@jengosmonkey - NuHeart only does Heartworm, Heartguard Plus has meds for roundworms & hookworm. And people that give heartworm for 6 months are typically people that live in climates that have a cold winter, ie: when the ground freezes. We do not have that in this part of No. California so I give it year round.
How Often Should You Vaccinate Your Dog?
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How Often Should You Vaccinate Your Cat or Dog?, an interview with Dr. Ronald Schultz in 4 parts:
Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xC–bGthNN8
Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_Zvg8tIxeY&feature=related
Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fc-6exZcbJ4&feature=relmfu
Part 4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdPhj8Vq9ck&feature=relmfu
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Kris, thank you for posting these video links. This is critical information and presented so well. This is an area that the BCOA has not been proactive … much to my dismay. I am personally dealing with a severe immunization reaction in one of my dogs that could have been entirely prevented if I had not given annual boosters. In the detailed discussions I have been having with my regular vet and our special canine ophthalmologist, I have been informed that medical staff are instructed to require annual vaccines because that is the only way they will ensure a regular (annual) wellness check for pets. This topic is near and dear to my heart.
Thank you!!!!
I will be recommending that everyone read your post. -
Are you serious Jo??
Do you realize what it has taken to get to the point of a fanconi linkage test?
The club can only do so much.
Volunteer for this position if you thinkm it needs to be done.
The BCOA is a dog club, not a health guru. -
Sorry Kathy, but proactive in this case simply takes web space informing members. They don't have to go out and do campaigns or take stun guns to over-vaccinating vets.
Jo, what discourages me most is we have known for 20 yrs the yearly vaccines were garbage, but it took til about 10 yrs ago to get some vet research hospitals to admit it. Don't even get me started on vaccines… vets using cheap ones that have researched PROOF they offer immunity at less than 70 percent, instead of better ones that were closer to 98 percent. Only massive online awareness has made a difference and some of those poor performers have indeed improved the stats on their vaccines.
Knowing 3 different rottweilers with autoimmune issues created probably by over vaccination, it's dear to my heart too. I went to 3 yr vaccines almost 18 yrs ago and never looked back, doing titers when necessary but honestly, once older... just every 3 yrs and nothing for senior dogs other than rabies. I resent giving even parvo/distemper since adult dogs over 2 do not get these unless severely autoimmune compromised. And guess what? IF they are, they can't utilize the vaccines anyway.
Okay, going to go chill out.
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and nothing for senior dogs other than rabies.
Debra, at what age do you consider a dog senior for purposes of discontinuing the every-3-year vaccination schedule?
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Kathy,
Jo is serious as a heart attack and so am I. I have been talking openly about this topic since the nationals of 2000. I give strict print outs to my puppy people and have spoken with many other basenji breeders just as passionate as myself and Jo on this topic.
I recently spoke my two cents on the BCOA Health comm because I believe our BCOA club should consider at least directly the public to this information if the club is not comfortable making recommendations.
You may not even realize that what you tell your puppy people is not only being contradicted by their vet but they are not likely to call you to verify what their vet tells them. If there was a community support by our national breed club as with many breed clubs the public would only be better educated and feel more comfortable asking questions of their vets.
I personally had my first three basenjis develope complications due to over vaccine and combo shots. I have had first hand experience with other breeders intact basenjis being vaccinated during breeding season causing issues that have lead my own vet to not vaccinate basenjis (male or female) during the breeding season or while a bitch is in season if its a spring heat.
We as breeders and basenji owners have known for years that hormones and vaccines combined can be a serious issue. There have also been several years that the Vet Profession has been advised against annual vaccines.
Our breed club here in the United States recommends how we health test our breeding stock. Hips, eyes, fanconi etc, how could you see this as any different?
We all know there are breeders out there that have bred dogs that have not been tested or have results not recommended for breeding. Its just a recommendation, the breeding police aren't going to anyones house to arrest them for breeding the wrong dogs.
For the record I have volunteered and would love to see this information on our BCOA website. I will post it to my website and publish it on any list I have access to that doesn't already have the info.
Its all about education and yes our dog club has a knowledgable and educated enough group to be health gurus, that's how we grow and improve.
