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Health Tips - Vaccine Logic |
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Key points about vaccines:
- Vaccines are not benign. They are to be considered serious medicine with serious potential side effects. Use with caution!
- Vaccines do not need to be given yearly, with the possible exception of bordetella in dogs.
- There are very effective alternatives to traditional vaccines.
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Types of vaccines:
Dogs:
- Parvo virus – an intestinal virus; life-threatening, but can be treated
- Distemper virus – a multi-systemic virus, often fatal
- Parainfluenza - respiratory
- Corona virus – digestive, low morbidity
- Leptospirosis – renal failure, many forms, vaccine efficacy questionable
- Giardia – an intestinal parasite
- Rattlesnake – questionable efficacy
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Cats:
- Feline distemper, panleukopenia – a multi-systemic disease, often fatal
- Calicivirus, Herpesvirus, Chlamydia - respiratory diseases, not life-threatening, but can be chronic
- Leukemia – life threatening, not common
- Feline infectious peritonitis – life-threatening, not common
- Feline immunodeficiency virus – a virus that suppresses the immune system, may be life-threatening
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Rabies vaccine
Required by law for dogs and cats; does not need to be given more than every 3 years. Not common in this area.
Core vaccines:
Those vaccines that are generally recommended for most pets
- Distemper (dogs and cats), Parvo in dogs
- Feline respiratory viruses
Vaccines based on lifestyle:
Varies depending on where the pet goes and who it contacts
Vaccines required by law:
- Rabies – not a common disease in Colorado
- Other vaccines may be required by boarding kennels, daycares, groomers
Vaccines with questionable efficacy:
- Lyme, Lepto, Giardia, Rattlesnake
- No proven efficacy. Greater chance of side effects. Treatable diseases.
Vaccine side effects
Allergies, behavioral issues, autoimmune disease, aggression, cancer
Vaccine efficacy
No vaccine is 100% effective at preventing disease. Depends on animal’s response to it, quality of vaccine, how it is handled and how it is given.
Vaccine alternatives - Read more about vaccine alternatives
Titers, nosodes, extended protocols
Keep pets healthy with good diet.
Supplements to keep immune system strong.
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