Pet Vaccination Dangers and Benefits

Vaccines are a marvel of modern medicine. I personally feel relief and gratitude for my position in line for the Covid-19 vaccine. This doesn’t undermine the fact that I am nervous about having a foreign substance injected into my body. There are risks. There are also benefits of being vaccinated. The same goes for our Best Friends. Pet vaccination dangers and benefits are worth paying attention to, for the health of our dogs.

While I do believe that vaccines are beneficial, I exercise extreme caution when my vet reccommends new vaccines for my Best Friends. Many pet owners believe that our pets are over-vaccinated. Many pet owners also simply agree to the barrage of vaccinations their vet recommends. In general, there is a great deal of confusion surrounding vaccines.

When we (and our pets) are vaccinated, the vaccine stimulates an immune response from our body, which in-turn produces antibodies to fight off that disease. Vaccines contain weakened versions of the diseases so they don’t make us sick. Here is a brief article from the World Health Organization on how vaccines work.

Many people are suspicious of vaccines because of some of the ingredients that will be injected.

• Preservatives: To prevent contamination
• Adjuvants: These are metals (aluminum) or salts to help boost the body’s response to the vaccine
• Stabilizers like gelatin or sugars; so that the vaccine stays effective after manufacturing
• Cell Culture Materials: Egg proteins to grow enough of the virus or bacteria to make the vaccine
• Residual inactivating Ingredients: Formaldehyde (if you’ve read my other blogs, you know I don’t like this stuff). Kills viruses and toxins during the manufacturing process
• Residual Antibiotics: Neomycin; prevents contamination during the manufacturing process.

More on these ingredients from the CDC’s Website.

Vaccines in Our Pets

People are rigntfully concerned about vaccinating their pets year in and year out, over and over, especially if the vaccine is not necessary. There are 2 types of vaccines that dogs are exposed to, Core Vaccines and Non-Core Vaccines.

Core Vaccines

These are the first vaccines your vet will recommend for your new puppy from 8-16 weeks old. Core vaccines protect our dogs from life threating diseases that are spread all over the world. The mortality rate for these diseases is high without the vaccines, and vaccination has historically protected our pets from these diseases.

• Canine Distemper: A highly contagious, serious, and often lethal disease in dogs. Distemper can effect almost all of a dog’s body systems, making it difficult to treat.
• Canine Parvovirus: Disease of the stomach and small intestines. Puppies are most vulnerable to parvo, and should receive vaccination 3 times from 6-12 weeks of age. Parvo is highly contagious but prevented through vaccination.
• Canine Adenovirus: Canine hepatitis. Often fatal, but prevented through vaccination.
• Canine Parainfluenza: A respiratory illness and one of many causes of kennel cough in dogs. It is highly contagious and present in situations where there are large groups of dogs together.
• Rabies: Not all countries require rabies vaccinations, however in most parts of the US, the rabies vaccine is required by law every 3 years.

You have probably heard about this barrage of vaccines; the DHPP vaccine that all shelter puppies receive, and puppies adopted from a breeder should receive prior to adoption.

On a side note, our dog Wally was exposed to Distemper when he was transported from Texas to Michigan with a group of puppies. It was serious and scary! Although he’d just received his vaccine, there was no guarantee he wouldn’t get sick. We were lucky that the incident only resulted in a couple of blood tests but no actual illness. The Humane Society we rescued Wally from had to close down for a month due to that one case, since Distemper is so contagious!

Non Core Vaccines

These vaccines are optional or only utilized in certain circumstances. These circumstances depend on your geographic location and the risks of illness to your pet. Proceed with caution and research each before permitting these vaccines.

• Canine Influenza Virus (H3N8): A respiratory virus much like influenza in humans.
• Bordetella: Also known as “Kennel Cough.” Dogs who are in close proximity to other dogs outside of their homes should have a bordetella vaccine. Many groomers, trainers, and doggie daycare providers require dogs who visit their establishments to have a bordetella vaccine.
• Leptospirosis: Transmitted through exposure to water that has been contaminated with urine from sick animals. Dogs often contract it from swimming in or drinking stagnant, contaminated water.
• Lyme Disease: This is transmitted by ticks, so if you live in an area where ticks are prolific you may choose to have your dog vaccinated against Lyme. I suggest you do your research on these non-core vaccines. * My dog Wally recently tested positive for Lyme. I choose not to vaccinate him for these “non-cores”. He showed no symptoms despite having dangerously high numbers, responded to treatment and is fully recovered (if you can call it that since he never became ill) 4 months later.