You may want to look at a few websites for all breed clubs that have had first hand experience with vaccine reactions, they often make very detailed recommendations, it was discussed and shared with the Health Comm of the BCOA, their concern was being somehow legally responsible for making recommendations but I believe they will be posting links to educational information on the topic.
Personally, I think other countries have far better control and recommendation policies in this arena and I wish as combined national breed clubs (all breeds) we could push on behalf of our dogs for better regulations in this country.
Also remember rescues, those owners don't have breeders to help them make wise decisions, they look to lists and national breed clubs to educate them about their dogs.
Final note, I warned you all I'm passionate about vaccine reform. The BCOA has in the Basenji U a recommendation regarding vet care and vaccines, it is not accurate and is what prompted me to contact the club personally. The Health Comm had a few members like yourself that does not see this as a serious issue, and though yes they reviewed options the club has not been proactive regarding changes in the laws and recommendations of the Vet Community regarding vaccines. Jo's dog is just one of many with issues. I would be happy to forward you any documentation regarding the issue (like what I share with my puppy owners if you would like to review it) I think you might agree our club at the very least should be providing links to better educate basenji owners than what they have been providing.
Let me know and I can forward you links to info anytime.
Therese
Sorry for climbing so high on my soap box, my Ali cost us thousands to keep her alive and if I had been able to avoid the illness she had to face by just having more information I could have made her life so much better. Ali was diagnosed with Red Blood Cell Aplasia after over vaccination of parvo killed vaccine, it is a blood condition best known for killing humans that contract the parvo virus, we worked closely with WSU vet school on a new protocol for treatment to save my Ali, I hope another family never has to go through this. -
Kris and Debra for the record I just want to say, Huge hugs for speaking out! These guys don't have a voice and sometimes we have to speak loudly to point that out.
Therese -
I only recently read the 2006 AAHA guidelines. It's really amazing to me that vets are not falling in line with these recommendations. It HAS been FIVE years! I understand the reasons for not having the BCOA endorse a specific protocol, but a link to the AAHA recommendations should definitely be on the BCOA site.
my 2 cents!
Kirsten
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@Therese:
Kathy,
Jo is serious as a heart attack and so am I. I have been talking openly about this topic since the nationals of 2000. I give strict print outs to my puppy people and have spoken with many other basenji breeders just as passionate as myself and Jo on this topic.
I recently spoke my two cents on the BCOA Health comm because I believe our BCOA club should consider at least directly the public to this information if the club is not comfortable making recommendations.
You may not even realize that what you tell your puppy people is not only being contradicted by their vet but they are not likely to call you to verify what their vet tells them. If there was a community support by our national breed club as with many breed clubs the public would only be better educated and feel more comfortable asking questions of their vets.
I personally had my first three basenjis develope complications due to over vaccine and combo shots. I have had first hand experience with other breeders intact basenjis being vaccinated during breeding season causing issues that have lead my own vet to not vaccinate basenjis (male or female) during the breeding season or while a bitch is in season if its a spring heat.
We as breeders and basenji owners have known for years that hormones and vaccines combined can be a serious issue. There have also been several years that the Vet Profession has been advised against annual vaccines.
Our breed club here in the United States recommends how we health test our breeding stock. Hips, eyes, fanconi etc, how could you see this as any different?
We all know there are breeders out there that have bred dogs that have not been tested or have results not recommended for breeding. Its just a recommendation, the breeding police aren't going to anyones house to arrest them for breeding the wrong dogs.
For the record I have volunteered and would love to see this information on our BCOA website. I will post it to my website and publish it on any list I have access to that doesn't already have the info.
Its all about education and yes our dog club has a knowledgable and educated enough group to be health gurus, that's how we grow and improve.
You may want to look at a few websites for all breed clubs that have had first hand experience with vaccine reactions, they often make very detailed recommendations, it was discussed and shared with the Health Comm of the BCOA, their concern was being somehow legally responsible for making recommendations but I believe they will be posting links to educational information on the topic.
Personally, I think other countries have far better control and recommendation policies in this arena and I wish as combined national breed clubs (all breeds) we could push on behalf of our dogs for better regulations in this country.
