The Rabies Vaccine Can Be Hazardous to Your Pet's Health
Most people think of vaccines as safe and protective, but vaccination is a serious medical procedure with significant risks. The rabies vaccine, in particular, is notorious when it comes to adverse reactions. Here are some potentially life-saving tips to help your dog or cat. My conclusions are the result of extensive research and interviews with countless experts. I have no ties to the pharmaceutical industry. I profit in NO way from your vaccination decisions.
Watch Our Entertaining and Informative Video
WATCH IT FULL-SIZE by clicking the "Comments" link below the player.
Dog Rabid About Rabies Vaccine Dangers
http://Truth4Dogs.org/ Tiny Maltese dog warns of rabies vaccination dangers in an entertaining, but informative slideshow. Learn what you can do to help protect your dog from the vaccine's possible adverse reactions and learn how to help end over-vaccination. See other videos from Chiclet and Jan Rasmusen at /k9author.
Runtime: 4:03
10384 views
10 Comments:
Does Your Dog or Cat Really Need a Rabies Shot?
- The rabies vaccine is the ONLY shot required by law for dogs and cats in the United States. This is primarily to protect humans from getting rabies from their pets.
- The Center for Disease Control declared in 2007 that canine rabies no longer exists in the United States. Your dog will not contract rabies from another dog, but only from wild animals such as bats, coyotes, skunks, raccoons and foxes. Click here to read the CDC press release.
- In most areas, only young puppies, and dogs with written exemptions from their local Animal Control, are exempt from getting this shot. (More on this later.)
- Consequences for not vaccinating against rabies depend on the Animal Control laws in your area. At the very least, you won't be able to board your pet, participate in training classes or shows, or use a professional groomer. Many vets will insist on vaccination before boarding or treating your pet. And if your dog or cat bites or scratches anyone, or is picked up by Animal Control, there will surely be a stiff fine and your pet will be impounded and vaccinated (or worse).
Sign this Petition to Eliminate Unnecessary Vaccination
Please read and sign the Safer Vaccines for Companion Animals petition to the U.S. Government, US Governmental Agencies and American Veterinary Medical Association. Help dogs and cats get only the vaccines they absolutely need. When Do You Have to Vaccinate?
- Most localities require vaccination every three years even though studies in France and blood antibody tests in this country show that the rabies vaccine's immunity lasts for seven years. Worse yet, whether because of habit, ignorance or greed, some localities require annual vaccination--although the "three year" shot is guaranteed by manufacturers to give immunity for three years.
- The one-year shot is NOT safer than the three-year shot, and has to be given more often, making it potentially more dangerous.
- Puppies are generally required to get their first shot around four months, then again one year later and thereafter as required by local law. Check with your vet or Animal Control for details.
When Should You NOT Vaccinate?
- Puppies younger than 4 months
- A pet that has reacted adversely to vaccination in the past
- A sick pet, especially a dog with cancer or an autoimmune disease
- Before, during or after surgery, chemotherapy or other major medical procedure
- Within 3-4 weeks of other shots
Important: When getting a new dog or cat, get shot records, too. Pets from shelters, pet stores and most rescue groups will have been recently vaccinated, as may have animals from individuals. Don't vaccinate unnecessarily. Find out exactly which shots your pet got, and when. Get documentation from the vet in question if your pet had a rabies shot.
You have options to vaccinating (discussed below) which you should discuss with your veterinarian.
Disclaimer: Jan Rasmusen is not a veterinarian. The information above is provided for information purposes only, and is not intended as a substitute for advice from a qualified health practitioner.
What Adverse Reactions Are Commonly Reported?
