| There is new research & information about vaccination schedules in the animal health care communtity today. I have read and heard of everything from no vaccines, vaccines beginning at four weeks to using homeopathic means. I am using the protocol recommended below. I have used this vaccination schedule for over twenty-five years with no disease or illnesses. There are tests available to test the immune response to vaccinations & a study shown below. |
| We do fecal checks every four months. |
Vaccinations for the new puppy.....
Susan Thorpe Vargas, Ph.D.
One of the most controversial issues in veterinary science today concerns vaccinations.
What people are questioning is the frequency of vaccination, some safety vs efficacy concerns and even whether to
vaccinate at all. So when you ask your vet when to bring you new puppy back for its next shot, be aware there is no
one correct answer, how often to vaccinate will depend upon quite a few different factors. Some of these
considerations include your puppy's environment, its breed, the age at which the first shot was given and the interval
between shots. Also important are the kinds of vaccines neccessary for the area you live in and what type, e.g.,
whether a killed, recominanat or a modified live-type vaccine is being used.
The Vaccine Controversy
The first point to consider is the safety issue. Vaccines can be harmful. We vaccinate because the advantages
outweigh the risks. Just ask anyone who has seen a beloved pet die of parvo or distemper. But one should question
the sense of vaccination against Lyme disease or Leptospirosis in an area where these diseases are not a problem.
This is why the dog's environment is so important. High-risk dogs are those that live in close proximity with each
other, as in a shelter or kennel situation, or show dogs constantly exposed to dogs from all over the country. However,
there are risks associated with vaccinations and when such risks weighed against the benefits usually are considered
acceptable, except when it is your dog that suffers the untoward reaction. For instance some dogs, after being
vaccinated with modified live canine distemper vaccine (see types of vaccines) can develop aggression, seizures, a lack
of coordination and other neurological dysfunctions caused from a rare condition called postvaccinal canine distemper
virus encephalitis. Another problem noted with genetically susceptable animals is that it is possible for vaccination to
trigger various autoimmune diseases, including several blood disorders and rabies vaccine-induce encephalitis.
Another source of controversy is the recommended frequency of vaccinations. Although yearly boosters are
recommended by most vets, for many diseases the yearly booster really is not obligatory and may be counter
productive and increase the risk for adverse reactions. However, a yearly checkup is necessary for the same reasons
you would have one yourself. For the low-risk pet, once the initial puppy series is completed, a booster at one year
and another at three years should suffice unitl your dog's senior years. With the new licensing requirement duration of
efficacy studies are now available. These data were only recently required. However, animal vaccines should
compare favorably with the duration of human vaccines, and the results cerainly reflect that. On the other hand, no
data supports yearly vaccinations either.
Below is a table from an article by Dr. Robert D. Schultz, Duration of Immunity to Canine Vaccines: What We Know
and Don't Know. Ronald D. Schultz is Professor and Chair of the Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of
Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Susan Thorpe Vargas, Ph.D.
One of the most controversial issues in veterinary science today concerns vaccinations.
What people are questioning is the frequency of vaccination, some safety vs efficacy concerns and even whether to
vaccinate at all. So when you ask your vet when to bring you new puppy back for its next shot, be aware there is no
one correct answer, how often to vaccinate will depend upon quite a few different factors. Some of these
considerations include your puppy's environment, its breed, the age at which the first shot was given and the interval
between shots. Also important are the kinds of vaccines neccessary for the area you live in and what type, e.g.,
whether a killed, recominanat or a modified live-type vaccine is being used.
The Vaccine Controversy
The first point to consider is the safety issue. Vaccines can be harmful. We vaccinate because the advantages
outweigh the risks. Just ask anyone who has seen a beloved pet die of parvo or distemper. But one should question
the sense of vaccination against Lyme disease or Leptospirosis in an area where these diseases are not a problem.
This is why the dog's environment is so important. High-risk dogs are those that live in close proximity with each
other, as in a shelter or kennel situation, or show dogs constantly exposed to dogs from all over the country. However,
there are risks associated with vaccinations and when such risks weighed against the benefits usually are considered
acceptable, except when it is your dog that suffers the untoward reaction. For instance some dogs, after being
vaccinated with modified live canine distemper vaccine (see types of vaccines) can develop aggression, seizures, a lack
of coordination and other neurological dysfunctions caused from a rare condition called postvaccinal canine distemper
virus encephalitis. Another problem noted with genetically susceptable animals is that it is possible for vaccination to
trigger various autoimmune diseases, including several blood disorders and rabies vaccine-induce encephalitis.
Another source of controversy is the recommended frequency of vaccinations. Although yearly boosters are
recommended by most vets, for many diseases the yearly booster really is not obligatory and may be counter
productive and increase the risk for adverse reactions. However, a yearly checkup is necessary for the same reasons
you would have one yourself. For the low-risk pet, once the initial puppy series is completed, a booster at one year
and another at three years should suffice unitl your dog's senior years. With the new licensing requirement duration of
efficacy studies are now available. These data were only recently required. However, animal vaccines should
compare favorably with the duration of human vaccines, and the results cerainly reflect that. On the other hand, no
data supports yearly vaccinations either.