Also remember rescues, those owners don't have breeders to help them make wise decisions, they look to lists and national breed clubs to educate them about their dogs.
Final note, I warned you all I'm passionate about vaccine reform. The BCOA has in the Basenji U a recommendation regarding vet care and vaccines, it is not accurate and is what prompted me to contact the club personally. The Health Comm had a few members like yourself that does not see this as a serious issue, and though yes they reviewed options the club has not been proactive regarding changes in the laws and recommendations of the Vet Community regarding vaccines. Jo's dog is just one of many with issues. I would be happy to forward you any documentation regarding the issue (like what I share with my puppy owners if you would like to review it) I think you might agree our club at the very least should be providing links to better educate basenji owners than what they have been providing.
Let me know and I can forward you links to info anytime.
Therese
Sorry for climbing so high on my soap box, my Ali cost us thousands to keep her alive and if I had been able to avoid the illness she had to face by just having more information I could have made her life so much better. Ali was diagnosed with Red Blood Cell Aplasia after over vaccination of parvo killed vaccine, it is a blood condition best known for killing humans that contract the parvo virus, we worked closely with WSU vet school on a new protocol for treatment to save my Ali, I hope another family never has to go through this.While I haven't looked on the BCOA website lately, I don't recall your name listed as a volunteer in this regard.
Do it if you are that passionate about it.
Don't expect the few to take over your desires. -
Jo you must be one special lady to get your vet(s) to openly admit to you they knowingly harm your animals with over vaccination in order to get you into their clinic each and every year! While I have no doubts that there are vets who do this, I have yet to meet one brave enough to tell their clients this face to face. Good for you!
My second basenji Sage had routine lab work (I do yearly lab work on all my kids) done the same day she had her 3 year rabies shot. The lab work was mostly unremarkable though her hemotocrit was slightly low - we just thought she was dehydrated that particular morning due to being fasted.
Within a month, she was diagnosed with Autoimmune Idiopathic Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA), within 4 months she was dead, just short of her 7th birthday. How easy it would have been to blame the rabies vaccine since it was given prior to her diagnosis. However we had the lab work to show that she was already in the beginning stages of AIHA before the vaccine was ever given and hindsight being 20/20 I realized she had been showing very subtle changes in the weeks prior to the vaccine. Signs I wrote off as her "getting older".
Not many people can afford to do a full work up, much less think to do a full work up, prior to vaccines being given to unequivocally prove their pet was perfectly healthy prior to and yet they are very quick to jump to the conclusion the vaccine must be the sole culprit when there can be many factors contributing to a disease process. While I am not a fan over over vaccinating, neither am I a fan of blanket mindsets when we just don't know all there is to know.
As for the BCOA not being proactive enough - that's a bit unfair. Therese only recently (mid May-ish?) brought up vaccinations as a topic for the BCOA Health and Research Committee to discuss and to formulate a plan on how best to proceed (she might have brought it up earlier but I believe it was shelved until the fanconi FAQ's was completed.). As far as I am aware - this topic is currently on the table being discussed though it died down now that summer has arrived and people have other things to do.
If I am not mistaken Jo you were rather discontent with the generic information currently online via the BCOA's Basenji U; surely you do not want the BCOA or the HRC - of which you are a member - to slap something together just to get it out there - isn't that what you think the BCOA has already done? I don't recall you posting anything to the HRC group regarding the vaccination issue since your one post of May 20th detailing all the issues you had with the Basenji U information; if this is such a heartfelt topic for you - and I have no doubts it is since you have an animal potentially affected by it - why expend energy on this forum when you should/could be kick starting your committee to get more proactive as you say and back to discussions.
Not to say folks on this forum are not important - they most certainly are but I would think the BCOA would have a much greater audience and breed/fancy impact and you would want to concentrate your efforts there.
I am all for the BCOA having the most up to date links available to help educate the fancy on the possible ramifications of too many vaccines; I hope those on the HRC committee - who are also on this forum - will make sure these links are given to the committee for inclusion. I have had the pleasure to sit in on Dr. Schultz's presentations and to speak with him personally about the protocol he uses for his personal pets - he IS the expert in my opine.