After a rabies vaccination, your dog may experience fever, malaise or even life-threatening anaphylactic shot. Non-immediate reactions days or even months after vaccination (called "vaccinosis") include, but aren't limited to:- Aggression or destructive behavior
- Separation anxiety
- Obsessive compulsive behaviors (like chasing tails or licking paws)
- Seizures and epilepsy
- Autoimmune diseases
- Allergies
- Skin problems
- Digestive disorders
- Muscle weakness
- Pica (eating inappropriate materials)
- Fibrocarcinomas at the injection site (particularly in cats-see below--but also in dogs)
Inexplicably, few vets warn about these possible adverse effects -- or even admit to the possibility even after they occur. If your pet experiences any of these reactions, REPORT THEM TO YOUR VET. Also know that there are things you can do. (Read on.)
Tell Us About the Rabies Vaccine and Your Dog
What Can You Do to Protect Your Pet?
***If your pet has documented health problems and a low likelihood of contracting rabies, ask your vet to apply for a rabies vaccination extension or exemption. A rabies titer test showing immunity may help your cause. Expect to pay license fees, and to reapply in the next licensing period. If your vet won't do it, consult another vet.
If you have to vaccinate, consult a vet trained in homeopathy. There's a homeopathic "remedy" that can be given with the shot to lessen the chance of ill effects. Find a vet at Holistic Vet List. Or try Homeopathy Trained Vets.
Report ALL reactions to vaccines to your vet; make sure the reactions are recorded in your pet's file. Get a copy. Documentation will be necessary if you ever need to apply for an exemption. Also, years from now, you may forget the details.
If your dog has any adverse reaction to a shot, but your vet dismisses your concerns, take matters into your own hands. Contact a holistic vet. There are things that can be done to alleviate even long-standing problems. At least, check out the links on this page (below) and do a web search. Surely, others have experienced the same problem and may have solutions.
Kennels, groomers, trainers and doggy day care facilities may require proof of rabies, but more and more establishments accept titer testing. If they require vaccination more frequently than legally required, educate them or find another establishment. Their lack of knowledge is potentially hazardous to your pet's health.
Tell them that only a titer test guarantees immunity and, because canine rabies has been declared non-existent in the US, requiring rabies shots to protect dogs from each another is illogical!
Are There Special Considerations When Traveling?
NEVER vaccinate within a week of travel. Your animal may experience a life-threatening shot reaction and may die without immediate medical assistance.
Keep copies of your vaccination records and titer tests in your cars. Keep license tags on your dog's collar or harness. You don't want to have to revaccinate should you need to board your pet unexpectedly or should she bite someone.
Print a list of emergency vet clinics along your route at Pets911.
If you suspect your dog is suffering adverse reactions from a rabies shot, I suggest you consult a holistic (not a traditional) vet. If you treat symptoms without addressing the cause, your dog's health will surely decline. Holistic Vets, particularly those trained in homeopathy, should be able to treat the cause of the vaccinosis.
My Favorite Dog Care Book
Scared Poopless: The Straight Scoop on Dog Care
Amazon Price: $19.77 (as of 07/20/2008)
I wrote this book! It won two national awards: the Ben Franklin Award for the Best Health Book of any kind and the USABookNews Award for the Best Pet Health Book.
The Journal of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association wrote: This is a wonderful book! It's also endorsed by Animal Wellness Magazine, The Animal Protection Institute and countless veterinarians. All author royalties benefit animal causes.
The title alone should tell you it's not your average dog care book. Scared Poopless is heavily researched and packed with information from my two years of research and interviews --but it's also really fun to read and contains 89 wild full-color photos. It makes a beautiful, and thoughtful, gift for dog-loving friends.
In addition to an in-depth, but easy to read, chapter on vaccination, it covers food, pet meds, anesthesia and surgery and dozens of other subjects on holistic dog health and safety. Please read the reviews, and see the Table of Contents, at Amazon or my website (link below) to learn more about it.
Do Cats Have Special Needs?
