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Is Your Vet Still Overvaccinating Your Dog?

By Daniel Beatty, DVM

Is your dog being overvaccinated and your vet is not following the new guidelines? How many of you are still getting annual “shots” for your dog? Has your vet told you that there is a “new” protocol for vaccinating your dog? I say “new” loosely because the guidelines have been around for over 5 years now! That is beside the point, lets just go with the new guidelines given out by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) last year in 2006.

First, a bit of information about the vaccination of your dog. The most common other vaccination given to your dog besides rabies is a 5 or a 6 in one shot. Meaning there are 5 or 6 different types of diseases your dog is being vaccinated for in one shot. The common acronym for this vaccine is DHLPP and sometimes added in there is a C. The letters each stand for a different disease – D=Distemper, H=Hepatitis (also known as Adenovirus), L=Leptospirosis, P=Parvo, P=Parainfluenza, and C=Corona.

For the new guidelines lets take the three core vaccines, the three that your dog should be vaccinated for Distemper, Parvo and Hepatitis (Adenovirus). After your dog has been initially vaccinated for these three core diseases usually as a puppy and then a year later with a booster, your dog has prolonged immunity against those diseases. What do I mean by prolonged immunity, well the research shows, your dog is immune for 6 to 9 years! That’s correct! The research done by reputable immunologists, such as Dr. Ronald Schultz, shows that after the initial puppy vaccination and a one year booster many dogs are protected for the majority of their life. WIth this new research AAHA developed some new guidelines. Their suggestion or guidelines, after puppy vaccination and the yearly booster is that the three core vaccines, only need to be boostered every three years. So according to the AAHA guidelines, instead of annual revaccination, your dog really only needs to be revaccinated every three years.

In fact, did you know, annual vaccination of your dog can cause severe diseases. Overvaccination has been linked to cancer, allergies, and other auto-immune diseases such as Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia. More research needs to be done but many of the recent studies show these links exist. In fact, in cats, overvaccination has been proven to cause sarcomas, a very severe cancer.

So now the question becomes, if the vaccines have been shown to produce immunity that lasts quite a bit longer than what was originally thought and annual vaccination might be the cause of certain allergies and other immune system diseases including cancer, then why has my vet not told me about this? Unfortunately, the answer is money, if not money then it is pure ignorance on your vet’s part. Yes ignorance, as in not current in their education or just an unwillingness to change because the old way is the way things have always been done. Money is the other answer and no it is not because veterinarians are greedy, but rather in many veterinary offices, 33% of the annual income comes from vaccinations. This is a large percentage of income that with the new guidelines will be cut. Veterinarians are not prepared for that kind of an income cut. Many could go out of business. Many clinics do not have the management skills or their other services are not priced correctly to compensate for that kind of an income loss. So changing to the new vaccination guidelines although would benefit your animals health can be a tough business decision for the owner of the veterinary clinic. Just remember though you have a responsibility as a pet owner for the health and well being of your pet and less vaccinations IS better for your pet, regardless of the business problems that some clinics may have going to the new guidelines.

So if your veterinarian is still requesting annual vaccinations, ask why. Be informed, make the right decisions, choose to protect the health of your dog by learning what your veterinarian is giving to your dog and why – specifically why, not just because he is the vet and it is to better the health of your dog. Ask questions, be dangerous! About the Author: Be dangerous to your veterinarian, be informed, make intelligent decisions based on knowledge from credible sources. You can find more information about the topic of dog health care at Dr. Dan's site http://www.evetclinic.com Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=188258&ca=Pets  

Greetings!

An article was published by Reuters on September 7, 2007 that is of interest to dog owners:   U.S. Free of Canine Rabies Virus http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN0741162020070907  by Maggie Fox  (Health & Science Editor)  September 7, 2007

"The elimination of canine rabies in the United States represents one of the major public health success stories in the last 50 years," CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding said in a statement  

• For more information on the canine rabies vaccine http://www.RabiesChallengeFund.org/page4.html

• The Rabies Challenge Fund  http://www.RabiesChallengeFund.org/about%20the%20RCF.html

• Rabies Challenge Fund Reaches First-Year Goal:  http://www.mainelincolncountynews.com/index.cfm?ID=26297

• Pets: Rabies vaccine research may save some pain:  http://www.newsday.com/search/ny-lspets5278482jul02,0,6559208.column

• The Vaccine Challenge: http://www.animaltalknaturally.com:80/2007/05/01/the-vaccine-challenge-show-91/

• How Often Does He REALLY Need a Rabies Shot? http://animalwellnessmagazine.com/m/m86/main.htm

• Get Out Your Wallets, Rabies Challenge Fund a Reality: http://www.mainetoday.com/pets/dogslife/007915.html.