I am just not sure how posting to this forum helps the BCOA to help the fancy.
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Actually I did volunteer and the Chair of the HC put me on the list for discussion of the topic, they however felt they could handle it since on no less than 4 occassions I offered to do all the data gathering and even building some suggested tables of vaccines guidelines but was not taken up on my offer. You won't see my name, but it doesn't mean I didn't volunteer. I will respect the decision of the committee as these are members like myself who have been chosen to work in this area, that also doesn't mean we can't agree to disagree about just what should be posted on the BCOA website. I certainly did not expect anyone to take on my desires, I offered and offered and even sent links to the HC at Katy's request to give them data to review. Just as I also volunteered to share with you Kathy the data I shared with the Health Comm, which I volunteer to gather and share with any breeder that asks.
Therese -
Jo you must be one special lady to get your vet(s) to openly admit to you they knowingly harm your animals with over vaccination in order to get you into their clinic each and every year! While I have no doubts that there are vets who do this, I have yet to meet one brave enough to tell their clients this face to face. Good for you!
Linda, that is a bit patronizing of you. I have had three vets since having basenjis and two have admitted the very same thing to me personally and my current vet when asked why he still sends out annual vaccine reminders says he uses what his office has in place for vaccines to encourage people to come in for annual check ups.
My second basenji Sage had routine lab work (I do yearly lab work on all my kids) done the same day she had her 3 year rabies shot. The lab work was mostly unremarkable though her hemotocrit was slightly low - we just thought she was dehydrated that particular morning due to being fasted.
Within a month, she was diagnosed with Autoimmune Idiopathic Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA), within 4 months she was dead, just short of her 7th birthday. How easy it would have been to blame the rabies vaccine since it was given prior to her diagnosis. However we had the lab work to show that she was already in the beginning stages of AIHA before the vaccine was ever given and hindsight being 20/20 I realized she had been showing very subtle changes in the weeks prior to the vaccine. Signs I wrote off as her "getting older".
Linda, I as always am amazed that the assumption is because you are a CVT the rest of the dog community must be making uneducated often unsupported jumps to diagnosis. My girl Ali was treated by a total of 5 vets and worked closely with the WSU vet school to determine her immune system disorder was directly related to her parvo vaccine. My second basenji was hypothyroid and was in one of Jean Dodd's early study groups determining his thyroid reaction was classic for her seminar explanations of vaccine reactions related to predisposed conditions, stress, vaccines and hormones. AIHA is often a disorder that is undeterminable, however it is also often misdiagnosed. Ali's blood disorder is often discussed as AIHA by many in our breed but it is quite clearly a different disorder and directly related to Parvo. If you care to learn more about vaccine links to auto immune issues that are not leaps of faith I suggest you consider studies in human conditions. Our young military soldiers might be a good place to start. The stress of the environment coupled with huge combo vaccines given over a 1 year period coupled with exposure to TB in many countries has brought back soldiers with brain lesions related to TB. This is commonly seen in AIDs patients with TB because of the immune system being compromised. These are strong healthy soldiers who have had numerous work ups and lab work and they have directly related the lesions to vaccines combined with stress, hormones, and disease exposure. These are not leaps to conclusions in regards to vaccine reactions.
Not many people can afford to do a full work up, much less think to do a full work up, prior to vaccines being given to unequivocally prove their pet was perfectly healthy prior to and yet they are very quick to jump to the conclusion the vaccine must be the sole culprit when there can be many factors contributing to a disease process. While I am not a fan over over vaccinating, neither am I a fan of blanket mindsets when we just don't know all there is to know.
Linda, Wow haven't you just jumped to a conclusion yourself. I see you assuming these are blanket statements, isn't that a blanket statement you just made about vets not sharing that they send out annual vaccine reminders to get patients in, pot kettle black Linda.
As for the BCOA not being proactive enough - that's a bit unfair. Therese only recently (mid May-ish?) brought up vaccinations as a topic for the BCOA Health and Research Committee to discuss and to formulate a plan on how best to proceed (she might have brought it up earlier but I believe it was shelved until the fanconi FAQ's was completed.). As far as I am aware - this topic is currently on the table being discussed though it died down now that summer has arrived and people have other things to do.
