Comments on Reason #1 to Fire Your Vet: Annual Vaccinations

This is an older post, however, my vet has told me that my cat needs to have those "annual" rabies shot. He got sick from the first one, and I don't intend to go back - being sick shows that he reacted to the virus and he is fighting it. Therefore, he has antibodies. Antibodies always remain in the system. Do humans get more than one measles shot, or chickenpox, or polio vaccines? Antibodies remain in the system forever. But vets decided that now our animals need to have more shots with dangerous fillers, when the antibodies occurred during the first shot. I am very upset (not going back, though) because I am in my 70s . I never ran into a case until recently that a vet demands to have more vaccinations when the animal already has antibodies. It's just general science. Thank goodness I know about this because I've lived through enough diseases. I also remember being one of the first to get the polio shot. That was it - one shot - and it wiped out polio (in the U.S.). Are vets no longer trained in science? Or is this a national scheme to get more money out of clients for "vaccinating" an already vaccinated animal? Not to mention the fillers to "preserve" the shot for long periods of time, that can hurt an animal. In the U.S. education has severely declined. Now, I have to see it in supposed "animal doctors" who should know basic immunology. This is an outrage and I would like to see more public information for others about this topic. Thank you.

I live in a small town in southwest Kansas. The town I live in - it is the law that you have to vaccinate your dog every year and to top it off the vets in this town use a THREE year vaccine every year - not a 1 year, a 3 year rabies vaccine. You cannot board your dog or take it to a grooming shop if the dog is not current on its rabies shot.

I recently had to bring my cat in for a scratch on his eye. At the time was 1 week before his rabies shot is due. The vet insisted on giving him a rabies shot. When I asked about the 3 year rabies shot, she said the 3 year rabies are not safe and causes cancer. I let her give my cat the 1year rabies shot and went home to research. I found that either she was lying or just not informed at all. A safer 3 year rabies vaccine was approved in 2014 and was also recommended over the 1 year rabies shot. My cat is totally indoor and really doesn't need the vaccine. I am pretty upset for trusting her and not speaking up since I kind of suspected but can't be sure until I went home and researched it. Needless to say, I will never let my cat get anymore rabies shot in the future.

Our local vet refuses to see or treat my dog Ruby because I will not have her revaccinated for Rabies. Ruby was diagnosed with bladder cancer 28 months ago. She is being treated for the cancer at a university vet teaching hospital, two hours away. I need a local vet for blood work and emergencies. In my opinion, this local vet would rather kill my dog. So frustrating, really makes me sick.

Hello Dr Falconer, I agree with your views on vaccinations. One of the vets scared me by saying that the wind blows all the diseases from the areas where there are sick unvaccinated animals, and our animals will contract the diseases as well. Its hard to argue with them.I am in South Africa. Thanks Ros

Hi Dr Falconer,
I think I'm at a crossroads now. My dog is due for her rabies vac February 6th. I just bought a titer test from Hemopet for rabies, distemper and parvo. My vet just emailed me to say the distemper and parvo titers are fine but she does not suggest going forward with the rabies titer because she checked with the state for me, and although the vet is suspicious that my dog could have IBD or some GI disease, she doesnt think doing a biopsy is a good idea to diagnose (i agree) and allie has responded well to the diet change (raw diet) and is doing a lot better. I agree. But I still dont want to give her the rabies vac because Allie is not a truly healthy animal and is immune compromised some how and I know the vaccine would do her harm. She has had the rabies shot several times in her life. I dont think she needs it again. But as my vet says "The state of MA will not accept a medical exemption on Allie without extensive documentation to substantiate the claim that Allie would be harmed by getting a rabies vaccination. Rabies laws are set up to protect humans not animals. I don't agree but I can not change the laws." She also said "I also wanted to address the information about IBD, cobalamin testing, GI panels, etc that you put in this email. First, I am very well aware of these tests and have run these tests on many patients. I normally reserve GI panels for dogs that are not responding to diet changes, acupuncture, or TCVM as they are very expensive tests. "
I'm very nervous because i know the right thing to do for my dog's health is to just not vaccinate her, which means not re-licensing her, and that could mean she may not be able to attend day care anymore, and also what if there is an emergency some day, would an ER vet take her for treatment if she wasnt up to date??
I am so upset that i can't get the waiver. i only have a little over a month to decide what to do. i would HATE myself if i got her the vaccine and something happened. i know in my heart its not right. i may have to lie to the town and say she died

Also i have some green tripe on the way for my dog to try, and thinking about doing acupuncture for her.

