This page is intended to provide a compilation of past opinion pages I have written. I will add to it when I have the opportunity, or feel something important has come to light.
Please remember these are just my OPINIONS, and are not intended as anything but my personal observations. I offer them here with the intention of giving help and topics of conversation for my customers and friends.
To continue the discussion from last Sunday regarding our approach to assisting customers with dogs and cats that exhibit what is commonly referred to as “allergy“ symptoms…..
To recap a bit, we are talking about symptoms such as scratching, licking, ear infections, discoloration of the fur from saliva or fluid discharge, flaky or blackened skin, raised bumps, redness, urinary tract infections, bacterial infections, diarrhea, vomiting and the like.
I gave four categories of interest that are key factors in symptoms we see in our dogs and cats:
Breeding, Nutrition, Vaccinations and Environment.
Breeding:
For many years now dogs and cats have been bred for hair length or color, height, or head size. Popular trends determine the breed of choice for any given year, and unusual color mutations are going for big bucks. (That’s a whole other subject to be aware of. Be aware that color mutations are recessive genes. That means they are not strong. They should never cost you more money.) With cheap foods and no veterinary attention backyard breeders and even top show dog lines are producing dogs and cats from weakened gene pools who carry or pass on health problems to the next generations.
We must insist on responsible breeding practices in order to see healthy dogs and cats in the future. Look for a responsible breeder, or be prepared to deal with possible health and behavior issues.
Vaccines:
I skip to vaccines because I believe they are the GREAT CULPRET in the destruction of our pets’ continued health.
How may of your vets send you a postcard in the mail letting you know it’s time for your pet’s annual “booster” shots? How many times have you taken your pet in for those annual "boosters" and within several hours, or even as long as several months later, your animal has a urinary tract infection, ear infection, strange reaction to food it’s been eating for years? Maybe you notice itching and watery eyes, or hair loss. Why would you think it had anything to do with something your vet recommended? You probably wouldn’t think it was the vaccine, (or 3 or 4 vaccines) your vet administered.
Since the 1980’s (some say the 1970’s) veterinarians and the USDA, who regulates animal vaccines, have known that not only are multiple and yearly vaccines unnecessary, they can be the single most harmful element contributing to your dog or cat’s health problems.
Studies have proven that, like those we are given when we were young, vaccinations of specific viruses given to our pets most likely stay with them for their lifetime.
A mother’s immune system protection is passed on to her young, and can stay with them for up to 12 weeks. Most vaccines for puppies and kittens are recommended to be given up to 3 times before the age of 12 weeks! Those given are generally multiple viruses at one time! They are given multiple times in the hope that they won’t miss the time when the mother’s immune system lets up and the pup or kitten’s immune system takes over. Those multiple vaccines will do one of three things- waste your money by uselessly butting up against the mother’s immune system that is already protecting the puppy or kitten, cause damage to the developing immune system, or develop the young animal’s immune system. The risks of multiple and frequent vaccines include: cancer, hives, vomiting, diarrhea, Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (rejection of one’s own blood), Hypothyroidism, Polyarthritis, contraction of the disease being vaccinated for (this happens in immune compromised animals), Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy (HOD), renal failure, Fibrosarcoma (in thousands of cats every year!).
Note: Cat vaccines are reccommended to be given in the rear leg, as it can be amputated if a fibrosarcoma develops. Vaccinations between the shoulder blades may result in fibrosarcoma that spreads to the lungs.
Be aware, not all dogs and cats have weakened immune systems, and not all will show health problems due to over-use of vaccines. However, if one continues to bombard the immune system with unnecessary vaccines throughout the dog or cat’s lifetime, the possibility of negative reactions is increased dramatically.
Note: No veterinarian that is ethical will recommend or administer a vaccine to an animal that is not in good health. If your dog or cat has shown signs of having a compromised immune system, that animal should not receive a vaccine! This is my very strong, and, I believe, informed opinion.
Be aware of this when you purchase a dog or cat from a pet store or shelter. Pet stores often over-vaccinate and advertise it as a positive selling point. (Come in and talk to Cassandra about her dog Brody. She can tell you what living with a dog with auto-immune system dysfunction is all about.) (Not to mention the first part of this blog regarding good breeding practices. Good breeders do not sell to pet stores!)
Shelters often don’t know a dog or cat’s vaccine history, and vaccinate to protect the larger population each new animal is housed with. These are things to be aware of before you take on the care of a new dog or cat.
The following web presentation is very informative regarding vaccines. Take some time to read it so you can make informed decisions about your own pet's health.
http://www.newvaccinationprotocols.com/index.htm
Keep it safe: Vaccinate after 11 to 12 weeks of age.
Wait until after 6 months to vaccinate for rabies
Only use modified live virus- not killed or live vaccines
Use one vaccine at a time (no four or five in one vaccines!)
Wait 3 to 4 weeks between vaccines
Vaccinate your cats in the rear leg
Use only non-adjuvanted vaccines for cats
Only vaccinate a healthy animal
There's so much more......