Pet Vaccination Dangers and Benefits

Risks of Overvaccinating

Many veterinary experts, like Dr. Ronald Schultz who has done exhaustive research on vaccines, believe that most dogs will be protected for years with that initial round of vaccinations. Yet we continue to vaccinate our pets each year, potentially exposing them to harmful ingredients and side effects. According to Dr. Schultz, “The patient receives no benefit and may be placed at serious risk when an unnecessary vaccine is given. Few or no scientific studies have demonstrated a need for cats or dogs to be revaccinated.”

Some of the risks of overvaccination include adverse side effects, including chronic illness, autoimmune diseases, and even cancer. Studies suggest that the risks increase with each dose of vaccine, and that smaller dogs are at a much higher risk than larger dogs. This is in part because many vet clinics administer the same sized dose to a small 6 pound Havanese as a 110 pound Great Dane!

It’s worth doing the research to see if your veterinarian is vaccinating your dog every year, or multiple times per year to cut down on risk to your Best Friend.

An Aside on Veterinary Clinics and Profits; It’s BIG Business!

Sadly, many small vet clinics are being bought by big business (big pet food) and yearly vaccinations increase their bottom line, so there is not likely to be any slowing of vaccinations in our pets. Mars Petcare (yes, the same Mars that is also a candy company) is the biggest pet food company in the world.

Mars is also the largest owner of veterinary clinics in North America, owning all of the Banfield Pet Hospitals and VCA Veterinary clinics-over 1,800 vet clinics! Mars’ profits in 2019 topped $18 billion! Like many of the topics I share, this is such a large, convoluted subject that deserves its own separate research.

Titer Testing

A titer test is a test where your dog’s blood is tested for antibodies to certain diseases. If antibodies are present, your dog does not require a vaccine for that certain disease. Titer tests results can also fluctuate in response to stress, so they may not be 100% accurate.

In a discussion with my vet, he revealed that titer testing is more expensive than the vaccination itself. You could save money down the road on complications related to the vaccine itself.

Pet parents are becoming more educated as well, so as titer testing becomes more widely adopted, perhaps the prices will come down.

Further, some boarding kennels require actual vaccination records to prove immunity, not a titer that shows your dog contains the antibodies. Finally, some vaccines, like the rabies vaccine MUST be administered according to the law. Even if a titer test shows your dog has the antibodies to fight off disease.

Vaccination Recommendations

It’s best to talk with your vet regarding pet vaccination dangers and benefits. Most vets recommend the DHPP core vaccines once every 3 years. I personally opt for the rabies and distemper vaccines only, as rabies is required by law and I’ve had the scare with distemper. It would be irresponsible for me not to vaccinate against something so deadly, yet so preventable. Both dogs are now adults and received the full course of core vaccines as pups.

I am fortunate to work with a holistic vet now, who provides titer testing for a reasonable cost. Therefore, if my dogs are covered with their initial distemper vaccine, I will only have to check with a titer test when they’re due, rather than the vaccine. We still have to get rabies shots by law and will do so.

In conclusion, over vaccinating your dogs could lead to detrimental reactions. Most vets do not recommend revaccinating every year, instead opting for vaccination every 3 years. It’s best to talk to your vet about what your Best Friend REALLY needs in regards to vaccinations. If you feel like your vet is pushing too many vaccinations, do your research and choose the ones that your pet will most benefit from or find a new vet that will support your choice.

Dog(s) of the Week!

Meet Tubby and Shadow! These gents are enjoying their senior years, in their third and forever home.

Tubby is an active 11 year old who is a bit shy around loud noises, while Shadow is a needy, vocal, and loving 10 year old. Both fellas are black labs, although Shadow may be some type of mix with his long legs and curly coat.

Tubby and Shadow revel in time hiking and lounging with their beloved humans. Their favorite food is Best Friends’ Turkey Recipe, and Peanut Butter Birdie Bites from Best Friends Kitchen!

Want your Best Friends featured? Fill out this 4 question form!