C.L. Galka-Agnew,  D.V.M.                      Companion Animal Care Center

   Revised:  Sep-06     UPDATED INFO ABOUT VACCINATIONS -- 2006

Important note: The following is my opinion based on information obtained from other veterinarians, notably Dr Jean Dodds. Please refer to her site doglogic.com for much more detailed discussion. There is no one vaccine protocol for all dogs/cats. Those with higher risk factors may need more vaccines than those suggested below. The following is suggested for low exposure animals (always at home, indoors) and those who have health issues.

As animal caretakers, we have all been taught about the importance of vaccinations.  As a veterinarian, I was taught that annual boosters were a necessary part of maintaining the health of my patients. As more and more research has accumulated over the years, the "science" of         vaccinations is changing - what isn't in this day and age?  Fortunately, the changes that are being discovered provide good news for you and your animals!

The current recommendations for vaccinating our companion animals are causing many illnesses and need to be altered. Puppies and kittens are vaccinated at far too early an age, causing serious damage to undeveloped immune systems in many of these infants, leading to chronic   illnesses later in life. Annual vaccination "boosters" are unnecessary and actually harmful in many animals.  Vaccinating geriatric animals is especially harmful and I do NOT advise boosters on elderly patients - EVER!

Some of the diseases that are commonly associated with over-vaccinating are: 1) disorders of the blood that are life threatening,           2) inflammatory bowel disease in both dogs and cats, which was          unheard of a generation ago, 3) cardiac problems where the heart muscle, itself, either thickens or becomes too thin and results in heart         disease, 4) seizures, 5) behavior changes of many types, including      aggression, 6) thyroid disorders, 7) allergic conditions manifested as skin disease, and 8) various cancers. Many other disorders that cannot be pinpointed in particular animals are possibly due to over-vaccinating.

My goal is to protect youngsters against the viruses that can kill them without causing harm to their immune system in the process. The new vaccine protocols GREATLY reduce the risks involved in vaccinating:

Protocol for dogs:  NO OTHER VACCINES OTHER THAN THOSE LISTED AS FOLLOWS!!

    Give ONLY Distemper and Parvo at 8, 12, and 22 weeks of age, with one adult booster at 16 months of age. DO NOT vaccinate puppies     earlier than 8 weeks of age! Breeders concerned about Parvo before 8 weeks of age can use homeopathic nosodes  which are a safe alternative before 8 weeks of age. It is highly unlikely that any vaccine boosters after the 16 month of age are necessary, as evidence is showing that most dogs have many years immunity to Distemper/Parvo.
     Rabies:  Give initially at 5 months of age, then repeat at about 17 months of age. There is a new study, ongoing as of 2006, regarding   rabies vaccinations to determine how long immunity lasts. As with the     human polio vaccine lasting lifelong, it is hoped that this study will        provide scientific proof that rabies vaccines last many years, it not lifelong in dogs and cats.

Protocol for cats:  Distemper at 10 and 16 weeks of age and then one booster fat about 16 months of age for lifelong immunity.  Rabies, upper respiratory and leukemia vaccines ONLY in high risk outdoor cats.      Protocol is varied depending upon each cat's level of outdoor activity. Leukemia is a very high risk vaccine and should not be given to cats that are not at high risk of exposure.

For more detailed explanations of the need to change vaccination       protocols, please go to these websites:  http://www.critterfixer.com/ and http://www.sunkistpoodles.com/ - article by DeeBlanco DVM "Are vaccinations really safe?", along with doglogic.com.
         As this information spreads through various animal care networks and we give less unnecessary booster vaccinations, we will see          positive benefits, in that the animals we love will be healthier, living longer with better quality of life and less dis-ease.