Rabies Vaccinations: How to vaccinate safely

Rabies is the ONLY vaccination that is mandatory in the state of Colorado. You are not required to have additional vaccinations administered and you should NEVER vaccinate a pet that is in less than perfect health.

Rabies Vaccination: 13 Ways to Vaccinate More Safely

www.truth4dogs.com

Peaches Displaying Her Rabies Vaccine Reaction

Note: this is an expanded version of an article by Jan Rasmusen previously published by DogsNaturallyMagazine.com

Animal Control sends a notice stating that your dog’s rabies vaccination is due. Some of us will vaccinate readily. Because it’s legally mandated, it must be safe, right? Besides, what choice do we have?

Others of us panic, desperate to avoid the shot at any cost. We remember what happened the last time our dog had a rabies vaccination. We wonder, will our dog survive another?

World-renowned pet vaccination scientist, Dr. Jean Dodds, wrote recently: “Rabies vaccines are the most common group of biological products identified in adverse event reports received by the USDA’s Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB).”

An adverse reaction to a rabies vaccine may exact a high price – to your dog’s health and your wallet. Here’s what you need to know to make vaccinating your dog safer:

1. Learn to recognize adverse reactions. Short-term reactions include vomiting, facial swelling, fever, lethargy, circulatory shock, loss of consciousness and even death. (If your pet appears distressed, contact your vet immediately.) Reactions occurring days or months after vaccination can be difficult to recognize. They include:

• Fibrocarcinomas (cancer) at the injection site

• Seizures and epilepsy

• Autoimmune disease

• Chronic digestive problems

• Allergies

• Skin diseases

• Muscle weakness or atrophy

• Pica (eating inappropriate materials, including feces)

• Behavioral changes (aggression, separation anxiety, compulsive behaviors and more)

If you suspect a health or behavior problem may be connected to a vaccine, you may have to convince your vet. It’s common to hear “it couldn’t be the shot” or “a reaction like that is impossible.” Even the drug’s manufacturer (to whom you should immediately report the reaction — giving them the brand and lot# — may deny the connection. Insist on seeing the product’s package insert, viewable on-line or from your vet. Also know that long-term reactions aren’t usually documented or even studied. Note: a vaccine reaction, especially one supported by your vet, may entitle you to compensation for medical expenses from the drug manufacturer.

2. Vaccinate healthy dogs only. Vaccinating an unhealthy animal can exacerbate illness and do irreparable harm. Also, immunity may not develop after vaccination because of the dog’s compromised immune system. This is especially dangerous as you may presume immunity that does not exist. Pets with autoimmune disease or cancer are obviously “not healthy,” but neither are pets suffering from stress from a move or surgery, a virus or infection, or allergies or skin problems or any other condition compromising health. (Never allow your pet to be vaccinated during surgery.)

3. Ask for a rabies vaccination exemption. If your dog has documented health problems, ask your vet to apply for a rabies vaccination extension or exemption. Many localities permit them even if state law doesn’t specifically allow them. If your vet won’t apply for an exemption, go elsewhere. You may want to contact a holistic vet who may better understand the dangers of vaccinating an unhealthy animal. If local law forbids exemptions, change the law. Numerous states are in the process of adding exemptions to their laws. Click this link to check your state’s rabies law and pending exemptions. http://www.dogs4dogs.com/rabies-laws

4. Don’t vaccinate against rabies within three weeks of other vaccinations or medication for parasites. Multiple vaccines given at once greatly increase the chance of reactions. Multiple vaccines are especially risky for small dogs. http://www.dogs4dogs.com/blog/2009/09/30/vaccinating-small-dogs-risks-vets-arent-revealing/

5. Make sure your dog gets the correct vaccine. If you’re vaccinating a puppy, make sure your vet administers a one-year vaccine initially (as late as legally possible) and a three-year vaccine (or whatever is required in your area) thereafter. The one-year and three-year vaccines are virtually identical medically – but not under the law. A one-year shot must be followed by re-vaccination a year later. Note: the one-year shot is not safer than the three-year (except that it may contain fewer adjuvants).

6. Vaccinate at the safest time. Vaccinate in the morning, early in the week, and don’t leave the area for at least an hour if possible. Watch for reactions for at least the next 48 hours. Reactions occurring when the closest vet’s office is closed can prove disastrous, even fatal.

7. Tell your vet you want a Thimerosol-free vaccine. Thimerosol (mercury) in vaccines has been linked to adverse reactions. Merial, for one, makes one- and three-year thimersol-free rabies vaccines: IMRAB® 1 TF and IMRAB® 3 TF. Make sure you see “TF” on the label. (If your vet doesn’t carry the vaccine, you may have to vet shop to find the vaccine you want. You might also ask why the vet why he/she doesn’t carry it.)