Linda, a bit unfair? Really I know you seem to write as though the current board or commitees are the only people ever in the history of the BCOA to do anything or are you again making an assumption. I was speaking of the BCOA not being proactive about the vaccine related recommendations over a long period of time. I have personally spoken with BCOA members about this topic since 2000. How short sighted of you to assume I was only speaking about the recent health committee. Honestly Linda, I'm personally tired of you speaking to me and others as if we are 6yrs old and not allowed to speak any opinion without benig accused of being unfair. In my opinion the BCOA which last time I checked was not started when the current Health comm began working on topics has not been proactive as other national breed clubs have and I will continue to express that opinion. As I said I respect the members that I am in this club with enough to be able to agree to disagree on what the HC decides to post.
If I am not mistaken Jo you were rather discontent with the generic information currently online via the BCOA's Basenji U; surely you do not want the BCOA or the HRC - of which you are a member - to slap something together just to get it out there - isn't that what you think the BCOA has already done? I don't recall you posting anything to the HRC group regarding the vaccination issue since your one post of May 20th detailing all the issues you had with the Basenji U information; if this is such a heartfelt topic for you - and I have no doubts it is since you have an animal potentially affected by it - why expend energy on this forum when you should/could be kick starting your committee to get more proactive as you say and back to discussions.
Linda, again when has anyone ever asked the process be sped up? It was made clear to me when I signed off my comments with the HC which I am not a member but was asked to express my opinion that there would be only minor links added and no further recommendations. The topic was kick started and Jo did mention kick starting it again with this current post which started this thread. Interesting that you recently wrote an article in the Bulletiin about not being appreciated and being told how you aren't doing your job or handling your responsibilities correctly, is that not what you are accusing Jo of here? Really, here we go again…pot kettle black.Not to say folks on this forum are not important - they most certainly are but I would think the BCOA would have a much greater audience and breed/fancy impact and you would want to concentrate your efforts there.
Linda, I don't speak for Jo but I would personally love the opprotunity to use a page and a half to write my views on this topic in the Bulletin at no cost to myself. Maybe you would want to concentrate your efforts in encouraging people to use all available avenues to educate themselves about the health and well being of their dogs and stop telling other members how they should approach a topic and to whom they should discuss it with.
I certainly hope people on this forum and any other list or group will continue to discuss this topic and push for change where change is needed. I applaud those who shared this info on this forum and appreciate having these links available to myself and owners of my dogs.
ThereseI am all for the BCOA having the most up to date links available to help educate the fancy on the possible ramifications of too many vaccines; I hope those on the HRC committee - who are also on this forum - will make sure these links are given to the committee for inclusion. I have had the pleasure to sit in on Dr. Schultz's presentations and to speak with him personally about the protocol he uses for his personal pets - he IS the expert in my opine.
I am just not sure how posting to this forum helps the BCOA to help the fancy.
I suppose you don't get it Linda because clearly from what you posted you entirely missed the point.
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Great Posts Therese! Thanks for sharing….. people need to take notice, I too would love to see you write an article for the Bulletin so that people get both sides of the problem and why.
Or maybe better yet... do it for The Modern Basenji....
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Hi Therese -
Linda, that is a bit patronizing of you. I have had three vets since having basenjis and two have admitted the very same thing to me personally and my current vet when asked why he still sends out annual vaccine reminders says he uses what his office has in place for vaccines to encourage people to come in for annual check ups.
You seem to have misread/misunderstood or are reading more into what I wrote.
I am writing from my point of view and as a person who works with vets - behind the scenes if you will - I can tell you in my umpteen years in the field - when working with the same kind of vets you and Jo are describing - I have NEVER heard one of them admit to a client (or at least not to a client they planned to have as a client for very much longer) they are willing to risk harming their dog with over vaccinating just to get you to come back each and every year. Talk about a lawsuit waiting to happen if you tell that to the wrong person!
I did not say it does not happen, only I have not experienced it (which is all I can share right? My experiences?) and I think if anyone can get their vet to admit it - my hats are off to them. Of course I would then quickly find another vet.
