Vaccines–Dr. W. Jean Dodds Part 2


  • Vaccines: When too Much of a Good Thing Turns Bad (Part 2) Dr. W. Jean Dodds 9/25/12 http://drjeandoddspethealthresource.tumblr.com/post/32291451370/canine-vaccines-when-too-much-turns-bad-part-2

    In my last post, I began discussing that when it comes to canine and feline vaccines, too much of a good thing can be problematic. To restate what I mentioned before, vaccinations at the appropriate times, for the appropriate animals, in the appropriate circumstances are of the utmost importance to preserve health and well-being. Responsible vaccination protocols have enabled us to safely and effectively protect our pets from infectious diseases. The puppy and kitten vaccine series, for example, should always be given. Puppies and kittens who do not receive this series are at critical risk of contracting one or more deadly infectious diseases. (Let?s also not forget foals and young farm animals in this equation.)
    The concern relates to the overuse of vaccines in these immunologically naive youngsters and adult dogs and cats, as well as to vaccines given to aged pets and those with already compromised immune systems. This is when you, as your companion animal?s trusted guardian, should understand what is appropriate and put the breaks on giving unnecessary vaccines.

    Let?s take a look at the two types of vaccines ? modified live-virus vaccines (MLV) and killed vaccines ? and their potential effects on your pet?s health.

    MLV vaccines

    As the name suggests, MLV vaccines use a modified, but weakened, form of the live microorganism. When the virus is injected into the body, it multiplies many-fold and stimulates the immune system?s production of antibodies, creating an immune response that protects the body against future exposure to the disease.

    For dogs: Distemper virus, adenovirus-2 (hepatitis, canine respiratory virus) and parvovirus are all MLV canine vaccines, as are intranasal bordetella, intranasal coronavirus (not recommended by 2011 AAHA* Canine Vaccine Guidelines), and parainfluenza virus. The first three vaccines plus rabies vaccine are the so-called ?core? vaccines for dogs. (Note: a recombinant canine distemper virus vaccine is also available.)

    MLV vaccines have been associated with the development of temporary seizures in both puppies and adult dogs of breeds or crossbreeds susceptible to immune-mediated diseases ? especially those involving hematologic or endocrine tissues such as immune-mediated/autoimmune hemolytic anemia (IMHA/AIHA), immune/idiopathic thyrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a low platelet count and autoimmune thyroiditis. MLV vaccines ? given singly or in combination ? are also increasingly recognized contributors (albeit rarely) to immune-mediated blood disease, bone marrow failure and organ dysfunction. When MLV vaccines are given to pets with compromised immune systems, the animal is actually at risk of contracting a weakened form of the virus from the vaccine.

    The introduction of MLV vaccines more than 20 years ago is linked to increasing allergic problems and immunological disease in companion animals. Dogs with pre-existing inhalant allergies (atopy) to pollens display an increased risk of vaccinosis (an adverse vaccine response).

    Killed vaccines

    Killed vaccines use an inactivated ? dead? form of the virus (previously live microorganisms that have been killed with chemicals or heat), along with an adjuvant (a substance added to a vaccine to enhance its effectiveness without itself causing an immune response).

    For dogs: Killed vaccines include all rabies vaccines, canine leptospirosis, Lyme, canine influenza, injectable bordetella, injectable coronavirus (not recommended by 2011 AAHA* Canine Vaccine Guidelines) and diamondback rattlesnake toxoid (does not protect equally against all types of rattlesnakes, including Mohave green variety).

    For cats: Unlike canine vaccines, most vaccines for cats come in MLV (not recommended for pregnant queens or very young kittens), killed and intranasal versions. Vaccines for feline panleukopenia virus (a parvovirus, often incorrectly called feline distemper), feline viral respiratory disease complex (feline herpes virus and calicivirus) plus rabies vaccine are considered as ?core? feline vaccines. Killed and so-called ?lifestyle? (see below) vaccines also include those for feline leukemia virus (a recombinant version is also available), feline immunodeficiency virus, chlamydia and intranasal bordetella (these latter two are not recommended for routine use).

    As with MLV vaccines, killed vaccines can trigger both immediate and delayed adverse reactions. Of highest concern are the vaccine injection-site sarcomas most commonly seen after rabies vaccination in cats, but also seen occasionally in dogs. Genetic predisposition to these disorders in humans has been linked to the leucocyte antigen D-related gene locus of the major histocompatibility complex, and is likely to have parallel associations in domestic animals. Killed vaccines can at worst aggravate an already existing autoimmune disease and may prove ineffective.

