Would you like to save money and have a healthier pet? Let me
tell you a story. One day, my German Shepherd was asleep, as
usual, when he suddenly 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
About Author :
Angela Predhomme is the owner and creator of the holistic pet
directory, Alternatives for Animals, at
http://www.alternativesforanimals.com