Linda, I as always am amazed that the assumption is because you are a CVT the rest of the dog community must be making uneducated often unsupported jumps to diagnosis.
How does sharing my experience (same as you shared your experience with Ali) become a statement that I assume the dog community must be uneducated or are making unsupported jumps to diagnoses? How is my sharing my experience, which is different than what you experienced (ie another side of the coin) not also helping to educate folks? Why does your personal experience carry more weight or validity than mine? My heart dog died, not yet 7 years of age; I take the subject just as seriously as do.
I would certainly presume and hope you (or anyone else) are working with people who are highly educated and in the know. I never said or implied there is no such thing as vaccine induced disease. If I did - please let me know where I said this.
If you care to learn more about vaccine links to auto immune issues that are not leaps of faith I suggest you consider studies in human conditions.
I find it ironic you can, in the same breath, call me out on presumed assumptions and yet you assume I have not educated myself on the subject you are so passionate about. Just because my thoughts and opines on this subject differ somewhat from yours does not mean I am lacking in education or interest.
Linda, Wow haven't you just jumped to a conclusion yourself. I see you assuming these are blanket statements, isn't that a blanket statement you just made about vets not sharing that they send out annual vaccine reminders to get patients in, pot kettle black Linda.
Sorry Therese - I do not feel I have jumped to any conclusions or assumptions. My door is open to the possibility that vaccines can play a role in disease. My door is also open to the fact that vaccines may not play as much as a role as some would have us believe. As I stated - while I am not a fan of over vaccinating, neither am I a fan of blanket mind sets when we just don't know all there is to know.
And Therese - please re-read what I wrote about vets not sharing - here it is again "While I have no doubts that there are vets who do this, I have yet to meet one brave enough to tell their clients this face to face." There was no blanket statement from me saying vets don't share this kind of info; I said I have no doubts there are some who do, I just have not been lucky? enough to meet one (or work for one).
I was speaking of the BCOA not being proactive about the vaccine related recommendations over a long period of time…... Honestly Linda, I'm personally tired of you speaking to me and others as if we are 6yrs old and not allowed to speak any opinion without benig accused of being unfair.
This is all good to know Therese but in truth I was not replying to you. I was replying to Jo's dismay at the BCOA's lack of action - I had not even read your post when I replied and had no comments to what you did write once I read it. But do feel free to continue to beat me with a virtual stick as though I was replying to you and/or for sharing my point of view and my experience.
Interesting that you recently wrote an article in the Bulletiin about not being appreciated and being told how you aren't doing your job or handling your responsibilities correctly, is that not what you are accusing Jo of here? Really, here we go again…pot kettle black.
Jo posted her dismay about the BCOA not being proactive enough for her re: this issue to this forum. I do not think it is wrong for anyone to ask her something to the effect of "Hey Jo, as a BCOA HRC member what are doing to get the ball rolling to get the BCOA more proactive on this subject." It is no more than I would ask myself (or would have others ask of me) if I, as a BCOA Board member, posted my discontent of some BCOA Board matter to a public forum. I would be mentally all over myself saying "So Linda, what part of the solution (or the problem) are you? What active role have you taken to help or hinder?" Sorry if you do not agree and/or that I did not ask in a manner you approved of.
Linda, I don't speak for Jo but I would personally love the opprotunity to use a page and a half to write my views on this topic in the Bulletin at no cost to myself.
I think this is a GREAT idea. The Bulletin is ALWAYS looking for new and original material. We are constantly pimping people to send something in. I say go for it - July 25th is the deadline. Just be prepared that not everyone is as passionate or as convinced as you are that the troubles that plague the world are all vaccine related. And these folks have as much right to voice their opine as you do.
Maybe you would want to concentrate your efforts in encouraging people to use all available avenues to educate themselves about the health and well being of their dogs and stop telling other members how they should approach a topic and to whom they should discuss it with.
Ummm. Could you please cite where I said this or implied this in my post today? I am at a total loss where this is coming from and I am starting to think you might have a personal gripe with me, not at all based on my post to this thread.
I certainly hope people on this forum and any other list or group will continue to discuss this topic and push for change where change is needed. I applaud those who shared this info on this forum and appreciate having these links available to myself and owners of my dogs.