    Although all dogs are susceptible to vaccine-related side effects, breeds at highest-risk of vaccinosis (in alphabetical order) are:

    ? Akita
    ? American ****er Spaniel
    ? German Shepherd
    ? Golden Retriever
    ? Irish Setter
    ? Great Dane
    ? Kerry Blue Terrier
    ? Dachshunds (all varieties, but especially the long-haired)
    ? Poodles (all varieties, but especially the Standard Poodle
    ? Old English Sheepdog
    ? Scottish Terrier
    ? Shetland Sheepdog
    ? Shih Tzu
    ? Vizsla
    ? Weimaraner

    Breeds with white or predominantly white coats, as well as those with coat color and pigment dilution such as fawn (Isabella) or blue Dobermans, the merle coat color, blue Yorkshire Terriers, grey Collies, harlequin Great Danes, and Australian Shepherds are also more susceptible.

    Note: Breed-susceptibility data are generally unavailable for vaccinosis in cats.

    People often ask me about the non-core vaccines, such as leptospirosis, Lyme disease, bordetella (a component of kennel cough) and canine influenza. These vaccines are considered ?lifestyle? vaccines and should be assessed according to your dog?s individual risk factors. Does your dog play at a dog park with other animals? Is he boarded in a kennel? Does he attend doggy daycare? Does your geographic location have increasing outbreaks or incidences of a particular disease? All of these factors should come into play when deciding whether to vaccinate your pet against the lifestyle vaccines. Most non-core vaccines require annual revaccination to maintain immunity, so be sure that your dog really needs them.

Suggested Topics

  • Titers–Dr. W. Jean Dodds Interviews

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    2k Views
    Kris_ChristineK
    http://drjeandoddspethealthresource.tumblr.com/post/58271237209/titer-vaccine-questions#.UoS6II0Vxux Frequently Asked Questions about Titers and Vaccination Protocol by Dr. Dodds We frequently receive questions regarding Dr. Dodds? Canine Vaccination Protocol and thought we would put together a short FAQ to help your dog. We also invite you to explore the section tagged "Vaccines" ?on our blog as we have several posts about specific vaccines, viruses, and titers. Question: The breeder vaccinated before nine weeks of age. How do I start your vaccination protocol now? Answer: Just continue with the regular minimum vaccine protocol of Distemper and Parvovirus at 9 and 14 weeks. Question: It is difficult to find a veterinarian who gives only the DPV (Nobivac Puppy-DPv) per your vaccination protocol. Can you recommend a vet? Answer: You or your veterinarian can purchase it online from such places as Revival Animal Health or KV Vet Supply. Your vet can then administer the shot. Question: We purchased a puppy from a breeder who only vaccinates for Parvovirus. Should my dog also have Distemper? Answer: Your dog does need a distemper virus shot ? in fact two doses are needed 3-4 weeks apart. You can purchase it yourself. The only monovalent, single distemper shot on the market today is NeoVacc-D by NeoTech ? available online from such places as Revival Animal Health or KV Vet Supply. (Note: you can also purchase a single shot of Parvovirus from the same places.) Question: What kind of rabies vaccine should I get? Answer: The rabies vaccine should be thimerosal (mercury) ? free ? i.e. Merial IMRAB TF. Question: Are there any methods to stop the potential side effects of vaccine reactions? Answer: You can pre-treat dogs with the oral homeopathics, Thuja and Lyssin, to help blunt any adverse effects of the rabies vaccine. For other vaccines, just Thuja is needed. These homeopathics can be given the day before, the day of, and the day after the vaccine. Some product protocols suggest a different regimen for them. Question: Why won?t my state take my dog?s rabies titer test so he can avoid the vaccine? Answer: At this time, no state will accept a rabies titer in lieu of the shot. Additionally, a rabies titer does not satisfy any state?s medical exemption clause. For a list of states with medical exemptions, please visit The Rabies Challenge Fund www.RabiesChallengeFund.org. There are currently 18 states that officially recognize exemptions from rabies booster, but only on a justified case-by-case basis and following the specific requirements of that state. Question: What is the point of a rabies titer test if my state won?t accept it as a medical exemption? Answer: There are two reasons: Rabies titer results are required by many rabies-free countries or regions in order for dogs and cats to qualify for a reduced quarantine period prior to entry. Some of these regions are Hawaii, Guam, Japan, St. Kitts and Nevis, Australia, New Zealand, France, and the United Kingdom. Always check with the destination authority to verify the pet importation. The CDC states that a rabies titer of 0.1 IU/mL or higher is acceptable to protect a person from rabies. Further, the results of the 5-year Rabies Challenge Fund Study showed that immunologic memory for rabies vaccination remains at or above that level of immunity. This information is helpful for pet guardian peace-of-mind in areas where clinical rabies cases occur, and the dog or cat is medically exempt from further rabies boosters. Question: Every year, the titer shows them as low on their distemper antibodies. What should I do? Answer: I do suggest titer testing your dog every three years for both distemper and parvovirus. Additionally, any measurable titer to either distemper & parvovirus means that the dog has specific committed immune memory cells to respond and afford protection upon exposure. If your dogs consistently have no measurable titer to canine distemper virus, it means mean that they are distemper ?non-or low-responders?, an heritable trait where they will never mount immunity to distemper and will always be susceptible. These dogs should not be used for breeding. As non-or low-responders to distemper are rare (1:5000 cases), my suggestion is that you retest at least one of them at Hemopet. Question: My veterinarian believes anytime dogs are in contact with water that they are at HIGH risk for contracting leptospirosis. Answer: Not so. Most Leptospirosis strains (there are about 200) do not cause disease, and of the seven clinically important strains, only four ? L. icterohaemorrhagiae, L. canicola, L. grippotyphosa, and L. pomona serovars ? are found in today?s vaccines. So, exposure risk depends upon which serovars of Lepto have been documented to cause clinical leptospirosis in the area where you live. You can call the county health department or local animal control and ask. W. Jean Dodds, DVM Hemopet / NutriScan 11561 Salinaz Avenue Garden Grove, CA 92843
  • Vaccine Podcasts w/Dr. Ronald Schultz

