Vaccination protocols for dogs and cats should be individualized.
Canine and feline vaccinations, like any other medical procedure, can have adverse effects. However, they are also essential to keeping dogs and cats healthy.
How do canine and feline vaccines work?
Vaccinations for dogs and cats function by allowing the pet to develop an immune response to a carefully chosen form of an infectious disease in an attempt to provide protection against that disease. Many of these infectious diseases can be extremely serious or even fatal if an unvaccinated dog or cat becomes infected with the disease.
What are the potential risks when a dog or cat is vaccinated?
The most common side effect is an anaphylactic, or allergic, reaction to the vaccine. This can occur to any canine or feline vaccine and can occur even if the same vaccine has been given previously. This type of reaction is generally acute, occuring shortly after the vaccination is administered. Symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction include swelling of the muzzle or eyelids of the dog or cat, welts evident on the skin of the dog or cat and possibly vomiting.
Vaccine-associated sarcomas in cats
Vaccine-associated sarcomas are a particularly agressive form of tumor which has been associated with feline vaccines, particularly the feline leukemia vaccine and rabies vaccine. Estimates of the rate of occurrence of these sarcomas range from 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 100,000 vaccinated cats.
Other potential side effects to canine and feline vaccinations
Other potential side effects are not fully understood and/or documented. However, damage to the immune system has been postulated, which may contribute to damage to major organ systems, such as the kidneys.
What can a pet owner do to protect their dog or cat from vaccine side effects?
Dog and cat owners need to be aware of the fact that these side effects can occur, but they also need to be aware of the fact that the potential risk of vaccinating their pet may be much lower than the risk of their pet developing the disease in question. Though it is important not to over-vaccinate pets, it is equally important not to under-vaccinate them.
Deciding which vaccinations are appropriate for the individual dog or cat
Vaccine protocols and schedules need to be individualized to fit the needs of individual pets. Different dogs and cats lead different lifestyles, just as people do. While some dogs and cats may have little risk of becoming infected with a specific disease, another dog or cat with a different lifestyle may be placed at much higher risk of infection. A good example of this would be feline leukemia in cats or Lyme disease in dogs. Dogs and cats should be vaccinated only against diseases for which they are at risk.
There are a few diseases, such as parvovirus in puppies and feline distemper in kittens, which are so common and so often fatal that almost all puppies and kittens should receive vaccinations for these diseases. These vaccinations are known as "core" vaccines.
There are other diseases which many pets do not need to be vaccinated against because their risk of exposure is very low or the symptoms caused by the disease are generally mild. These vaccines are known as "non-core" vaccines.
How often should pet vaccines be administered?
Controversy exists as to how often many of the vaccines need to be administered. Many veterinarians, based on current research, are recommending core vaccines be given only every three years. However, not all veterinarians feel comfortable with this recommendation. Other vaccines, such as feline leukemia, leptospirosis and Lyme disease likely need to be given annually when determined to be necessary to maintain the pet's health. Rabies vaccines must always be administered following local laws.
The best thing a pet owner can do is have a frank discussion with their veterinarian regarding the various risks/benefits of vaccination and design a vaccination protocol which is specific for the pet in question. This vaccine protocol should protect the dog or cat only against the diseases for which there is risk of exposure and these vaccines should be administered no more often than necessary. The risk inherent with giving any vaccination should never outweigh the risk of the pet becoming infected with the disease.
- Pet Health 101: What vaccinations does a dog need?
- Pet Health 101: What is parvovirus and how can dog owners protect their dogs?
- Pet Health 101: What is canine distemper and how does it affect dogs?
