Despite Controversy There is no Doubt That Vaccines Save Lives
Vaccines, as I have mentioned many times on this blog, are perennially controversial. Many people worry that pets are vaccinated too often. Experts voice concerns that over vaccination may lead to autoimmune disease. Leukemia and rabies vaccines in cats have been linked to cancers at the injection sites.
The obvious goal for every veterinarian and conscientious pet owner should be to vaccinate pets neither too frequently nor too rarely. In an ideal world, we would vaccinate pets exactly as often as necessary. I predict that in the future this will be the norm. But as of 2009, it is impossible to say how often pets need vaccinations.
Some facts are clear. Juveniles (puppies and kittens) need vaccines more often than adults. Animals with different lifestyles need different vaccination protocols. And most important, every individual responds differently to vaccines. Every individual therefore has unique needs.
Measuring those needs is impossible. Blood tests called titers give some idea of a pet’s response to previous vaccinations, but titers measure only half of the picture. Titers measure antibody levels in the blood. However, antibodies cannot function without another component of the immune system called cell-mediated immunity. At this time there is no way to measure cell-mediated immunity. Therefore there is no way to measure a pet’s true level of immunity to disease.
I agree that many pets are vaccinated more often than necessary. On several instances I have treated animals for autoimmune disease and wondered whether vaccines might have contributed to the problem.
However, on hundreds of instances I have treated canine parvovirus. In every single one of these cases I knew with certainty that vaccination would have prevented the problem. I never have treated a properly vaccinated dog for parvo. The vaccine works.
I euthanized a 12-week-old puppy today because of parvo. A vaccine could have saved his life if it had been administered at the right time.
Over vaccination is a bad thing. Veterinarians and pet owners should work to prevent it. But don’t forget that under vaccination is even worse.
Your best option as a pet owner is to find a good vet who will take the time to discuss the controversies surrounding vaccines. Tailor a vaccination protocol to your pet based upon his or her needs, age, and lifestyle.
You have questions. 
I have the same questions about vaccinations in dogs as I do in children. It’s so hard to decide whether to give the vaccinations or not. Some say the vaccines cause autism in humans but who knows.
I’ve always decided to go ahead with all the vaccines in my child, my dog, and my cat. I can only it’s the right decision.
I feel the same way as Daisy about over vaccinating my puppies yet would not hesitate to vaccinate my children. I think it’s because of the frequency. Yet every year there seems to be a parvo outbreak at the SPCA and many puppies an kittens die so I do my part to protect other companion animals.
My former vet didn’t think an annual parvo vaccine was necessary, but the daycare/boarding facility I take my dog to requires every vaccination available, including parvo, so my pooch got the shot. Honestly, I’d rather risk the very low chance of a vaccine reaction against the very real risk of parvovirus, distemper, bordatella and rabies.
She did have a vaccine reaction to the 3-year rabies injected into her flank. She developed a lump at the site, with swelling and visible bruising, which still hasn’t gone down 100% after six months. It is almost gone, though, and I think what lump is left is scar tissue. My vet says they’ll do the next one intramuscular, or maybe I should just go back to the 1-year rabies. Small price to pay for peace of mind, though.
Unfortunately, my kitten had severe, life-threatening incident that the specialist thinks was a reaction to vaccinations. Recently, my 6 month old kitten developed peripheral neuropathy, presumed immune-mediated. He was unable to stand up, walk, jump, or use the litter box. Once his condition was accurately diagnosed and treatment was started, he is doing much better. Unfortunately, it took 5 different vets to diagnosis him correctly- it was a neurologist who finally figured out what was happening to him. His neurologist has recommended against any further vaccinations due to concerns that he will have a relapse of the neurological and nerve problems.
I understand that severe reactions are not common but it’s pretty scary when it does happen.
Dr. Barchas I’m so sorry to hear you had to euthanize a puppy! I know that it was probably as hard on you as it was on the puppy’s family! I think your post about vaccinations is spot-on!
I have been to several seminars on this subject and each one says the same thing. Vets tell you vaccines are needed every year which is not the case they are just trying to make money. Every person holding the seminar said every 3 years and sometimes they might not even need it then..
I am wary of over-vaccination, but I do make sure to get the three-year rabies shot and the annual parvo and kennel cough vacs.