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    2k Views
    Kris_ChristineK
    "_Is Your Pet Receiving Any of These Useless Vaccines?" Dr. Karen Becker interviews Dr. Ronald Schultz about pet vaccines: http://www.nutritionw.com/2013/11/is-your-pet-receiving-any-of-these-useless-vaccines/ Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tghhWzD0ym8_
  • Vaccines–Dr. W. Jean Dodds Part 1

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    3k Views
    Kris_ChristineK
    http://drjeandoddspethealthresource.tumblr.com/post/66693331640/dodds-dog-vaccination-protocol-2013-2014#.UoS3Uo0Vxux 2013 and 2014 Canine Vaccination Protocol - W. Jean Dodds, DVM Dr. Dodds has made only slight, minor changes to the basic, core Canine Vaccination Protocol she established in previous years. Dr. Dodds bases her decisions on numerous factors such as presence of maternal immunity, prevalence of viruses or other infectious agents in the region, number of reported occurrences of the viruses and other infectious agents, how these agents are spread, and the typical environmental conditions and exposure risk activities of companion animals. Dr. Dodds considers infectious canine hepatitis (adenovirus-1), canine adenovirus-2, bordetella, canine influenza, canine coronavirus, leptospirosis, and Lyme regional and situational. Please research the prevalence in your area, and discuss it with your veterinarian. 2013 and 2014 Vaccination Protocol Note: The following vaccine protocol is offered for those dogs where minimal vaccinations are advisable or desirable. The schedule is one Dr. Dodds recommends and should not be interpreted to mean that other protocols recommended by a veterinarian would be less satisfactory. It?s a matter of professional judgment and choice. 9-10 Weeks Old: Distemper + Parvovirus, MLV (e.g. Merck Nobivac [Intervet Progard] Puppy DPV) 14-16 Weeks: Same as above 20 Weeks or Older (if allowable by law): Rabies 1 Year: Distemper + Parvovirus, MLV 1 Year: Rabies, killed 3-year product (give 3-4 weeks apart from distemper/parvovirus booster) Perform vaccine antibody titers for distemper and parvovirus every three years thereafter, or more often, if desired. Vaccinate for rabies virus according to the law, except where circumstances indicate that a written waiver needs to be obtained from the primary care veterinarian. In that case, a rabies antibody titer can also be performed to accompany the waiver request. See The Rabies Challenge Fund www.RabiesChallengeFund.org website. W. Jean Dodds, DVM Hemopet / NutriScan 11561 Salinaz Avenue Garden Grove, CA 92843
  • 0 Votes
    1 Posts
    759 Views
    No one has replied
  • Recommended Vaccinations?

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    31
    0 Votes
    31 Posts
    8k Views
    Kris_ChristineK
    renaultf1, I wish the state would also accept titers for rabies, but maybe in the future they will. There is an in-house titer kit available from Synbiotics in San Diego called "TiterChek" that vets can do at their office to check for adequate antibody levels on a pass/fail basis – it won't give you a specific antibody count the way a titer sent to a lab will, but it will let you know if your animal has enough to protect them. We have those done whenever we need to board our dogs rather than having boosters. Kris
  • 0 Votes
    2 Posts
    887 Views
    Kris_ChristineK
    **PERMISSION TO CROSS-POST NJ Vaccine Seminar LIVE WEBSTREAM this SATURDAY** Saturday, March 14, 2009 at 2:00 PM Eastern Standard Time The 2009 Northeast Rabies Challenge Fund Seminar will be held March 14, 2009 at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ. You can see Dr. Dodds speak live over the Internet To attend this seminar via this live video stream visit the site to sign up:SIGN UP HERE: http://hycalibervideo.com/northeast-rabies-challenge-fund-live-stream It will be limited to 300 online virtual attendees. Cost is $55.00 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Dr. W. Jean Dodds - "Clinical Approaches to Managing and Treating Adverse Vaccine Reactions" 3:30 PM - 3:50 PM BREAK 3:50 PM - 4:55 PM Moderated** Question and Answer Session