Hi Dr. Falconer,
A year ago, my dog was, behaviorally, a terror. I found a balanced trainer and now my dog is amazingly well behaved. I can take her off-leash in the woods, she goes to day-care, goes for "pack walks" with up to 8 or 9 dogs at a time, or more! Loves the treadmill, and is fed raw (Bravo). All her life I thought she was a picky eater (she ate kibble), and that she had a sensitive stomach. Always brought her to the vet for diarrhea, loss of appetite, mild dehydration, gurgly stomach.. etc. A year ago I tried a particular raw brand and initially my dog did good, but then she would just pick and then eventually she stopped eating. Lost 10 pounds or so accumulatively over a month and a half of this pickiness, and was hospitalized with an Internal Med. dept at Tufts. They tested her for Addisons. She is fine, they just said they couldn't figure it out, to keep an eye on her and bring her back if it continues... I got that same answer for years and I was tired of it. I had to do all my own research. I wasn't going to accept that answer anymore. I found Dr. Dodds, I did the thyroid test, again my dog was fine, but I decided to do the food sensitivity test just because I had nothing else to lose, and there were a lot of ingredients in the kibble as well as that pre-made raw diet i was feeding that my dog couldn't tolerate.. So I found another raw, limited ingredients, did some research on the right supplements.. and I haven't been back to the vet in a long, long time. I found a new vet actually because they did not support the raw food and they got even madder when I said I wasnt interested in the bordetella vaccine and i was stopping the chemical flea/tick/mosquito drops. I just recently decided to stop giving HG too and got your eBook about heartworm prevention. The only issue right now is... my new vet believes my dog has IBD. I am doing a good job of maintaining it I think, but my dog will do well on raw (sometimes i lightly cook it and also give a probiotic) but there will be times (days and weeks sometimes )where she does not want the raw but will eat cooked chicken with 100% canned pumpkin and maybe some slippery elm. A week of this or so to get her system feeling better then she goes back on raw. It's a cycle it seems. I dont want to put my dog through a biopsy to confirm IBD. But I believe that a rabies vacc. is a terrible idea in general, but especially for my dog who appears healthy but in reality her gut is not healthy. I don't know if I will be able to get the rabies vaccination waived but am trying to read about it, ask and see what can be done. I always have fresh purified water for her, she gets a lot of exercise, socialization, a raw diet with supplements like ACV, curcumin, spirulina, krill oil, raw organic pumpkin seeds, a probiotic, 100% canned pumpkin... not all at once tho
Anyway just curious your thoughts.. it is a lot of work and $$ but i feel it is worth it and i have become so passionate about it. i was one of the clueless people who used tufts nutrition service paying hundreds of dollars and they sent me a list of prescription diets and commercial kibbles i could feed.. and told m there was no proof that fresh whole foods were better than kibble. And i listened but i knew thy were were wrong and i finally had enough and decided/realized i guess i have to figure it out myself because all they want to do is give me drugs to cover up the symptoms for maybe a week and then I'm right back at the vets for th esame problem, spending more money, and they have no answer for me.... So happy I found you, Dr Becker and Dr. Dodds

My vet says, by law, she has to administer the rabies vaccine every three years for her to be able to treat my dog. I have a feeling that is a bunch of nonsense (not the word I would really choose!!). I live in Nebraska and have been searching for an answer to this but not finding anything concrete. Has anyone else heard this from their vet? We have no holistic vets in the area. Thanks for any input!

