I got a titer test for rabies this year. Expensive, but I'd rather pay for that than the vac. Vicki was vaccinated for rabies when she was a pup (she was about four months) and at three years her antibodies to rabies were REAL high (which the vet said was awesome). This was further proof to me that I will not be vaccinating. You don't
have to titer test ever year, but many people do for piece of mind. Also, the best times to test are fall and early spring...you get the most accurate readings during that time. I have an article on it, I'll have to dig through my emails and find it when I get a chance.
Antech is the company my vet uses to do the titer testing. I believe it was like $165 to get Vicki's rabies titer. I am going to work to see if I can get my township to waive the vaccination requirement with proof of rabies titers. If they won't, I just won't have licensed dogs...I've never licensed a dog anyway (I know, I'm a bad mommy and should be punished).
Here's an interesting article that my nutrition consultant for the dogs sent me...a lot of it is stuff we already know. It's long, but useful to have in your files. I gave a copy to my vet, too.
I have sent this information out in the past however it bears repeating periodically! Please for the sake of your four footed friends MAKE the time to read it through to the end!
It is widely acknowledged that vaccines can contribute to a whole range of autoimmune diseases, such as Addison's disease, Cushing's disease, thyroid disease, autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, and many others. The scientific evidence is certainly there. Dr. Larry Glickman at Purdue University has found that routinely vaccinated dogs develop autoantibodies to a wide range of their own biochemicals. Vaccines disrupt the dog’s immune system causing it to attack itself, developing autoimmune disease.
Following are a few excerpts about vaccines from enlightened vets and other professionals.
“Immune-suppressant viruses of the retrovirus and parvovirus classes have recently been implicated as causes of bone marrow failure, immune-mediated blood diseases, hematologic malignancies (lymphoma and leukemia), dysregulation of humoral and cell-mediated immunity, organ failure (liver, kidney), and autoimmune endocrine disorders especially of the thyroid gland (thyroiditis), adrenal gland (Addison's disease), and pancreas (diabetes).” Dr. Jean Dodds DVM (USA). Dr. Dodds is internationally recognized for her expertise in blood and immune disorders.
“The Merck manual tells us that vaccines can cause or exacerbate encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), epilepsy, skin disease, behaviour problems (from brain damage), and autoimmune diseases (which include Addison’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Lupus, haemolytic anaemia, chronic active hepatitis, diabetes mellitus, Grave’s disease, Hypoparathyroidism, skin inflammations, Uveitis, and other immunologic eye diseases).”
Merck Manual is the world's most widely used general medical text. It has also been called the vet’s bible.
“There is another aspect to problems with vaccination: contrary to what you may have heard even from some of those who are calling for the discontinuation of mandatory vaccination in the United States, vaccines do not prevent diseases”, ...“It is also well-documented that the largest epidemics occurred in the most highly vaccinated populations, while whose who were unvaccinated, did not have the same epidemics”,... “There is no evidence whatsoever of the ability of vaccines to prevent any diseases. To the contrary, there is a great wealth of evidence that they cause serious side effects”. Dr. Viera Scheibner,
"The only safe vaccine is a vaccine that is never used."
Dr. James A. Shannon, National Institutes of Health
“The medical authorities keep lying. Vaccination has been a disaster on the immune system. It actually causes a lot of illnesses. We are changing our genetic code through vaccination." Guylaine Lanctot M.D. Canadian author of the best-seller 'Medical Mafia'.
“Vaccination is not necessary, not useful, does not protect. There are twice as many casualties from vaccination as from AIDS”. Dr. med. Gerhard Buchwald, West Germany, specialist of internal diseases and participant in about 150 trials of vaccination victims.
“All vaccination has the effect of directing the three values of the blood into or toward the zone characteristics of cancer and leukaemia...Vaccines do predispose to cancer and leukaemia.” Professor L. Vincent - founder of Bioelectronics
"The vaccinations are not working, and they are dangerous.. We should be working with nature."----- Lendon H.Smith, M.D.
“When you do get to the little wrappers that come with the little bottles of vaccine and read the small print, the alarm bells start ringing.., vaccination does not guarantee immunisation.”. Senator Brown of Tasmania (ex medical practitioner).
"Homeopathic veterinarians and other holistic practitioners have maintained for some time that vaccinations do more harm than they provide benefits. Vaccinations represent a major assault on the body's immune system."Dr Charles E Loops DVM
“55% of all illnesses reported by participants occurred within the first three months of vaccination.” Arthritis - Diarrhoea - Allergies -Dry eye/conjunctivits - Epilepsy - Loss of appetite Nervous/worrying disposition - Skin problems - Nasal discharges - Vomiting - Weight loss - Behavioural problems - Tumour or growth. Catherine O’Driscoll, author of “What Vets Don’t Tell You About Vaccines”, “Who Killed the Darling Buds of May” and “Shock to the System”.
