Pet vaccinations

Q: Is there any danger in the yearly shots the vet wants to give my cats? Is it true that a 6lb. dog gets the same amount of vaccine as a l00 lb. dog in those yearly vaccinations? …………..LoveMyPets.. Hate the costs

A: We love our pets, no question, but it does seem that we spend a lot of money on the care of our pets and expose them to harmful and often unnecessary toxins. How much is really necessary you ask. The answer depends a lot on your own individual circumstances, where you live, whether the pets see other animals, if they go outside, etc.

Traditional vets suggest that pets get annual booster shots to ’top up’ the protection offered by the vaccine. State laws require rabies vaccines annually or every three years depending on the type of vaccine used. Personally it seems a little over the top to me, but I’m not an expert.

The holistic vet I interviewed suggested a slightly different approach. She indicated that most vaccines last considerably longer in most pets so annual shots are probably not necessary. Dr. Becker of Healthy Pets recommends getting a vaccine titer test to see what the current level of protection is. You can’t add immunity to an already immune pet.

Being a responsible pet owner is important but according to Dr. Becker, if your cat lives entirely indoors the risk of vaccinations may be greater than the risk of exposure. She continues, “It is my belief over-vaccination is one of the primary reasons the general health of housecats is deteriorating.”

Dr. Becker further recommends, “Avoid veterinary practices promoting annual or more frequent re-vaccinations. Try not to patronize any boarding facility, groomer, training facility or animal care service that requires you to vaccinate your precious kitty more than necessary.”

If it is necessary for your pet to be vaccinated then request the vet to use a recombinant vaccine. Its very structure is much less harmful to your pet and there is no chance of the pet having a reaction to the shot. When the pets are young and small as adults it is especially important to space the shots out over several weeks so their bodies can adjust.

Medications and antibiotics are dosed by weight, but vaccines are used to stimulate the animal’s immune system so they claim the amount is not done by size. According to generally accepted veterinary practices they do indeed give the same dose to a Chihuahua as a Great Dane, 1ml, or about .202 tsp, there are 5 ml in a tsp. It is administered under the skin. Holistic vets recommend that shots be given as far away from the body as possible, the lower back leg for instance to minimize risks and tumors.

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