- Vaccine now available for potentially deadly canine influenza virus
- Canine influenza – A contagious flu virus easily passed from dog to dog
- Parvovirus in Dogs
- Leptospirosis in Dogs
- Canine and Feline Rabies
- Canine Lyme Disease
- Canine Kennel Cough
The copyright of the article Pet health 101: Are vaccinations safe for dogs and cats? is owned by Lorie Huston. Permission to republish Pet health 101: Are vaccinations safe for dogs and cats? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Photo Credit: Flickr.com/Photos by Lina
Comments
Personally, I would much rather risk the off chance that there would be a side effect to a pet vaccination than to see a pet suffer from a disease like Felike Leukemia, Rabies, Distemper or any of the other preventable illnesses.
Thank goodness my vet is the one who talked to me about the dangers of overvaccination. The main three side effects of the rabies vaccine are:
1.cancer
2.epilepsy
3. allergies (severe enough to warrant allergy shots.)
Having had a dog with epilepsy due to vaccinosis and one who took allergy shots for years set me off on a study of vaccines.
My conclusion? They are not worth the risk.
(And yes, I can support that with studies, right after I find my birth certificate, I can look for them!)
I really don't believe in rabies as a valid risk, my cats don't go outside, so are not exposed to anything and my dogs immune system will protect him from anything else.
(One of my previous dogs did get parvo once after being vaccinated for it years in a row - it was no big deal to treat.)
Lorie, you didn't really think I would pass this up twice did you??? LOL.
Celia and Tracy, thank you both for your comments.
Celia, I do agree with you that a properly vaccinated pet is a safer, healthier pet.
Tracy, we've discussed this several times elsewhere and do not entirely agree on the matter, but I knew you wouldn't be able to resist the opportunity to comment :-)
I agree with you that vaccinations have definitely been implicated in causing allergic reactions and cancer. The research on this is indisputable. The verdict is still undetermined on vaccine-induced epilepsy, but it is a possibility. I think what needs to be considered is whether the risk of these things happening is higher than the risk of the pet developing the disease being vaccinated against and which result is likely to be more serious for the pet.
I do think it bears mentioning that your statement about treating dogs infected with parvovirus is, IMO, extremely inaccurate. Parvovirus is a serious disease and is quite often fatal, especially in puppies.
Tracy,
I should probably point out also that most communities legislate rabies vaccinations for pets because of the threat of people being exposed to rabies. Most communities do not differentiate between indoor and outdoor pets in this regard. Right or wrong, the risk to humans outweighs the risk to pets in most communities in relation to rabies vaccines.
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) dog and cat vaccination guidelines warn that vaccination should be minimized to reduce the risk of adverse reactions. The guidelines also acknowledge "there is gross under-reporting of vaccine-associated adverse events which impedes knowledge of the ongoing safety of these products".
Is it ethical for vets to ignore the WSAVA guidelines, and to continue to urge their clients to have unnecessary and possibly harmful revaccinations for their pets?
It is the duty of members of the veterinary profession to advise their clients of the latest scientific information on long duration of immunity, and possible immediate and delayed adverse reactions to vaccination.
If the veterinary profession is genuinely concerned about the health of pets, the emphasis should be on improving herd immunity by vaccinating a greater proportion of the pet population, rather than unnecessarily revaccinating some individual animals over and over again.
Elizabeth:
Thank you for your comments and well said!
I agree that herd immunity is an admirable goal, but I also think it needs to be understood that as veterinarians, we are responsible for the health of the individual pets that we care for.
I do believe that veterinarians owe their clients up-to date information on vaccinations as well as other health care topics. Ultimately, the treatment for each patient needs to be a joint decision made by both the veterinarian and the client based on what is in the best interests of the animal in question.
Just to add to Lori's response to Tracy...parvo may not be a "big deal" to treat in an older dog with more reserves, but for puppies, the disease is debilitating and deadly. Even though some puppies still contract parov in spite of good vaccine protocols, the vast majority are protected from a disease that devastated the dog community in the early 1980s.
As far as seizures (and/or epilepsy) being induced by vaccines, there is no proof of that at this time. My bigger concern with seizures/epilepsy would be knowing the background of the pet. Many breeds are predisposed to seizures.
