Dog vaccines, a waste of time, money and possibly harmful ?

Question

This question is aimed at professionals in the veterinary field.

i have been directed to this website http://www.truthaboutvaccines.org/index.html

which outlines the many reasons they claim pet vaccinations are unnecessary and harmful.

What is your opinion? we as consumers faithfully follow the advice given to us from vets, can these vaccinations really be harmful?

Answer 1

I'm sure a dog can have a bad reaction to a vaccination, but if you've ever seen a dog die from heartworm , rabies. parvo, distemper you'd get the shots.

Answer 2

Yes, they can.

There are plenty of vaccines given in the 5- and 7-way "combo" shots that are unnecessary, and throwing them all at the dog's immune system at once is, IMO, a bad idea, despite its convenience.

The Leptospirosis vaccine is known to cause terrible reactions in dogs.

The Lyme vaccine is not necessary in many regions.

The Corona vaccine is also unnecessary.

..as is, IMO, the Hepatitis vaccine.

The Bordatella (kennel cough) vaccine is basically useless.

Rabies is required by law; however this is a 3 year vaccine in my region, and I can deal with that.

In my kennel, we used a modified version of Dr. Jean Dodds' vaccination protocol:

http://www.wellpet.org/vaccines/dodds-sc...

We vaccinate for Parvo and Distemper, separately. In adults, we space the vaccines out over 3 years, and do not vaccinate dogs over 10.

As mammals, human beings only require vaccination as children. Why do we insist on loading our pets up with vaccines year after year?

Answer 3

  Yes, yearly vaccinations do seem to do damage to at least some pets.  Cats get injection site cancers even.  Most people will agree that puppy vaccinations are necessary, but the yearly shot deal seems to be generating a lot of negative press.

Can you imagine getting MMR, polio, DTP, flu, pneumonia etc... shots YEARLY for a human???

Answer 4

Vaccinosis is a very real danger and anyone who chooses not to educate themselves about it, is putting their dog at grave risk.  My dogs are titer tested before receiving vaccines.

Answer 5

I agree with Shih Tzu lover.  I think that the puppy vaccines are very important  Of course, you must give the Rabies vaccine, by law.  I do all the puppy things the first year, than do the 3 year Rabies and only get the boosters every three years also.  I do not do Lepto, but I do monthly Heartworm preventative all year round.  Also, I do the Bordatella on one of my dogs because goes to a groomer for a haircut on a regular basis.

Answer 6

I think vaccines have their place and serve a very important purpose, but I also think that they are way over used and not given the amount of careful consideration that they need to be safe.

Too many vets just give vaccine after vaccine all at once with no concern of what it does to the immune system. Too many people think that if some is good then more must be better and nothing could be further from the truth. While I believe 100% in vaccines, I also believe 110% that they are over used and done too close together. My dogs get vaccines but only the bare minimum and always a year apart for each vaccination to give the immune system time to cope and recover. When so many vaccines are done at once, the immune system is thrown into a state of shock and it can actually put the dog at risk.

I don't think vaccines should be totally forgotten, but they need to be taken seriously as they all have risks. Many dogs get vaccines for diseases they aren't even at risk for and many dogs get more vaccines than they need. It's proven that dogs don't need them every year to remain immune and when given every year you are just taxing the very system that can fight off the illness. But, when done right, I think they are very safe and help protect our pets. It's just that too many vets don't look at it that way and don't realize that more isn't always better.

Answer 7

My dog about died receiving the rabies shot so I am against them!!!

Answer 8

I am not a vet, but I have worked at a vet clinic, among other animal care places.

I believe that vaccines most definately have a time and a place.  Nothing will make that more evident to a person than taking care of a dog who has contracted parvo.  Never at any time in my life, other than in those cases, have I ever seen a dog who truly looked to me like he had lost the will to live.  

I don't follow faithfully follow the advice given to me by my vet on anything...especially not vaccines.  We all need to educate ourselves and make what we believe are the best decisions for our dogs.  

However, I think it is completely unrealistic to expect vets to start following protocols other than those stipulated by the manufacturer of the vaccines.  Certainly, official statements from the AVMA will help them make progress in this as well.  I cannot fault vets for simply following what is considered "official protocol", at this point I believe they simply cannot afford not to.  As pet owners, however, we do have a choice and we can make decisions when it comes to our pet's heath.

Answer 9

I'm not a vet, i'm just a pet owner but vaccinations cover Parvo - I'm sure many people that have had a puppy with Parvovirus would tell you that vaccinations ARE necessary. Boosters are different, in some cases dogs don't need yearly boosters but for puppy vaccinations would you honestly risk it? I certainly wouldn't. I get my vaccinations against potentially fatal diseases and so does my dog.