To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate

[MysticalMom]

I was flipping through the t.v. channels this morning and happened upon The Martha Stewart Show. I hate Martha for the most part and only stopped because she had some cat lady on the show and they were showing some really pretty cats of all different breeds.

They were talking about getting new pets etc. and said that once your cat or dog gets their kitten/puppy shots they are immune to everything and you should never get them vaccinated again. They even went as far to say that if you continue to vaccinate you could be doing damage to their immune systems. I had to back it up and listen again because I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

I take my all animals to the vet and get their shots on schedule. Am I harming them by vaccinating them? WTF?

 

[cattitude]

I was flipping through the t.v. channels this morning and happened upon The Martha Stewart Show. I hate Martha for the most part and only stopped because she had some cat lady on the show and they were showing some really pretty cats of all different breeds.

They were talking about getting new pets etc. and said that once your cat or dog gets their kitten/puppy shots they are immune to everything and you should never get them vaccinated again. They even went as far to say that if you continue to vaccinate you could be doing damage to their immune systems. I had to back it up and listen again because I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

I take my all animals to the vet and get their shots on schedule. Am I harming them by vaccinating them? WTF?

Yearly vaccinations are NOT needed. In fact, there is now a new protocol for most vaccines to be done every three years.

 

[MysticalMom]

Yearly vaccinations are NOT needed. In fact, there is now a new protocol for most vaccines to be done every three years.

Yes, most of my dogs and cats shots are every 3 years. But this lady was saying that all vaccinations after the 1st round are not necessary and can actually being doing more harm than good.

 

[cattitude]

Yes, most of my dogs and cats shots are every 3 years. But this lady was saying that all vaccinations after the 1st round are not necessary and can actually being doing more harm than good.

I am of that belief as well. You get the puppy/kitten shots and the one year booster. After that, I don't think they're needed.

W Jean Dodds Vaccine Protocol VACCINATION PROTOCOLS

NaturalRearing.com ~ Articles

 

[ketelone]

I just called the Well Pet clinic to ask this question. they said some vets give 3 year rabies and distemper vaccines. Puppies only get 1 year rabies and then they can have the 3 year rabies vaccine if they come in BEFORE their rabies vaccine has expired. I also asked them if it hurts the animal to get yearly shots and they said ."absolutley not."

 

[Kiwi]

Hummm..my cats get all shots as needed...Why trust fate and let them catch something bad? I am no vet, so I trust MY vet to do right by the cats, and me.
Kittie shots, and then every 3 years....makes for a happy and healthy pair of cats!

 

[cattitude]

I just called the Well Pet clinic to ask this question. they said some vets give 3 year rabies and distemper vaccines. Puppies only get 1 year rabies and then they can have the 3 year rabies vaccine if they come in BEFORE their rabies vaccine has expired. I also asked them if it hurts the animal to get yearly shots and they said ."absolutley not."

Because they make money off of the shots.

 

[ketelone]

Because they make money off of the shots.

I don't know why they would say "it won't hurt the animal to get shots yearly."? Why would they intentionally want to hurt an animal?

 

[cattitude]

I don't know why they would say "it won't hurt the animal to get shots yearly."? Why would they intentionally want to hurt an animal?

You have to do what you feel is right for your animal. BUT if you do research and talk to your vet (my vets at PF are great) there are shots that are NOT necessary every three years or at all.

The leukemia vaccine for cats are know to cause cancer...the three year rabies vaccine for cats are known to cause cancer, the one year vaccine is better. The lyme vaccine for dogs doesn't work very well and many vets don't tell you that erhlichiosis is much worse and there is NO vaccine for that.

 

[MysticalMom]

I'm going with catt. I knew she was the one to ask.

Thanks!

 

[tes218]

You have to do what you feel is right for your animal. BUT if you do research and talk to your vet (my vets at PF are great) there are shots that are NOT necessary every three years or at all.

The leukemia vaccine for cats are know to cause cancer...the three year rabies vaccine for cats are known to cause cancer, the one year vaccine is better. The lyme vaccine for dogs doesn't work very well and many vets don't tell you that erhlichiosis is much worse and there is NO vaccine for that.

My cats are indoor only and my vet will only give rabies because that is state law. The rest he suggests they don't get but leaves the choice up to me.

 

[Kiwi]

You have to do what you feel is right for your animal. BUT if you do research and talk to your vet (my vets at PF are great) there are shots that are NOT necessary every three years or at all.

The leukemia vaccine for cats are know to cause cancer...the three year rabies vaccine for cats are known to cause cancer, the one year vaccine is better. The lyme vaccine for dogs doesn't work very well and many vets don't tell you that erhlichiosis is much worse and there is NO vaccine for that.

Wow....you a Vet or something..you seem to know everything about animals!

You saying I should not get my 2 girls vaccinated?

 

[cattitude]

Wow....you a Vet or something..you seem to know everything about animals!

You saying I should not get my 2 girls vaccinated?

I believe you know I'm not a vet. I read a lot and am proactive in the care of my animals. I spend a good deal of time in my vet's office with all of my dogs and cats and discuss every aspect of their care.

Funny...people were talking about the yearly vaccination thing for years...how bad vaccines could be but yet veterinarians still recommended yearly vaccinations, and just this past year the protocol changed.

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You have to take into consideration your animals' exposure to other animals, etc. and discuss with your vet.

 

[tes218]

Wow....you a Vet or something..you seem to know everything about animals!

You saying I should not get my 2 girls vaccinated?

It may surprise you that a Vet doesn't know everything. If you really read what she wrote you wouldn't ask that question.

 

[cattitude]

It may surprise you that a Vet doesn't know everything. If you really read what she wrote you wouldn't ask that question.

She knows.

 

[Kiwi]

She knows.

Nope..I dont..you just come across as knowing alot about animals.
I figured you were a Vet or something like that.:shrug:

 

[kwillia]

You have to take into consideration your animals' exposure to other animals, etc. and discuss with your vet.

This is a key point for me and should be considered closely...

Mine had gone the previous two years without getting yearly boosters for all shots because I didn't ever expose mine to dog parks, groomers, kennels or walk them in popular public dog walking paths. However, this past year I decided to boost them for most all things again because I had started walking them almost daily in public dog walking paths and I fear the common and deadly ails they could be exposed to simply by walking where sick dogs have gone before them.

It's really a tough decision and I've done tons of reading and tons of talking to my vet and still each year I'm discombobulated and insucure with my decisions when the subject comes up again.

 

[kwillia]

... and with the economy going the way it is... I believe fewer and fewer people will be putting money into pet innoculations thus resulting in increasing cases of deadly illnesses for pets as it spreads within the communities.