Q. How Should I Handle Vaccinations for My Dog?

A.  There is no short answer to that question.  At Dancin' Setters we tend to believe that many dog owners are over-vaccinating their dogs.  But, but it behooves us to encourage you, as a dog owner, to become informed about the issues so you can intelligently discuss any concerns you may have with your veterinarian and come to your own conclusion.  The following text and article discusses some of the issues and you will find several links on both sides of the debate at the bottom of the page.  

Vaccinating your dog or cat has always been a simple procedure that was routinely done by all veterinarians. Until fairly recently, vaccinations have been considered safe, effective and well worth the financial commitment. Many diseases that were once considered fatal to dogs or cats are now under control due to the use of modern vaccines. But, aside from dietary concerns, probably no other subject in the dog world is more confusing than what constitutes the appropriate use of  vaccinations.

There is no dispute that the use of vaccines has decimated the incidence of formerly common viral diseases such as rhinotracheitis, canine distemper, hepatitis, and canine parvovirus. But a number of dog owners, as well as veterinarians, are now questioning whether the protections that vaccinations provide require annual, life-long revaccinations.  In addition, questions are arising about the immediate, as well as long-term, consequences of vaccination in general.

It is important to understand the diseases that are being protected against, the kind of vaccine being used and the possible side effects so that you can discuss your pet's vaccination schedule with your veterinarian and make an informed decision on whether to vaccinate or not, and what are the alternatives.

How does Vaccination Work?

Think of the bodies immune system as an army, whose job it is to repel foreign invaders (diseases) so that when a virus or bacteria invades the body, the immune system recognizes the enemy and mobilizes the army of antibodies to kill the invader. Once the war is over, the immune system remembers that invader and will quickly mobilize if that invader ever returns again.

When given a vaccination (made of either dead organisms or organisms that have been modified so they can't cause the disease) the pet mobilizes the army. If they are exposed to the disease again, they remember it.

What are we Vaccinating Against?

DISTEMPER

Aerosol droplets or contaminated objects spread this highly contagious virus. Once exposed, distemper takes 6-9 days to incubate before the first round of fever begins. Several days later, the fever spikes again and the signs of purulent, runny eyes and nose, squinting, depression and pneumonia begin. The pet may seem to recover from this stage only to begin to have twitching, fits, paralysis and grand mal seizures.

These neurological problems may show up weeks after the initial signs. About 50% of dogs affected with distemper will die, with about half of the survivors showing some permanent neurological problems. This disease is always lurking around and chances of exposure at sometime during a dog's life are high.

HEPATITIS

This adenovirus can cause anything from a mild fever to a fatality. The white blood cell count drops and blood may not clot well. Affected dogs may have depression, runny eyes and nose, thirst, very red mucous membranes, inflamed tonsils and little blood spots on the gums. Some dogs will develop "blue eye"; a clouding of the cornea that disappears over time. This virus is spread by direct contact and may be shed for months in the urine of recovered dogs. Vaccination has reduced the incidence of this disease, so it's rarely seen.

LEPTOSPIROSIS

Dogs are generally exposed to the spiral shaped bacteria that causes leptospirosis through the urine of rats. While cows, pigs, sheep and horses may have Leptospirosis; they carry variants of the bacteria that rarely cause clinical disease in dogs. Leptospirosis takes 5-15 days to incubate and causes symptoms of fever, weakness and mild conjunctivitis.

As the disease progresses, the dog becomes very depressed and has labored breathing and muscle pain. Jaundice may occur at any time. Further progression may produce mouth ulcers, sloughing of the tongue, bloody vomiting, diarrhea, and kidney failure. About 10% of affected dogs will die. Since this is a bacterial disease, it can be treated with antibiotics, but some patients will have permanent kidney damage. Leptospirosis is considered a rare disease in most areas but it is transmissible to humans.

PARVOVIRUS

Spread through the feces of infected dogs, this hardy virus can survive for months within feces at less than 20 degrees. It is easily carried on shoes, clothing, and by flies. The incubation period is generally 4 to 7 days but may vary from 2 to 4 days. Parvovirus attacks rapidly growing cells, so it especially likes the bone marrow and the cells lining the intestine. Symptoms include depression, lack of appetite, vomiting and bloody diarrhea. Suppression of the immune system leaves the dog wide open to secondary bacterial infections. Death usually occurs due to insurmountable dehydration, and a large percentage of infected dogs may die, despite excellent medical care.

PARAINFLUENZA AND BORDETELLA

Often acting in conjunction, these virus-bacteria combination causes kennel cough, which can spread rapidly through a group of dogs. After an incubation of 5-10 days a dry, honking cough develops. Pressing on the dog's windpipe may unleash a flurry of coughing, but most dogs feel fine otherwise. This disease gets better on its own, unless a secondary bacterial infection occurs which may produce fever and a longer recovery.

CORONA

Taking only 24 to 36 hours to incubate, this virus spreads rapidly through exposed dogs. Corona causes vomiting and diarrhea (sometimes bloody) and this leads to dehydration. Unlike parvo, the mortality rate is low and affected dogs generally feel better in a few days, though fluid treatment may be needed.