8. Find a vet trained in homeopathy to vaccinate your dog. Certain homeopathic remedies given before, during and after vaccinating can lessen the chance of ill effects from vaccination. Click the link to find vet referral lists. http://www.dogs4dogs.com/vet

9. Report all vaccine reactions to your vet and make sure they’re recorded in your pet’s file. Have the vet sign relevant pages, get copies and put them in a safe place. (Vets lose records, retire and move away.) Also report the reaction to the drug’s manufacturer. (You’ll need the vaccine lot number.) Vets are notoriously bad at reporting reactions, but exemptions to rabies vaccination and drug safety require documentation.

10. Don’t vaccinate within a week of travel. Pets experiencing reactions on route can die for lack of immediate medical assistance. (Find a list of emergency clinics by area at http://www.vetsnearyou.com/ml2/?v=352875029&u=0880F1AAC5EF9BA40210818080F807184B&gclid=CKOmmcXvm6QCFQY-bAodawLaEg (I cannot guarantee the clinics’ expertise, but at least this is a place to start.)

11. Keep copies of vaccination records and titer tests in your car(s) and license tags on your dog’s collar or harness. Otherwise, you may be forced to re-vaccinate if your pet bites someone, runs away and is taken to a shelter or if you have to board your pet unexpectedly.

12. Do not administer a rabies vaccine yourself. It will not satisfy legal requirements and you’ll have to have a vet vaccinate again. You will also be unprepared to deal with a potentially life-threatening reaction. Similarly, a vet’s office may likely be a safer place to get the vaccine than a mobile clinic.

13. Support the Rabies Challenge Fund. http://www.rabieschallengefund.org/ World-renowned scientists, W. Jean Dodds, DVM, and Ronald D. Schultz, PhD, are working as volunteers to increase the interval between rabies boosters by proving that the vaccine gives immunity, first, for five years, and then for seven years. (The study is in year four now.) They’re also working to establish a blood “titer standard” to provide a scientific basis to avoid unnecessary boosters with a simple blood test. This nonprofit group is supported solely by dog lovers and dog groups.

Before the next notice from Animal Control arrives, do your homework. A little time spent learning about the rabies vaccine can mean the difference between your dog’s wellness and serious illness.

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Get Our DVD: W. Jean Dodds, DVM and Ronald D. Schultz, PhD spoke at our Safer Pet Vaccination Benefit Seminar in March. A DVD of the event will be available shortly. Sign up for more information at http://www.dogs4dogs.com/saferpet . Learn more about rabies vaccination at www.truth4dogs.org and about vaccination in general at http://www.dogs4dogs.com/shots and at http://www.truth4dogs.com .

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Read more about Peaches and her skin disease caused by rabies vaccine reaction (called Ischemic Dermatopathy http://www.dogs4dogs.com/blog4dogs/2009/07/01/rabies-vaccine-skin-reaction-ischemic-dermatopathy/ ).

