Vaccination Information... why every pet owner should own this book!

From

Vaccine Guide for Dogs and Cats. What Every Pet Owner Should Know by Catherine J.M. Diodati, MA

Vaccine Ingredients:

“… All vaccines contain antigens (i.e. viruses, bacteria, or toxins secreted by bacteria), relevant to the disease they are meant to prevent. … Antigens are generally grown and propagated in a feasible culture media, such as bovine fetal serum or upon host tissues derived from certain animals. (… The use of bovine fetal serum in vaccines provides a potentially significant means of transmission {of BSE “Mad Cow Disease”} both to animals and humans). Vaccine antigens are not supposed to be able to cause disease, but as repeated experience has shown, they can remain virulent in the final preparation. They ARE capable of causing disease both in the vaccine and the contacts.

One disinfectant that is commonly used to kill vaccine antigens is formaldehyde (formalin). The use of this extremely toxic and carcinogenic chemical has persisted despite many historical lessons demonstrating its inadequacy. Simply put, it doesn’t always work. Instead of inactivating the antigens, the formaldehyde may instead harden the outer gelatinous debris of clumped proteins, leaving the antigens inside untouched. When this unnatural chemical amalgam enters the body, enzymes digest the hardened out portion, freeing the fully virulent particles to enter cells, replicate and cause disease.

… Vaccines also contain a variety of chemicals intended to prevent contamination by extraneous microorganisms. They may include antibiotics and other additives such as mercury or phenol. Adjuvants such as aluminum salts or gels may be used to prolong the immune response.”

“Kennel cough and infectious tracheobronchitis are general terms used to describe canine respiratory illnesses that can result from a variety of viruses, bacteria, or mycoplasma…. Dogs may experience anything from a dry mild cough to a retching cough…. Depending upon the animal’s age, stress factors, environmental ventilation, nutrition and healthy status, there may be additional signs. … Although the disease may persist for up to 20 days, the severity of the cough will begin to diminish within the first 5 days.

Kennel cough is highly contagious and spread rapidly, particularly in enclosed environments where many dogs are housed. For this reason, hospitalization is not advisable. Treatment largely consists of good general care including proper nutrition and hygiene, and avoiding extreme temperature, ventilation, or humidity variations. Since the disease is ordinarily self-limiting, most dogs will recover very well without further intervention. Extremely ill dogs may be given cough suppressants or antibiotics, but they are rarely indicated. If the infecting pathogen is viral in nature, the use of antibiotics is useless at best and will unnecessarily burden the dog’s immune systems. The efficacy of antibiotics, even for the bacterial Bordetella bronchisptica, is quite limited, and may increase the potential of antibiotic-resistance while doing nothing to improve the dog’s condition. This après to be particularly true of systemic treatment because the antibiotic will not even reach the bacteria. Aerosol antibiotic treatment also is of questionable value since it reduces bacterial densities in the trachea and bronchi only temporarily and may cause labored breathing. If an antibiotic is indicated, it should be chosen based upon the results of specific culture and sensitivity tests.

The first Bordetella bronchiseptica vaccines were whole cell, inactivated, parenteral (injectable) vaccines. They were not well accepted by veterinarians due to their high reaction rates. Dogs often experienced swelling and tissue damage at the injection site, and the vaccine was known to cause fatal anaphylactic shock depending upon the concentration of the antigen.

Canine parainfluenza and Bordetella bronchiseptica combined vaccines have been available since the 1970’s. They contain either modified live parainfluenza and inactivated B. bronchiseptica antigens for the parenteral vaccine or modified live antigens for the intranasal vaccine. … Dogs vaccinated parenterally are still quite capable of infecting other susceptible dogs. A parenterally vaccinated dog becomes a potential source of infection for every dog he meets, for a period of time, whether vaccinated or not. The intranasal vaccine is considered protective after one dose whereas the parenteral vaccine requires two doses and tends to cause local reactions. Differences in efficacy between the two types results from each vaccine’s ability, or lack thereof, to elicit necessary mucosal immunity.

… The parenteral vaccine has been associated with anaphylactic (life-threatening allergic) reactions. The intranasal vaccine has been linked with upper respiratory illnesses. Inadvertent injection of the intranasal vaccine is known to cause liver failure. In one case, for example, a fox terrier was injected with the intranasal parinfluenza B. bronchiseptica vaccine and developed a local reaction- necrosis (tissue death)- degeneration of the liver, thrombocytopenia, as well as a variety of other abnormalities.

Typically, Kennel Cough presents only a mild, self-limiting disease that is easily manageable with basic supportive care. Since the vaccines have a tendency to CAUSE various reactions, not to mention infection itself, one would be well-advised to weigh whether vaccination provides any real benefit.”