LYME DISEASE

Lyme Disease is caused by spiral shaped bacteria (related to the organism that causes Syphilis) carried most often by deer ticks. Affected dogs may show intermittent lameness and fever. In endemic areas, like the Northeast, upper Midwest and West coast, up to 80% of dogs may have a positive antibody titer, indicating that they have been exposed. In humans, the disease can cause catastrophic damage to the joints, circulatory and nervous system. Particularly sinister is the tendency for the disease, like in syphilis, to seem to clear up spontaneously and then reappear in a different body system and with more disastrous effects. Dogs seem to have far fewer symptoms than humans do, and their symptoms are usually not as severe. Dogs that do develop clinical illness can usually be treated with antibiotics. 

RABIES

This viral disease is almost 100% fatal to both dogs and humans and is, thus, a human health hazard. Laws mandate the vaccination procedures for this disease, so check with your local veterinarian.

What Vaccinations are Necessary?

A recent article in the Journal of the AVMA reported on the vaccination schedules of 27 of 30 North American Veterinary Colleges. All of the schools reported that they vaccinated all dogs for distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus. Five of the schools reported that they no longer give Lepto, and five more schools were considering discontinuing its use. These schools, cite the rarity of the disease; the short duration of immunity (6-8 months); and the risk of allergic reactions as reasons for no longer giving Leptospirosis.

Corona was given routinely by 5 of the 27 schools. Corona was felt to be a mild, self-limiting disease with a low mortality rate. Bordatella was given at 25 of 27 schools and vaccination was recommend for dogs at high risk of exposure (boarding, showing). Inter-nasal vaccine allows for almost immediate protection. Only 9 of 27 schools provided vaccination against Lyme Disease, and then only if the owner requested it and was traveling with the dog to infected area. Unfortunately, however, Lyme Disease has spread far and wide from where it was originally diagnosed in Connecticut. 

THE VACCINE DEBATE - (Pros and Cons of Vaccination)

by Catherine O'Driscoll

Before we get into the debate itself, I think I had better tell you the outcome: it's a draw; a hung parliament; a Catch 22. Imagine if you can, me sitting at my computer (not a pretty sight). I am trying to write this article, and I've spent several days agonising over it. It's a toughie.

Now then, there will be some of you (probably most of you) who say, "Of course!". There will be others who say, "Well I've never done so." Others, still, will say, "Absolutely not!". And there will be some, like me, who simply don't know - well, not for sure, anyway. So, by popular request, we are going to examine the evidence.

Arguments for Vaccination

The canine diseases, like distemper, parvovirus, and leptospirosis, are cruel, nasty, diseases. They usually end in death. There's one thing I do know for sure: I don't want my dogs to get them.

For over a century, doctors and vets have advocated the use of vaccines. They say that vaccines have eradicated human illnesses such as smallpox, TB and typhoid; and canine diseases such as distempter.

According to the Oxford Veterinary Dictionary, a vaccine is, "a living or dead preparation used to stimulate active immunity in animals". In practice, this means that for, say, parvovirus, the actual infective agent - the parvo virus - is injected into the dog's system. This causes the dog's antibodies to spring into action: they bind to the offending virus molecules and render them harmless.

This then gives the dog an immunity to the diseases for a limited amount of time, hence the need to go back for some more next year.

In a recent article in the Sunday Times, James Alcock, a vet and advisor to the Pet Health Council, was quoted as saying: "Vaccination is the single most important thing you can do for your pet and is the reason geriatric medicine for dogs has become a reality."

Mr Alcock also stated, "I qualified in 1948, before vaccines were available, and in those days, half of all dogs never lived to see their first birthday."

Once a year, if your vet is on the ball - as most are - you will receive a reminder, prompting you to nip along and get your dog his annual booster. It is an established fact amongst the veterinary profession that vaccines are good for your dog. Without them, your dog has a 50/50 chance of dying before he is one year old.

Arguments Against Vaccination

Vaccines are big business. Some estimate that 30 per cent of a vet's income comes from annual vaccination boosters. One company alone, which specializes in vaccines, made profits of $104,000,000 on sales of $614,000,000 in 1993. In the first nine months of 1994, operating profits (animal industry) were up by $72,000,000 - an increase of 17 per cent. Not bad for a day job - but then there's no sin in making a profit.

Diane Stein, in her recently published book, 'The Natural Remedy Book for Dogs and Cats', states: "Evidence is mounting that vaccinations do harm, and often do not give the protection the veterinary system claims. Vaccines are not always effective, and it is not uncommon for animals to develop the diseases they have been vaccinated against.

"A stressed animal, or one who is ill or has a weakened immune system, may not develop the antibodies the vaccines are supposed to produce. The pet develops the disease, and the standard vet makes excuses or gives the disease another name. Too many dogs develop distemper and too many cats develop feline leukemia after vaccination; many die.