• Are We Over-vaccinating our Pets?  http://www.spanieljournal.com/28lbaughan.html

• Rabies Challenge Kicks Off Fundraiser: http://www.courierpub.com/articles/2005/10/12/lincolncountyweekly/local_news/4news.txt

• Nationwide Campaign Launched to Fund Rabies Vaccine Study: http://www.mainelincolncountynews.com/index.cfm?ID=14204

• Challenging the Rabies Vaccine: http://www.newsday.com/mynews/ny-lspets4432971sep19,0,1274963.column;

• The Rabies Challenge Fund:  http://blogs.mainetoday.com/dogslife/002976.html

• Rabies Challenge Fund & Master Dog Training at the Womens Podcasting Expo - Show #42: http://www.replay-video.com/guide/index.php?start_page=http://applian.com/guide/view_podcast_details.php?show_id=2156

What's the Difference Anyhow?  

In most breeds, it is the females who determine the pecking order, and who compete to maintain and/or alter that order.  The females are, as a result more independent, stubborn, and territorial than their male counterparts.  The females are much more intent upon exercising their dominance by participating in alpha behaviors such as "humping".  There is a reason people utilize the technical dog term of "bitch" in a negative connotation - and it refers directly to the behaviors exhibited by the females of the dog world.  I have both male and female in my household, and the only fights I have ever had to break up were between females.  

On the other hand, males are usually more affectionate, exuberant, attentive, and more demanding of attention while never getting enough.  They are very attached to their people.  They also tend to be more steadfast, reliable and less moody.  They are more outing, more accepting of other pets and take quicker to children.  Most boys are easily motivated by praise and food, and so eager to please that training is easy.  However, males can be more easily distracted during training, as males like to play so often.  And no matter what age, he is more likely to act silly and more puppy-like, always wanting to play games.  Boys are fun loving until the day they die.  Females tend to become more reserved or dignified as they age.  Witness the human equivalent of the twinkling eyed Grandpa still playing catch at age 70 while Grandma quietly observes from the porch.  

Neutered males rarely exhibit secondary sexual behavior such as "humping" or marking and lifting of legs.  Once testosterone levels recede after neutering, most of these behaviors (if they ever existed) will disappear.  Boys who are neutered early (by 5 months) usually don't ever raise their legs to urinate.  

And while the female will usually come to you for attention, when she's had enough, she will move away.  But the boys are always waiting for your attention near at hand.  Females usually are less distracted during training, as she is more eager to get it over with and get back to her comfy spot on the couch.  The female is less likely to wage a dominance battle with YOU, but she can be cunning and resourceful in getting her own way.  She is more prone to mood swings.  The female also has periods of being "in heat" unless she is spayed.  Seasonal heats can be a month long nightmare - not just for the female, but for you and every male dog in the neighborhood.  If you are not breeding, it'd be best to have her spayed.  During this time, she can leave a bloody discharge on carpets, couches, or anywhere she goes.  She will be particularly moody during this time.  A walk outside during this period can be hazardous if male dogs are in the vicinity.  She will leave a "scent" for wandering intact males to follow right to your yard, where they will hand out and "wait" for days.  

Before deciding on a male or female, give consideration to any other dogs that may be in or around your home.

Early Spay-Neuter Considerations
for the Canine Athlete
By Chris Zink, DVM
To neuter or not to neuter...

Those of us with responsibility for the health of canine athletes need to continually read and evaluate new scientific studies to ensure that we are taking the most appropriate care of our performance dogs. This article provides evidence through a number of recent studies to suggest that veterinarians and owners with canine athletes should revisit the standard protocol in which all dogs that are not intended for breeding are spayed and neutered at or before 6 months of age. Orthopedic Considerations A study by Salmeri et al in 1991 found that bitches spayed at 7 weeks grew significantly taller than those spayed at 7 months, and that those spayed at 7 months had significantly delayed closure of the growth plates than those not spayed (or presumably spayed after the growth plates had closed).(1) A study of 1444 Golden Retrievers performed in 1998 and 1999 also found bitches and dogs spayed and neutered at less than a year of age were significantly taller than those spayed or neutered at more than a year of age.(2) The sex hormones promote the closure of the growth plates, so the bones of dogs or bitches neutered or spayed before puberty continue to grow. Dogs that have been spayed or neutered well before puberty can frequently be identified by their longer limbs, lighter bone structure, narrow chests and narrow skulls. This abnormal growth frequently results in significant alterations in body proportions and particularly the lengths (and therefore weights) of certain bones relative to others. For example, if the femur has achieved its genetically determined normal length at 8 months when a dog gets spayed or neutered, but the tibia, which normally stops growing at 12 to 14 months of age continues to grow, then an abnormal angle may develop at the stifle. In addition, with the extra growth, the lower leg below the stifle becomes heavier (because it is longer), causing increased stresses on the cranial cruciate ligament. These structural alterations may be the reason why at least one recent study has shown that spayed and neutered dogs have a higher incidence of CCL rupture.(3) Another recent study showed that dogs spayed or neutered before 5 1/2 months had a significantly higher incidence of hip dysplasia than those spayed or neutered after 5 1/2 months of age.(4) Breeders of purebred dogs should be concerned about these two studies and particularly the latter, because they might make incorrect breeding decisions if they consider the hip status of pups they bred that were spayed or neutered early.