Change that we ideally want to come from the BCOA, yes? Isn't that what I was advocating?? If we want the BCOA HRC to be more proactive, we need HRC members to "get to work" if you will vs spending their time and energy posting to a forum.
And Therese - I do want those video links available to the whole fancy, not just to me or my dogs or my puppy people. I even said as much but perhaps you missed it in your desire to reply.
I wrote: "I hope those on the HRC committee - who are also on this forum - will make sure these links are given to the committee for inclusion."
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Personally, I am not about to start telling ANYONE how and where they should be spending their energy, and I think it is beyond presumptuous to even insinuate we should. -
You are so right Andrea. I should not have phrased it in such a way as to make it seem like I am telling anyone to do anything. I hate when that happens!
So let me rephrase it - It is MY OPINION that energy would be better spent - esp. since dismay is being felt and shared with us all - for any committee members to work within their committee to get the change they imply the BCOA does not have, that they desire. Just my opinion of course - folks are free to do as they please. If they feel posting to the forum is working for them or getting them the change they want, far be it for me to tell them to change their tactics.
Thanks for bringing that to my attention so I could better clarify.
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Debra, at what age do you consider a dog senior for purposes of discontinuing the every-3-year vaccination schedule?
Depends on the breed. I don't do anything but required rabies on Rottweilers after 9. Since sadly most die between 8 to 10 (we celebrate every year we got, almost joyful at those over 12…in fact a guy is doing a documentary across the country on those who reach 13
), 9 is indeed senior for them. Chows by 10 or 11. If out, I do use kennel cough nasal... or when fostering dogs. Arwen is almost 9, she just had her last 3 yr shot. I cannot imagine doing more than rabies for her when she is 12. Human vaccines predominately last a life time. I frankly feel every 3 yrs is over kill.@Therese:
Kathy,
Jo is serious as a heart attack and so am I. I have been talking openly about this topic since the nationals of 2000.I actually recently posted, have been vocal and written on it a lot over the years.
As for vets, I am lucky to have vets who long ago conceded it wasn't necessary, who switched vaccines when I took them in the article on research, and who… although they are not convinced vaccines generally cause much harm if over vaccinated, admit not needed.
However, that said, there was a study almost 25 freaking years ago on mange and auto immune in bulldogs and over vaccination. I bless Norma Hugo (Hugobull kennels) for educating me on many issues when I was still new and before the internet!
Linda, I too read your post as condescending. Glad you cleared it up, but frankly it almost sounds like you are saying the BCOA is too busy and the topic not one they want to use energy on, so do it yourself or shut up. How hard it is for the BCOA to SIMPLY recommend the AAHA protocol? They don't have to go out on any limb there, do any work, just simply promote that guideline as a start.
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Hi Debra, sorry you misread my intentions.
I sooooo agree with you Debra - how hard can it be to just post a link and be done with it? I mean seriously.
And while I wish, wish, wish, it were as simple as that - I am learning it is not.
The HRC is comprised of a number of vastly different people with vastly differing opinions and not one opinion or one position or one way of doing things rules. Everyone on the committee will want to be heard, their opinions considered about their belief symptoms not to mention where everyone feels the links should even go.
It is my opinion that good business practice would dictate in the end a consensus would be needed that all committee members can live with or risk rampant discontent within the committee and beyond. Sadly - it is getting that consensus which seems to eat up the hours.
Nothing like being on the board to a) lose ones idealism about how things can be done and b) put a different perspective on the simplest of things.
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Great Posts Therese! Thanks for sharing….. people need to take notice, I too would love to see you write an article for the Bulletin so that people get both sides of the problem and why.
Or maybe better yet... do it for The Modern Basenji....
So Pat…you don't think the BCOA membership as a whole would benefit from the article? Or is it because you have a beef with the health committee that you would like the membership to pay to have access to the article/information?
Just curious.
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@JoT:
Kris, thank you for posting these video links. This is critical information and presented so well.
You're very welcome, I thoroughly agree that the information is critical and well-presented, and I hope that everyone watches all 4 parts of this informative interview.
