not here, anyway.

[shihtzulover850]

In the state I live in it is required by law for rabies. I don't know about other vaccinations but I get them done anyway. This is something that happens rarely. If Snuggles wasn't vaccinated I couldn't take her to the kennel/doggy daycare or the groomers. There are some human vaccines that I think are unnecessary. Others I think we should get. Just my opinion

[Jessika]

In the state I live in it is required by law for rabies. I don't know about other vaccinations but I get them done anyway. This is something that happens rarely. If Snuggles wasn't vaccinated I couldn't take her to the kennel/doggy daycare or the groomers. There are some human vaccines that I think are unnecessary. Others I think we should get. Just my opinion

Well as Sarah mentioned previously in this thread, you can get a titer and go to public places without having vaccinations. I know what a titer is now, hehe, didn't at first.

[labmomma]

I as just discussing this with a friend last week. Back years ago, I'm 60, you had a family dog and I don't every remember going to the vets. My grandfather had a dog on his farm that lived to almost 20 or so and he never laid eyes on a vet. I know that the rabies shots are necessary, but I question all of this twice a year visits, etc. I consider myself a responsible pet owner, all are neutered and they do get their shots each year.
Has America's extravagance with their pets caused the increase in vet bills?
Any opinions?
Labmomma

[carole]

Wolfsoul I really cannot say vaccines for dogs are good or bad, i don't even have a dog, so i am not saying you are wrong by any means, my whole overall opinion is I would rather vaccinate than not, that is purely my opinion, and yes i have had both my children vaccinated, i am with Lady's Human on this ,i strongly believe in Humans that the risks of the disease,outweigh the risks of the vaccine,as for animals well i am not knowledgeable on that i confess, but i still prefer to vaccinate my cats, so far so good.

There will always be cases where things go wrong, and if that happened to me i am sure i would re-think my position on this subject.

I recently had Melissa vaccinated for meningicoccal (sp)again this is controversial, and there is always a risk,and of course everytime you vaccinate your child you worry and wonder are you doing the right thing,but i sure could not live with myself knowing there was a vaccine available and my child got this illness because i decided against it, and since we went through a very scarey situation when she was four and suspected of having this, i am not prepared to take the risk now knowing there is a vaccine available.,this disease is horrific and for those who do not know is very prevalent in NZ for what reason I am unsure of,and can also result in loss of limbs, I am not prepared to take the risk.

So for me i would vaccinate my animals just the same,but whenever i make a decision i always look at all the pros and cons and do not simply rush into it, vaccination whether it be for humans or animals is a personal thing, and only we can decide what we think is best for our family be it human or furkids.

I have an online friend who contracted polio, for some reason his parents decided against vaccination ,he now has to live with the consquences the rest of his life and they are not nice.

[T-Ice]

Domestic animals with no proof of rabies legitimate vaccine (in states where it is required by law) can be put down without even the owner knowing. That is why they tell you to always keep your rabies tag on your dog , or current rabies info on a micro chip/Home Again type service.

But the chances of this happening? I personally don't keep rabies tags on my dogs, they would be lost in a matter of hours! I do however have the rabies certificate readily available if needed.

My pet dogs get the Puppy 5-way or 7-way (usually 3 or 4 shots) and that's it for life. My dogs are exposed to tons of dogs. I have seen way to many unfit dog owners who would not recognize if their dog was ill and take necessary precautions to care for their dog until is well enough to expose to the general publics dogs.

[Kfamr]

It is different here in Florida, a vet does not have to give the vaccine.

Hm? I was under the impression that they needed their rabies in order to obtain licences - which are a must have by law. Atleast I was under the impression that that's how it is in my county.

[.sarah]

PDF link on number of rabies cases in Florida in 2005. They were none in my county or two surrounding counties. But also notice that there are only 201 cases in all of Florida. That has got to be a tiny, tiny percentage of the actual number of animals here.

War against overvaccinating cats and dogs continues (article)

Hm? I was under the impression that they needed their rabies in order to obtain licences - which are a must have by law. Atleast I was under the impression that that's how it is in my county.

I am not exactly sure what you mean, but since you quoted my comment about Florida not needing a vet to administer it, here are the states that do not require a veterinarian to administer the vaccine:

COLORADO
DELAWARE
FLORIDA
IOWA
KENTUCKY
MASSACHUSETTS
MICHIGAN
MISSISSIPPI
NEW HAMPSHIRE
OHIO
OKLAHOMA
PENNSYLVANIA
SOUTH DAKOTA
VIRGINIA
WISCONSIN

[KYS]

In CA you you must show proof of rabies every 3 years.
My dogs do get their rabies shots.

As for the other shots for your dogs....
This subject has been on the Akita lists for several
years now. When I purchased Sheba 12 years ago, her
breeder did not believe in shots and used Nosodes instead.
(not sure of the spelling)
My vet was and still is adamant about using annual
shots unless I did a titer test.

Now this is what I was told by two different vets other than
my own vet.
I can not remember the exact wording since it has been a couple of years.

1: If your dog does not have a compromise immune system the
yearly shots should not affect the dog.
2: The annual shots immunity stay with your dog for over a year, so
annual shots should not be needed and you should be able to be given every 2 or 3 years. exception would be if you live in a area where a disease
is prevalent.
3: an senior dog should have developed a build up and should not
need shots in their remaining years.

Now I am not a Vet, so what I have done with my dogs
is my choice from the info I have gathered.
(I do not use the 7-1 shots nor any extra shots)
Sheba is 12.5 years old. I no longer take her on trips and I stopped giving
her shots at age 10. The only shot she gets is the rabies.
Rocky is 6 years old. I give him the 5-1 or puppy shots (not the 7-1 every 1.5 to two
years now. I do not give him any extra shots such as kennel cough and
bordello etc.
When rocky turns 9 years old I will stop giving him shots accept for
rabies.

You can also spilt the shots up too.

[shihtzulover850]

Well as Sarah mentioned previously in this thread, you can get a titer and go to public places without having vaccinations. I know what a titer is now, hehe, didn't at first.

What is a Titer?