[tizaala]

Have a look at this -very interesting

http://www.thedogplace.org/VACCINES/Vaccinosis-Death_Staff-1112.asp

[SallyintNorth]

Horror stories of vets just prescribing and prescribing instead of getting to root causes.  Some doctors seem to do the same...

It sounds as though the US do vaccination quite quite differently to how we do over here.

My vet is always telling me I must vaccinate all dogs and cats every year and that the immunity does not last so that if I miss a year it's back to the start and two doses.

Not vaccinating with anything while an animal (or human come to that) is on any kind of immunosuppressant sounds like the most basic common sense, doesn't it?

[tizaala]

I think (but that is just my opinion), the best thing is to do a yearly bloodtest to check whether the immunity is up and up to now I do not know of a single case where it was not but in case it is not up THEN you can give a booster

[funkyfish]

SadlyVaccination titres are unreliable, most vets only vaccinated when they have to. We do a full course for dogs then only some bits every 3 yeArs some every 2 and lepto every year- it only just lasts 12 months if that. Cats need yearly boosters as the flu bit doesn't last long and the Leucaemia bit is only 40-60% reliable! In 16 years of small animal practice I have never seen a major reaction to vaccines- sore necks and lumps but nothing life threatening. I have seen many dogs very I'll or die from ' natural' products such as herbal remedies, tea tree oil and garlic.

Nothing is 100% safe and unfortunately not everyone is above board, but conturary to popular belief, vets are not out to harm animals or make mega bucks off people! We spend time every year reviewing our drugs and vaccines to make sure we are using the safest products and not over using them, including antibiotics etc.

Sorry to rant had a rough week!

[lachlanandmarcus]

one things vets could make sure is that they look about vaccs etc when an animal is brought in with a lump on their body! Our dog nearly got knocked out to do a biopsy and only at the last minute a friend of a friend who is a vet too said 'stop them, it's probably a vaccine reaction). the vets hadnt even looked at the dogs notes or asked any questions about recent vaccs before piling in there :-((

[funkyfish]

Yeah unfortunately most vets over think stuff (too cleaver for their own good!) thats why they need us nurses!

There is a type of tumor that has been linked to vaccine reactions (a carcinoma) so if the lump does not go down it needs to be biopsied. These are more common in cats then dogs- thought to be linked to the FeLV part of the vaccine. so cats should be vaccinated in the hind leg to see if neck lumps are vaccine related.

[montana]

Lost my 3 year old whippet a few years back, took her in for her booster as I was going to breed from her ( normally only have puppy course done), her white blood cells started to attack her red blood cells. Vet suggested that she had her spleen removed and would have to spend the rest of her days on steroids.
She was dead within  10 days

[Sylvia]

Oh, Montana, I am so sorry to hear that. I have endless arguments with my vet. who insists animals should have boosters every year. I have pups done when hey are tiny and vulnerable and then I would rather they develop a natural immunity, much more effective.
I never ask that a bitch be vaccinated if they come to visit the boys, only that a vaginal swab is taken to test for any bacterial infection.
A friend only uses homeopathic vaccine but I'm too much of a coward to try that on pups

[montana]

My argument is that we do not have adults and children vaccinated every year, I'm sorry if I appear sceptical, its the same with my horse, could not get a appointment for his boosters  and it over ran by 2 days , I was told by the vet he would have to go through the whole course of immunisation ( 3 jabs) again.
It just seems to be a money making exercise!

[Lesley Silvester]

Montana, that seems to be going OTT.  I'm sure a few weeks isn't going to make any difference.  I've been a week or two late taking mine in and the vet has NEVER said we need to start from scratch.