Cancer Considerations
There is a slightly increased risk of mammary cancer if a female dog has one heat cycle. But my experience indicates that fewer canine athletes develop mammary cancer as compared to those that damage their cranial cruciate ligaments.
In addition, only about 30 % of mammary cancers are malignant and, as in humans, when caught and surgically removed early the prognosis is very good.(5) Since canine athletes are handled frequently and generally receive prompt veterinary care, mammary cancer is not quite the specter it has been in the past. A retrospective study of cardiac tumors in dogs showed that there was a 5 times greater risk of hemangiosarcoma, one of the three most common cancers in dogs, in spayed bitches than intact bitches and a 2.4 times greater risk of hemangiosarcoma in neutered dogs as compared to intact males.(6) A study of 3218 dogs demonstrated that dogs that were neutered before a year of age had a significantly increased chance of developing bone cancer, a cancer that is much more life-threatening than mammary cancer, and that affects both genders.(7) A separate study showed that neutered dogs had a two-fold higher risk of developing bone cancer.(8) Despite the common belief that neutering dogs helps prevent prostate cancer, at least one study suggests that neutering provides no benefit.(9) Behavioral Considerations The study that identified a higher incidence of cranial cruciate ligament rupture in spayed or neutered dogs also identified an increased incidence of sexual behaviors in males and females that were neutered early.(3) Further, the study that identified a higher incidence of hip dysplasia in dogs neutered or spayed before 5 1/2 months also showed that early age gonadectomy was associated with an increased incidence of noise phobias and undesirable sexual behaviors.(4) A recent report of the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation reported significantly more behavioral problems in spayed and neutered bitches and dogs. The most commonly observed behavioral problem in spayed females was fearful behavior and the most common problem in males was aggression.(10) Yet another study showed that unneutered males were significantly less likely than neutered males to suffer cognitive impairment when they were older.(11) Females were not evaluated in that study.

Other Health Considerations
A number of studies have shown that there is an increase in the incidence of female urinary incontinence in dogs spayed early.(12) Interestingly, neutering also has been associated with an increased likelihood of urethral sphincter incontinence in males.(13) This problem is an inconvenience, and not usually life-threatening, but nonetheless one that requires the dog to be medicated for life. A health survey of several thousand Golden Retrievers showed that spayed or neutered dogs were more likely to develop hypothyroidism.(2) This study is consistent with the results of another study in which neutering and spaying was determined to be the most significant gender-associated risk factor for development of hypothyroidism.(14) Infectious diseases were more common in dogs that were spayed or neutered at 24 weeks or less as opposed to those undergoing gonadectomy at more than 24 weeks.(15) Finally, the AKC-CHF report demonstrated a higher incidence of adverse reactions to vaccines in neutered dogs as compared to intact. 0) For these reasons, I have significant concerns with spaying or neutering dogs before puberty, particularly for the canine athlete. And frankly, if something were healthier for the canine athlete, would we not also want that for pet dogs as well? But of course, there is the pet overpopulation problem. How can we prevent the production of unwanted dogs while still leaving the gonads to produce the hormones that are so important to canine growth and development? The answer is to perform vasectomies in males and tubal ligation in females, to be followed after maturity by ovariohysterectomy in females to prevent mammary cancer and pyometra. One possible disadvantage is that vasectomy does not prevent some unwanted behaviors associated with males such as marking and humping. On the other hand, it has been my experience that females and neutered males actively participate in these behaviors too. Really, training is the best solution for these issues. Another possible disadvantage is finding a veterinarian who is experienced in performing these procedures. Nonetheless, some do, and if the procedures were in greater demand, more veterinarians would learn them. I believe it is important that we assess each situation individually. If a pet dog is going to live with an intelligent, well-informed family that understands the problem of pet overpopulation and can be trusted to keep the dog under their control at all times and to not breed it, I do not recommend spaying or neutering before 14 months of age. In the case of dogs that might be going to less vigilant families, vasectomy and tubal ligation will allow proper growth while preventing unwanted pregnancies.

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dogs: effects on skeletal, physical, and behavioral development. JAVMA
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http://www.akcchf.org/pdfs/whitepapers/Biennial_National_Parent_Club_Canine_Health_Conference.pdf  
Hart BL. Effect of gonadectomy on subsequent development of age-related
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Stocklin-Gautschi NM, Hassig M, Reichler IM, Hubler M, Arnold S. The
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Aaron A, Eggleton K, Power C, Holt PE. Urethral sphincter mechanism
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