Dr. Jean Hofve, DVM and former Editor-in-Chief of The American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association Journal, writes: Ideally, for cats the Merial Purevax recombinant vaccine can be used in place of the older killed vaccines that can cause injection-site tumors. She adds: When vaccines were given between the shoulder blades, these cancers were inoperable because they would grow into the spine, ribcage, and chest. This became such a serious problem that now it is recommended to give the rabies vaccine in the right hind leg so that when a tumor does develop, the whole leg can be amputated and thus the cat's life can be saved.For more information on cat shots, go to Dr. Jean's terrific CAT website Little Big Cat. Also check out Cat Shots.
The Links I Like Best
- Rabies Challenge Fund
- Find lots of good information here. This non-profit group is testing how long the rabies vaccine's immunity lasts, hoping to extend the time between legally-required shots.
- My Website and Newsletter
- Learn more about my research, holistic dog care, buying a healthy puppy, anesthesia-free dental care, Maltese dogs, and much more.
Get alerted when I publish another Squidoo page. My free e-newsletter comes out 6 times a year and contains lots of information on dog care and safety plus important health alerts. You can learn more about it, and sign up, at my website. - AAHA 2006 Canine Vaccine Task Force Report
- The American Animal Hospital Association Taskforce examined the safety and efficacy of canine vaccines in 2003 and 2006, changing vaccination recommendations for vet schools and organizations throughout the US. Follow this link, then click on the small red link: 2006 AAHA Canine Vaccine Guidelines-Revised.
- Dogs Adverse Reactions
- This link will take you directly to this site's vaccine problems page. It has other great pages on drugs that can harm your pets.
- Rabies Threat to Humans
- Click the Health Care Practitioners or Adult signpost for information about the rabies threat to humans.
- Animal Talk Naturally Podcast
- Host Kim Bloomer hosts an info-packed 60 minute interview with rabies vaccine experts Dr. Jean Dodds and Kris L. Christine, founders of the Rabies Challenge Fund.
- Vaccine Side Effects Anecdotes
- On-line anecdotes about vaccination side effects.
- Truth4Dogs.org
- This is another website of mine with even more information about rabies vaccination.
- OUR NEW BLOG
- Find articles and videos on all aspects natural dog care in our new blog. We hope you'll subscribe and visit often to get the latest information for your dog.
Other Books on Vaccinations I Like
The Nature of Animal Healing : The Definitive Holistic Medicine Guide to Caring for Your Dog and Cat
This book has a wonderful chapter explaining immunology and the history of vaccines. It's a great resource if you're interested in holistic health care for dogs and cats.
Amazon Price: $10.88 (as of 07/20/2008)
Vaccine Guide for Dogs and Cats: What Every Pet Lover Should Know
This book goes deeply into each vaccine's risks. It's for people who want to know all the technical details.
Amazon Price: $11.86 (as of 07/20/2008)
Help Change Dangerous and Antiquated Rabies Vaccination Laws
The Challenge Fund has raised money for the first year, but needs to fund future years. Learn more about the vaccine and their work, or donate to this wonderful cause, at Rabies Challenge Fund Note: the term challenge refers to the type of testing. They are NOT challenging the need for the vaccine.
As of the Spring of 2008, Kansas and Wyoming are rethinking their laws. Arkansas is next. If you want to get e-mail alerts about how you can help, click Rabies Alert and ask to be added to the e-mail list.
Disclaimer: Jan Rasmusen is a researcher and author, not a veterinarian. Please consult a knowledgeable health care practitioner for more information or if your dog shows signs of illness.
Please Let Me Know About Your Experiences with the Rabies Vaccine
Would you like to share a rabies vaccine experience? Please leave me a note. I can't respond unless you e-mail me directly.