Tom:
Thank you for your comments. You're right on all counts.
Tom, yes I agree that puppies and kittns are more vulnerable to *anything* even fleas! (Elderly dogs as well.) Which is all the more reason not to muck about with their immune systems.
I think the study of vaccine side effects was written up by a Dr. Schultz? But I'd have to check.
And with all due respect because I love your articles Lorie and your comments and I appreciate so many of the Vets I have encountered in my life.....
The primary goal of a Veterinarian in our society is not to insure my pets health but to protect the public.
That is stated clearly in the oath and I think the mandatory rabies vaccine spells it out as well. 40 years ago 2 people died here from rabies so now we vaccinate out the wazoo in case the rabies boogey man comes around.
I remember asking a vet once why dogs live such short lives now when "down on the farm" they so often lived to be 20 or more. Why the cancer and allergies?
Her answer?
"Overvaccination and commercial food."
Tracy,
Interesting perspective about public health being the primary goal of a veterinarian. However, I asked some of the clients I saw today what they thought about that subject. The overwhelming response was that they felt that keeping their pet healthy was or should be the primary goal of any veterinarian. Most also said that the veterinarian's ability to help keep their pet health was their primary reason for choosing one veterinarian over another.
Granted, this was not a scientifically designed study. Just an informal talk with some of my clients. But none of these people thought that protecting the public health was the main job of a veterinarian.
I don't disagree with you that protecting the public is a worthy goal and part of my function as a veterinarian. I just don't feel it is the primary function. And apparently my clients don't feel that way either :-)
Much of what I do on a day to day basis has nothing to do with protecting the public.
I don't disagree. It absolutely SHOULD be the primary job of a Veterinarian, but technically and legally it's not.
It's not just Vets either. Many think that a cities Animal Control office is there to help pets as a primary goal. I wish. Their mission is to protect the public as well.Unfortunately many are even run under a state Public Health Department.
I have been thinking all day of great Vets I have worked with who do make a pets health and happiness their primary goal. (I suspect you are one of these Lorie.)
But the "machine" as a whole is not. Remember those guidelines that came out from the AVMA that essentially prohibited any type of traditional care or a Vet educating their clients about traditional methods available EVEN if the pet was dying?
Hmm...that scared one Homeopathic Vet here from practicing anymore and she studied with Pitcairn. There were two Vets who ignored it and continue to do Chiropratic and Acupuncture.
May there be many more.
Lorie,
Your informal survey might be a good one to do on www.surveymonkey.com
I just found out about this and love it already.
Hi, Tracy.
As far as the AVMA, it really can't "prohibit" anything. The AVMA does have lobbying power in congress. However, as an organization, the AVMA cannot prohibit its members from doing something, even if their position statement is in direct opposition. They are not a policing organization.
You probably are aware also that many of the AVMA's decisions are not necessarily supported by all of their members. In fact, some of their position statements have been fairly controversial, as you noted.
IMHO, any veterinarian who does not believe that maintaining the health of the pets he/she cares for is their most important goal needs to look for a new job/career. Though the oath does mention public health, it also mentions the protection of animal health and the relief of animal suffering.
You said:
"IMHO, any veterinarian who does not believe that maintaining the health of the pets he/she cares for is their most important goal needs to look for a new job/career. Though the oath does mention public health, it also mentions the protection of animal health and the relief of animal suffering."
And it's just that sort of thinking that makes you a great vet I bet!
It was guidelines that the AVMA came out with. Enough to scare a great Vet here from continuing her Homeopathic practice.
I remember asking a friend of mine who is a Chiropractor for humans why the AMA supported traditional medicine, even including in the guidleines that Doctors should be aware enough about it to be able to suggest it to their clients.
My friend told me that the Homeopaths, Chiropractors, and Acupuncturists, etc all worked as a team suing the AMA to be included in the guidelines.
I thought that was a rather sad comment on the state of health care for all animals (human or not.)
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