We Vaccinate Your Dog Because We Care

We Vaccinate Your Dog Because We Care

Picture From: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=84

I was tagged in a post recently questioning a Veterinarian’s ethics on vaccine protocols for pets. The person’s post was as follows: “Let's talk rabies shots for dogs. I've read that one dose is good for the lifetime of your dog/cat. I also found no laws on this in the state of MO. I REALLY do NOT like shooting up my dog with crap that is not needed. Any Vets out there NOT taking my money that can give an honest answer to this? I do think a yearly exam is necessary, but can I refuse the rabies shot?”

I tried to respond, but the post was not made public for me to give her an educated response. I decided that I would use this as a topic on my blog, as I know it is controversial.

I first want to state that the MAJORITY of veterinarians DID NOT go into this business wanting your money. We went into this field because we LOVE animals and want them to have long and happy lives. The oath we take before graduating is as follows:

Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health and welfare, the prevention and relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge.

I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity, and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics.

I accept as a lifelong obligation the continual improvement of my professional knowledge and competence.

The amount of money we make vs. the amount of debt we take on after Veterinary school is insane! My student loans were a total of $250,000 and I make ~ ¼ of a human physician. I can only afford to pay my interest every year on my student loans; I did not go into this profession for the money.

Now to discuss why we give the vaccines we do:

1. Core vaccines. These are vaccines that all pets need:
1. Distemper combo. This vaccine protects your dog against Distemper, Parovirus and a number of respiratory viruses pending the combination of the vaccine.  Distemper is a virus that can cause either respiratory or neutolgic disease that has a very poor prognosis. Here are some links to show you what a dog with Distemper looks like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3sYiKS8tQU  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld9YI-10gzg. You have likely heard of Parvovirus. This is a virus that will attack fast replicating cells, such as white blood cells and intestinal cells. This causes a severe GI disease in our animals (vomiting and/or diarrhea) and if not treated aggressively and rapidly can cause death.
2. Rabies. The reason we do not see much Rabies in our pets’ is because we vaccinate. Rabies is still seen in the wildlife around our neighborhoods and is not something you want to risk. Here are some links on what Rabies looks like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guYU1JDE_jM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8fbAFOMTp4
2. Non-Core Vaccines. These are vaccines given based on your pet’s lifestyle
1. Leptospirosis. This is a vaccine that I treat as a core vaccine, but many veterinarians still give on an as-needed basis. Leptospirosis is a bacteria that is transmitted by urine from rats, raccoons, opossums, etc. (good luck keeping these critters out of your yard). It can remain in rain water, puddles and lakes for long periods as well. This bacteria causes severe liver and kidney failure in our pets and is something that humans can also become infected with. I have seen several animals die from this and I prefer to prevent it.
2. Bordetella. This is a common cause of kennel cough. I recommend this vaccine for any dog that is going to be social – visiting parks with many other dogs, going to daycare, groomers or boarding facilities.
3. Influenza. This protects against a severe respiratory disease. I recommend this vaccine for social dogs as well (see above). I practiced in Chicago during the H3N2 outbreak and let me tell you, I never want to see another pup with that virus every again. It is heartbreaking.
4. Lyme. This vaccine I recommend for all dogs frequently visiting woody areas or hunting dogs. This disease is transmitted by ticks, most commonly the Deer Tick, which is out until it is 32 degrees outside.

Now to the science. Why do we give the same amount of vaccine to our Great Danes as we do to our Yorkie’s?

First off, there is a huge limit to the studies we get to run for veterinary medicine due to the lack of funds. The companies are required to prove that their vaccines are safe and effective in the species it is designed for. Most of these studies are done on the average dog.

Vaccines and medication work differently. Medications must reach an effective level in the blood and/or tissue so they can perform their function. Vaccines must stimulate the immune response, which is not measured by weight. And, in fact, there is a difference in doses based on the size of species. Dogs, cats and smaller pets = 1 mL; Horses and Cows = 2 mLs; Elephants = 2-4 mL. These doses have been studied and I can confidently tell my clients that their pet is protected. I do believe that half doses will likely protect our smaller animals, however this has not been studied. Therefore, if I vaccinate your dog with half the dose and they end up coming down with the disease you can legally sue me. I also must comply with the law on administering Rabies; giving ½ of the Rabies vaccine dose risks my license, which I cannot afford.

What I recommend to decrease vaccine reactions is split up the vaccines. Instead of giving a small dog the Rabies and Distemper on the same day, I ask the owner to come back in a couple of weeks and I’ll even waive the exam fee. This is because there does seem to be a correlation with the amount of vaccines given at a time and vaccine reactions.

Overall, vaccines are very safe. A 2002 study by VAAE found that 38.2 out of 10,000 pets had a reaction to a vaccine. I have also never had a vaccine reaction that I was unable to treat. I have, however, seen animals with Leptospirosis, Parvovirus, Distemper and Rabies that I was unable to help. My conclusion is that in order to keep your pet as safe as possible, I recommend vaccines according to the studies I have read. I treat your pet because I LOVE your pet.

The other option to vaccinating is titer testing. I do discuss this with people who are hesitant to recommended vaccinations. Titer testing checks to see if your dog and/or cat has enough immunity against the viruses in a vaccine and if your pet needs a booster or can go another year without one. The cost, however, is much more expensive than the vaccine. At our clinic, the Rabies Titer is $223 and the vaccine titer panel is $227 (this does not include the Rabies). So, if I really wanted your money this is what I would require every year. Instead, I recommend vaccinating for viral diseases every 3 years and bacterial disease every year.

I hope this can help you understand why we recommend what we do. We want your pet to live a long and happy life. We love animals.

References:

https://www.thespruce.com/why-one-size-fits-all-vaccines-3385548

http://www.petmd.com/blogs/fullyvetted/2011/july/smaller_dog_smaller_vaccine-11432