|
K9Author
Mike, I'm so sorry to hear your dog's problem. Rear-end lack of coordination after a rabies shot is a well-documented reaction. I'd see a holistic vet if I were you. A vet who won't admit or recognize a reaction won't be able to help. See www.holiscticvetlist.com. And check out my page www.Truth4Dogs.org for more information. Posted July 18, 2008 |
Good day,
My wife and I have two Boston Terriers. We vaccinated the youngest as per the 'professional' recommendations from our vet. Two days later while in the park with Tika, her hind lets went limp. It was a heart-wrenching site. She is only 1.5 yrs old and very energetic. I ran over to her completely confused. I massaged her rear spine and hind legs, but to no avail. Proceeding to carry her home, I placed her down 50 m later and she was okay. The following day, my wife came home at lunch to find her in the same state. Again, later that night (yesterday) she was struck again. My wife did take her back to the vet that afternoon, but not surprisingly, the vet doubted any relation. They took blood and x-rays - This morning it happened again, and it's troubling for her (ears back, lethargic) - My wife and I are beside ourselves - any fellow dog owner can relate to the pain we feel when our best friends are injured. My wife and I had tears in our eyes seeing her in that state.
Posted July 18, 2008
|
totalhealth
very informative lens. I'm glad I came across this lens. Now I can be more careful with my pet's vaccinations because my friend's dog died after a rabies vaccination. Posted July 17, 2008 |
My parents took their dog in for rabies shot. They took her in to get her hair cut soon after and she was very agressive. Then very soon after she stopped eating and was getting sick. The vet did blood work and said she looked fine but she continued to go down hil. They took her to another vet who said she was bleeding interanally. She was put to sleep today after not being able to stand, eat and throwing up blood. She was fine before this firs shot. Are these reactions that can be caused by the rabies shot????
Posted July 15, 2008
|
|
K9Author
Wendy, call Animal Control or your vet immediately. Rabies is fatal for both animals and humans. If your cat is already showing signs, it may be too late to help. Only a vet can tell you. In the meantime, keep everyone, and all animals, away from the cat. Get help! Sorry. Wish I had better news. --Jan Posted July 15, 2008 |
I have a question to ask. Is there anyway we can treat an animal with rabies? My cat Lira has experienced signs of rabies. I am not sure if she has been vaccinated before. We had found her in the beach. And i am hoping for an answer. Please, help me. I love my cat dearly, and could not bear to see her like this.
Posted July 15, 2008
Our beloved pet past away today 4 hours after getting his rabi shots. Why? The vet says that has never happened before, they offered to dispose of the body free of charge. We burried our little friend in our back yard. Speedy was 14 years old. I don't think he needed the vaccine, but the law says he did, Now he is gone. He was fine this morning and by 2pm he was dead.
Rest in peace our little old friend. What can be done to stop this tragedy and bring awareness to this harmful law.
Jerry
Posted July 14, 2008
Hi. Around 1995 our 6 year old poodle died from a cancerous growth that wrapped around her spine near the injection site...Then in 2003 our Jack Russell had not one, but two horrible reactions that I finally said "enough"...I did get a new puppy 2 years ago, but only got her 'puppy shots' and will not give her another rabies one for at least 5 years...
Posted July 07, 2008
|
alicesy
Excellent Lens. I like the quality insight you have provided here about The Rabies Vaccine for Dogs and Cats: What You Need to Know Now. Keep up the good work. Posted June 26, 2008 |
My heart goes out to all of you. My Sheltie, Baby, has cancer, and my Maltese, Aldo, has so many problems: behavioral, constant licking, fear, allergies, separation anxiety. My holistic vet says Aldo's problems stem from the rabies vaccine. I noticed a change every time they CAME from the vet"s, especially after a surgery (even neutering or spaying). I always had a terrible feeling giving the vaccines, but I was afraid not to! Every time we put Frontline on the dogs, my husband would hate it. He said if it killed insects, it must be bad for dogs--well it is! When it's time for my dogs' next rabies vaccine, my vet will write a note to the state, stating that they are highly allergic and can die from them! PLEASE DO THE RESEARCH! At least 25 colleges agree with animals being overvaccinated. Some aren't even needed past 6 or 12 months! I heard a vet saying that she hasn't given any major meds or vaccinations to her pets for 10 years, and they're all fine, after her former dogs had died! L
Posted June 18, 2008