Below is a table from an article by Dr. Robert D. Schultz, Duration of Immunity to Canine Vaccines: What We Know
and Don't Know. Ronald D. Schultz is Professor and Chair of the Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of
Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
| If you have a preferred vaccination schedule for your Silverado Puppy, let us know. |
Vaccine Type
Canine Distemper Virus
Rockbom Strain.......................
Onderstepoort Strain...............
Canine Adenovirus-2 (CAV-2).........
Canine Parvovirus-2 (CAV-2)........
Canine Rabies................................
Canine Parainfluenza......................
Bordetella Bronchiseptica...............
Canine Coronavirus........................
Borriella Bergdorferi........................
(Lyme Disease)
Leptospira Interrorgans...................
Leptospira Icterohaemorraghic.......
Giardia............................................
Canine Distemper Virus
Rockbom Strain.......................
Onderstepoort Strain...............
Canine Adenovirus-2 (CAV-2).........
Canine Parvovirus-2 (CAV-2)........
Canine Rabies................................
Canine Parainfluenza......................
Bordetella Bronchiseptica...............
Canine Coronavirus........................
Borriella Bergdorferi........................
(Lyme Disease)
Leptospira Interrorgans...................
Leptospira Icterohaemorraghic.......
Giardia............................................
Minimum Duration
of Immunity
7 years by titer test
15 years by challenge
5 years by titer test
9 years by challenge
7 years by titer test
9 years by challenge
7 years by challenge
3 years by titer test
7 years by challenge
3 years by titer test
9 months by challenge
Lifetime immunity by
titer test & challenge
(Immunity is provided whether
by vaccination or by exposure)
1 year
?
?
? (a vaccine is available)
of Immunity
7 years by titer test
15 years by challenge
5 years by titer test
9 years by challenge
7 years by titer test
9 years by challenge
7 years by challenge
3 years by titer test
7 years by challenge
3 years by titer test
9 months by challenge
Lifetime immunity by
titer test & challenge
(Immunity is provided whether
by vaccination or by exposure)
1 year
?
?
? (a vaccine is available)
Methods to Determine
Immunity
Serology
Challenge
Serology
Challenge
Serology
Challenge
Challenge
Serology
Challenge
Serology
Challenge
Serology & Challenge
Challenge
Immunity
Serology
Challenge
Serology
Challenge
Serology
Challenge
Challenge
Serology
Challenge
Serology
Challenge
Serology & Challenge
Challenge
| "Duration of protective immunity was assessed primarily by two procedures: the first being held as the 'gold standard' and that is to challenge the vaccinated animal with the virulent organism and the second is to measure antibody and to compare antibody titers with that which is known to prevent infection(e.g. provide sterile immunity). The studies we report here include challenge studies as well as studies that determine antibody titers. A summary of our results show the following (Table 1) below." |
| * I continue vaccinations to about age nine or ten. |
| DOBERMANS, ROTTWEILERS & GREYHOUNDS and their mixes may not develop enough immunity for PARVOVIRUS with the normal course of vaccinations. Some of these breeds and their mixes may need vaccination through the course of a year to reach and maintain the proper antibody titers to protect the dogs from PARVO. The reason for this has not yet been discovered but it also does not mean that a dog would not survive exposure to parvo even if the antibody titiers are low. |
| CHALLENGE METHOD means that the dogs were exposed to the organism to determine if the vaccination was still protecting the dog from the disease. |
| SEROLOGY METHOD means that the dogs' blood was tested to determine if the vaccination was still protecting the dog from the disease. |
Recombinant
Vaccines
are produced
and purified
from genetically
modified host,
such as yeast.
Vaccines
are produced
and purified
from genetically
modified host,
such as yeast.
Modified Live
Vaccines (MLV)
reproduce in the
dog's body causing
a immune rsponse,
killed vaccines do
not reproduce in the
dog's body.
Vaccines (MLV)
reproduce in the
dog's body causing
a immune rsponse,
killed vaccines do
not reproduce in the
dog's body.
Killed Vaccines
are the least effective
against maternal
antibodies (the protection
the mother
passes to her puppies).
Killed vaccines should not
be relied upon for
puppies.
are the least effective
against maternal
antibodies (the protection
the mother
passes to her puppies).
Killed vaccines should not
be relied upon for
puppies.
| We are changing our vaccination protocol and I ask that you let me know if you want your puppy vaccinated or not vaccinated. Our new protocol is not posted at this time. |
| There is a lot of evidence that our pets are being subjected to gross over-vaccination. I would suggest that you investigate this issue before you begin vaccinating your dog. There is some information below. |