Dogs and the Holidays... keeping them safe

The Holidays and Dogs-
• Cooked bones are very brittle, and splintered pieces can perforate their intestines and/or lodge in your pets gums, requiring veterinary care to prevent infection/abscess or even death. Holiday leftovers need to go into the fridge or animal-proof trash cans as soon as the meal is over.
• Some human food is very unhealthy for animals, such as cooked bones, pies, meat gristle, onions, grapes and chocolate (etc). If you would like your pet to "join in" on your Holiday meal(s) feed Weruva or Tiki Dog Canned "Funky Chunky" or "North Shore Luau", or a properly prepared and sized 'raw' diet designed for pets, such as Primal or Nature's Logic (NEVER feed your pet grocery store, human meat raw. It is likely to contain large amounts of dangerous bacterias. Only feed raw that is designed for pets and is not intended to be cooked). Monitor your dog while he is chewing bones. You know your dog best, and can evaluate his bone chewing responsibility level best. If you question whether or not your pet can responsibly chew a bone, place your dog in a kennel with the bone in the same room as you. This will help prevent potential choking hazards and aggression with guests, children and other pets. Do not feed your pets your "leftovers" after holiday meals because your leftovers are the parts you deemed unsatisfactory for consumption. If you it's know unsatisfactory for you then it's probably not good for your pet either.
• Many color dyes in wrapping paper can be toxic and can make dogs and cats sick. Also, wrapping tape can potentially get stuck in your pets throat. Make sure all paper is picked up and stored in pet safe containers.
• Increased stress can cause people to become annoyed/upset with their pets, treating them differently than usual, which in turn causes unnecessary stress to the animal. Stressed people often leave their pets unattended. Unattended pets are bored pets and bored pets get into trouble. Kennel your pet inside your home, make reservations at a reputable boarding kennel, take your dog to daycare or hire a dog walker/sitter if you are too stressed out to exercise or spend relaxed time with your pet. Also, pets are likely to have increased levels of stress around people that have been drinking, as people can potentially treat pets differently when they've been drinking. The Canine Psychology Center ( www.caninepsychologycenter.com) will tend to your dog with 24 hour, in-home care while you are celebrating your holidays.
• Gifts, especially children toys, are very inviting to dogs. The holiday season is a time when many people find that their dog has a problem deciphering between their own toys and a child's new toys that may have small parts or metal parts that can get stuck in a dog's throat or cause tearing of the thin tissue inside the dog's mouth and throat. To help your pet decipher between what is his and what isn't, trying placing all your pets toys in a "toy box", and only allow your pet to play with toys that go in and come out of that bin. Also, try pet chew deterrent sprays (My favorite is Tropicleans Stay Away). These sprays can be placed on other objects, such as childrens toys, furniture, etc, to prevent your pet from mistaking them for his own. If your pet is particularly stubborn and doesn't "get the point", try disciplining the object that your pet is interested in. Don't make a point of actively involving your pet in this... just watching will be enough for your pet to want no part of that object. Take the object and pretend you are mad at it... stomp at/on it, yell at it, just be angry at it. Do NOT yell at your pet. Your pet is already stressed out during the holidays, just let your pet watch and that should be enough for them to "get the point". If you WANT your pet to unwrap their own presents, consider wrapping them with newspaper or other packing paper (or even paper bags) and using hemp string, rather then tape, to hold it shut to ensure digestibility and safety.
Also, consider purchasing only natural and earth-friendly toys (like the ones sold at Hero's P.e.t.s) because even your pets toys can be toxic. Watch this news brief about toxic pet toys http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=DDC4EC56C3D22DAC7C9AF76ED40FD51F?contentId=5125507&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1
New Year's Eve –
• Fireworks, as you know, cause many animals, wild and domestic, to become very stressed out, sometimes running out in the road and getting hit by a car. Some dogs even like to attack fireworks causing serious burns and eye injuries/loss. Kennel your dog inside your home or make reservations at a reputable boarding kennel. ( www.caninepsychologycenter.com ) Hero's Pets also carries the Thundershirt to help with anxiety. If you are in your home with your pet where it is safe and your pet is nervous, try playing music, playing with a laser, ball or doing some other fun activity that will take your pets mind/ears off of the noise.
• Drunk drivers are a serious problem for everyone, but are more prevalent on New Year's Eve. Be sure to take extra special care for yourself and your pet around roads during the holidays. Also, seat belting your pet in your vehicle can prevent many injuries in the event of an accident. Your chance of death increases by 40% if someone, including your pet, is not buckled up in the back seat because they may become a projectile into you. Also, if your pet is ejected from the car (and survives) they are likely to be scared and in shock. If this happens they may run into moving traffic and get hit by another car, or they will make it virtually impossible for an emergency worker or helpful passer-by to catch and help them. In such serious and terrifying events your dog may also bite someone, leaving you with a ticket and/or possible mandatory euthanasia. Seat belt your pets, for their safety and for yours.

Kids & Dogs during the Holidays
Kids and dogs play, that's what they do! There's nothing more adorable than a young child playing with his gentle, loving dog or new Christmas puppy. It is adorable, but not always a good idea with certain dogs. Remember, dogs are pack animals and live by a very strict social order. Us humans are also pack oriented, and have our own proper social order, but dogs and humans have completely different psychologies that make us think at a different level. The problem comes when the family owns a dog or puppy that doesn't view them as any kind of a pack leader. Children are too small physically and don't understand mentally that they should be seen as pack leaders by their dogs and believe it or not, most parents don't even know this crucial fact. However, in a dog pack only members of the same basic age and 'rank' play with one another. Pack leaders don't play, as they have an important job to do and that's protect the pack and keep that strict social order in tact. So, when we allow our children to play physically with our dogs we are literally teaching our dogs to treat all kids with disrespect. Do your research on each breed of dog, as well as the energy level of a potential canine addition to your family and choose an animal that will not be so dominant with children. Incorporate the cost of training into the overall cost of your pet, as training is a necessity... 70% of domestic pets end up in shelters due to insufficient training. Training is not just for your pet, it is for you... you must understand the messages you are sending your pet because they don't always perceive your actions the way you mean them. Also, not all trainers are equal. Petsmart and Petco training is more like socialization training. Some trainers style will clash with your beliefs or desires. INTERVIEW your trainer before committing or paying... find one that you feel comfortable with. Hero's Pets can recommend several great trainers.
If you are considering giving a loved one, or asking for, a new puppy as a Christmas present please consider giving or asking for a gift certificate to a breeder or all natural pet supply shop (so they can purchase necessities for their new pet) rather then an actual pet. That way people can develop a bond with the right pet and prevent any animal's admittance into the local shelter when the unprepared new owner realizes that they didn't make the proper physical, as well as mental, preparations to receive the new puppy or to let them know ahead of time in case they are simply not ready to have a puppy at this time – you will then have enough time to think of another gift that might be more appropriate.