The homoeopathic veterinarian Christopher Day, on the other hand, suspected that around 80% of the diseases he treats in his surgery are vaccine related, and occur within three months of vaccination where the start date of the illness is known.
"Dogs contracting the diseases they were vaccinated against: Hepatitis - 63.6% occurred within three months of vaccination Parainfluenza - 50% occurred within three months of vaccination Parvovirus - 68.2% occurred within three months of vaccination Distemper - 55.6% occurred within three months of vaccination Leptospirosis - 100% of dogs contracted leptospirosis within three months of vaccination
If after knowing that some of the health hazards from vaccinations include, allergies, arthritis, asthma, cancer, cataracts, cerebral palsy, chronic ear infections, conception rate lowered, encephalitis, epilepsy, fibrosarcoma at the vaccination site, hyperactivity, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, interdigital pyoderma, juvenile type diabetes, learning disabilities, leukemia, lupus, meningitis, multiple sclerosis, tuberculosis, damage to and/or failure of heart, kidneys, liver, pancreas and other organs of the body, and ALL of the diseases for which your animal or child were vaccinated, are you still willing to take that risk of vaccinating? If so, WHY? There is no proof that vaccinations work at all. Pat McKay
"Immune-mediated hematological disease and transient bone marrow failure are increasingly recognized sequelae of...vaccination. ... Postvacinal polyneuropathy is a recognized entity associated with...vaccines. ...Adverse reactions to vaccination have also recently been reported with increasing frequency in cats." (Dr. Jean Dodds DVM, 1990)
Ronald Schultz, of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Center for Veterinary Medicine has done some duration studies that show that, for greater than 90% of dogs, a single DHPP vaccination provides immunity for *at least* 7 years, and probably for life. There is an article by him in .pdf format that you can download from
http://www.noofies-zoo.com/schultzvaccinations.pdf Dr. Schultz is the author of this paragraph in Kirk's "Current Veterinary Therapy XI", the conventional medicine textbook: “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. Successful vaccination to most bacterial pathogens produces an immunologic memory that remains for years, allowing an animal to develop a protective anamnestic (secondary) response when exposed to virulent organisms. Only the immune response to toxins requires boosters (e.g. tetanus toxin booster, in humans, is recommended once every 7-10 years), and no toxin vaccines are currently used for dogs and cats. Furthermore, revaccination with most viral vaccines fails to stimulate an anamnestic (secondary) response as a result of interference by existing antibody (similar to maternal antibody interference). The practice of annual vaccination in our opinion should be considered of questionable efficacy unless it is used as a mechanism to provide an annual physical examination or is required by law” (i.e., certain states require annual revaccination for rabies).
Vaccines are acknowledged to cause inflammation of the brain and, in severe cases, lesions in the brain and throughout the central nervous system. This condition, known as encephalitis, lies at the root of much aggressive and violent behaviour, autism, epilepsy, attention deficit disorder, and other neurological conditions (for example, CDRM, Ataxia, etc). Catherine O’Driscoll.
If you do not wish to vaccinate your pet with vaccines required by law you can get a waiver from your veterinarian. If your dog has had problems with vaccinations in the past, you can BY LAW be waived from the vaccination program. Here's the quote:
(1) The owner or person having the care and custody of an animal that is in or has a physical condition that precludes the safe immunization or reimmunization of the animal against rabies is exempt from the requirement of this Regulation where,
(a) a statement of exemption is issued by a veterinarian with respect to the animal that sets out the reason why the animal cannot be immunized or reimmunized; and
(b) the animal is controlled in such a manner as to preclude its being exposed to rabies. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 567, s. 8 (1).
You will find this here:
http://192.75.156.68/DBLaws/Regs/English/900567_e.htm
These waivers are supposed to be accepted at obedience/agility classes and at the border. If you are traveling call ahead to confirm this.
This particular copy applies to Ontario but it is my understanding that all provinces/states have made similar allowances to protect themselves from being sued should a dog have a fatal reaction to a vaccine due to being forced by law to have that vaccine. By having made these allowances they protect themselves by putting the responsibility on the owner to know this law and to use correct judgement in the administration of vaccines and the animals overall state of health. Many people don’t even know that these exemption allowances exist.
You can also ask a holistic/homeopathic vet to sign a note like this for your dog:
To Whom It May Concern:
This (state breed) named _____________ has had all the vaccinations that I deem appropriate for the species.
(signed - vet)
Make copies
If you require more info please contact me though my website at:
http://www3.nf.sympatico.ca/healthycanine