"Another result of vaccination is that the immune system, weakened and confused by the number of antigens it has been hit with all at once, goes awry, and any number of new diseases may result."

Juliette de Bairacli Levy, a well-respected, even famous, professional in the animal field, considers parvovirus "the worst canine ailment of all time". However, she is not alone in advising against the use of vaccines which she says is:

"A totally unnatural treatment since it can well be a root cause of cancer and diabetes, (diseases that were) formerly unknown in the canine world but now commonplace."

Of the parvovirus vaccine, Levy says, "I am of the opinion that Pasteur-inspired vaccine therapy makes misleading promises. Promises are given that if vaccines are used against this and that disease there will be total immunity. The countless vaccine failures have proved that this is not a reliable contract."

Two Americans, Tom R Phillips and Ronald D Schultz reported in 'Current Veterinary Therapy XI', published by WB Saunders Co of Philadelphia in 1992, "... it is important to recognize that although vaccination is an important weapon in preventing infectious diseases, immunization, like any therapeutic procedure, does have limitations and can cause adverse reactions."

Whilst Phillips and Schultz take great pains to stress that they do not believe polyvalent vaccines (several vaccines at once in the same injection) should not be used, they do state that "only healthy, clinically normal animals should be vaccinated".

Furthermore, these learned gentlemen go on to say, "A practice that was started many years ago and that lacks scientific validity or verification is annual revaccinations. Almost without exception there is no requirement for annual revaccination. Immunity to viruses often persists for years or for the life of the animal... Only the immune response to toxins requires boosters (eg: tetanus toxin booster, in humans, is recommended once every 7 to 10 years), and no toxin vaccines are currently used for dogs or cats.

"The practice of annual vaccination in our opinion should be considered of questionable efficacy unless it is used as a mechanism to provide an annual physical examination."

Jean Dodds, vet and researcher, believes that vaccines are only troublesome when combined with other unhelpful factors. She believes that animals who are subjected to stress, those undergoing hormonal changes (a bitch in season for example), or those with genetic weaknesses, should be treated with care.

Ms Dodds, in countless papers, advocates the use of killed vaccines rather than live vaccines, and believes that the vaccines for different viruses should be given separately and not all together as is the common practice.

In her paper, 'Vaccine Safety and Efficacy Revisited', Ms Dodds also states, "The increasing frequency of immune-mediated diseases over the past decade could well be attributed to the repetitious use of polyvalent MLV vaccines (multiple live virus vaccines). They can trigger autoimmune disorders, especially of blood cells (platelets, red blood cell), bone marrow failure and immuno-suppression."

Another vet, Sandra A Priest, wrote in the February 1992 issue of 'Kennel Healthline', "Only healthy animals should be vaccinated. A temperature check should be performed on dogs and puppies to be vaccinated; the temperature should be within normal limits. Vaccinations should be postponed when illnesses or an elevated temperature is present.

"Because stress is known to be a factor in the onset of immunologic disease, it is advisable to postpone bathing and to protect the vaccinated animal from extreme temperature or exertion stress for at least 24 hours. Dogs (puppies in particular) should be kept warm and dry for several days after vaccination."

The conclusion---

It is clear that the average, healthy, well-nourished dog may not have any problems after vaccination. This is why thousands of dogs are vaccinated every year with apparently no ill effect.

However, evidence is mounting to suggest (evidence, I hasten to add, that most vets will say is rubbish), that there are some pretty high risks, too. Illnesses such as arthritis, allergies, cancer, leukemia, hypothyroidism, and fits are sited by numerous 'experts' to be partially due to current vaccination regimes - more experts than there is space here to quote.

Whilst it may seem far fetched to link cancer with vaccines, bear in mind that cancer is a disease of the immune system; and vaccines are administered with the aim of stimulating the immune system.

So, you're hanged if you do, and hanged if you don't. Do not be deceived - this is not a flippant or irresponsible article. As dog owners, we are being given conflicting stories. Who speaks true? It's not easy to decide who to believe. By taking part in the Canine Health Census we could, of course, make our own minds up and hang the experts instead! (See Dec/Jan '94 and Feb/Mar '95 issues of PetDogs magazine, UK.)

MORE READING:

NEW  Vaccination For Dogs at Risk for Immunological Disorders

Arguments for Vaccinating:

The Vaccination Debate - Dean vs. Driscoll
North Shore Veterinary Hospital
Vaccines, Infectious Diseases and the Canine Immune System:
The Importance of Weighing the Risk to Benefit Ratio

Arguments Against and Alternatives to vaccinating:

Alt Vet Med - Vaccination Decisions - Susan G Wynn, DVM
The Immune System and Disease Resistance - W. Jean Dodds, DVM
Vaccinations...Too Many, Too Often? - T J Dunn, Jr. DVM
Are We Vaccinating Too Much? - Carin A. Smith DVM
Dr Dodd's Revised Vaccination Protocol - Dr W. Jean Dodds DVM
Colorado State University's Small Animal Vaccination Protocol