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Issue date: August 5, 2000
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Pets
Unnecessary shots have been linked
to tumors, even death. Expert advice is on the way.
Vaccinations: Safe
or sorry?
By Peggy Noonan
SUDDENLY, Taking Rover AND Puff to get their shots requires more
thought: Many pet lovers and vets have become worried that routine
vaccinations may be dangerous.
"This is a hot topic in the profession," says Donald J.
Klingborg, who's leading an investigation into vaccination risks for the
American Veterinary Medical Association. The results and recommendations
will be available late this year.
No one says every vaccinated pet will develop problems, but there are
plenty of cautionary tales of autoimmune diseases, aggressive cancers,
chronic illnesses and even deaths. Veterinarians tell pet owners to talk
over their concerns with their vets to make a plan that offers the most
protection and the least risk.
Jenny Nelson, a Kansas State University veterinary graduate student
shown at top left with her three dogs, wishes she could do what some
owners do: Vaccinate only when a pet's immunity is low. To determine
immune status, blood is drawn and tested for various antibodies. But at
$20 to $55 a pop, it's outside a student budget.
Instead, with the support of her vet, Nelson began a modified schedule
of shots for her dogs: Holly Bear, a red Australian shepherd; Rowan, a
blue Australian shepherd; and Oliver, a golden retriever. Puppy
vaccinations were stretched out to double the time between shots, and she
gives the once-every-three-years rabies vaccinations instead of annual
boosters. Nelson knows this tactic won't work for everyone. Military
families, for example, must stick to annual boosters or risk leaving
their pets behind if they get transferred.
No long-term studies support the practice of annual boosters, say
experts at Colorado State University. Worse, rabies vaccine labeled as
one-year strength might actually be three-year strength, meaning pets
might get much higher doses than they need.
Toy breed dogs are especially prone to vaccine reactions, with
responses so strong they can be fatal. Veterinary schools already
recommend a modified vaccination schedule for the tiny canines.
"Most pet owners don't realize that no vaccination is 100%
effective. And there's no clear information on how long they last in
individual animals," says Amy Shojai, the author of pet health books
including New Choices in Natural Healing for Dogs and Cats (Rodale, $29.95).
"While some will offer virtually lifelong immunity with one shot,
others last less than a year or don't prevent disease -- they only reduce
the severity if the pet does get sick." Shojai now vaccinates her
Siamese cat, Seren, less frequently.
Nevertheless, until the official study of vaccine safety is finished,
lead investigator Klingborg says that "vaccinations do much more
good than harm."
Go to top
Need information
to make your own choice about vaccinating your pet?
Click here to find out more:
Read the findings of and latest news from the AVMAšs Vaccine
Associated Feline Sarcoma Task Force at http://www.AVMA.org/vafstf
Colorado State Universityšs Small Animal Vaccination Protocol (the
program recommended by Colorado Statešs Veterinary Teaching Hospital): http://www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/vth/savp2.html
Gigi Howešs e-mail support group: http://www.egroups.com/group/Feline_VAS_Support
Or access Howešs VAFS the support group through the web page she
dedicated to her cat, Shorti: http://members.aol.com/shoriol/Shorti-OnLine.html
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