Hi, I will be getting a new puppy, an Affenpinscher, at the end of December and wanted to know about vaccinations. I instructed the breeder to not give him any vaccinations. We will be picking him up at 11 weeks of age. I plan to introduce him to good dog parks for a few minutes each week and then check to see if he has immunity to parvo and distemper. I don't want to give him the rabies vaccination but because I live in Texas and also travel to France, I have no way out. Previously I titered my former dog for the last eight years with very good passing titers. But because my last two dogs and cat had severe vaccinosis, I want to know what you think about partial (1/2) amount of the rabies vaccine and then titer testing him?( Done at 6 months old) Should I do two titers spaced 2weeks and then a month later, if he does not pass the first time? Should I give him the other (1/2) vaccine? If he could be herd immunized with rabies vaccination antigens that would answer every thing, but that is not possible. Please give me your advice, as I will need to do something later this spring.

Hi I have a 14 week old maltese puppy and I was wondering what I need to do about vaccines. She has had 3 sets given by the breeder not me. I took her to my vet and they are wanting to give her boosters. I don't want to. I have her on the transfer factor powder and pro biotic. What do you suggest. She weighs 2.6 lbs.

http://www.rabieschallengefund.org/latest/states-with-medical-exemptions-in-lieu-of-rabies-vaccination
I see that your state is not listed. In my experience, if a dog has medical issues and/or is elderly, there are vets that will discuss your options regarding vaccinations. I see your dilemma. I don't have any answers. I hope your dog stays well.

@ Samantha
"then at 4 had a pretty nasty reaction (feverish, lethargic and obviously uncomfortable) for 3 days after rabies vaccine"
That might buy you some time to delay the rabies vaccine.
I told my vet that my senior small breed had some mild seizure activity (the truth) after his last rabies vaccine. He has not mentioned vaccines for this dog again and I have been able to get his routine care needs met.
I think the vet will sign the medical waiver, if and when I need it.

I don't know why no one is pointing this out, but it's not the vet you have to worry about, it's the city or county. Vets dont "make" you do it, of course we have the choice, but if we choose not to, we can't license the dog, and an unlicensed dog can be a target in many states/counties. My back-asswards state is like this. Of course i agree about and loathe these vaccines and the obvious corporate interests combined with plain ignorance. I feel like any layperson can understand the concept of immunity and how it is not improved by repeated assaults in this way. But there is so much politics as well as money involved. The vets I know agree about over-vaccination and vaccinosis. But my state will absolutely not accept titers as a substitute for the rabies vaccine. It's rabies vaccine every three years or no license. No license can be a death sentence for bully breeds in this state. One cross-eyed look and they are on death row. I feel like because of the breed he is I have to do everything by the books. I want to keep him healthy, but I also need to keep him alive. My Staffordshire mix was found at 1 (had probably been vaccinated, was vaccinated again when found) and then at 4 had a pretty nasty reaction (feverish, lethargic and obviously uncomfortable) for 3 days after rabies vaccine. Coming due again by law and the lats thing I want to do is give another vaccine i KNOW is not needed and put him through that again but I also want to protect him legally. Are you suggesting that an unlicensed dog is the better answer?

I was turned down by a rescue group because I do not use heartworm medication. Thank you for the insight on the Rabies vaccine. I thought there was no way around it.

Good morning,
I am in desperate need of help with my geriatric feline. About 2 months ago I had to bring him into the vet for a tape worm. This was the first time my old boy had ANY medical issues in his 18 years. He was regularly vaccinated until I started doing them at home. His last vaccines were given when he was but 5 years old. He is an indoor animal and is at low-risk of exposure to other animals. He NEVER goes outside and the last animal he was exposed to was over 2 years ago.
My concern now is that he has had 2 seizures since then. A completely healthy and active feline (minus his age) having seizures.
When I took him to the vet, the doctor insisted on giving him a rabies shot...AT HIS AGE??? She told me it was required, yet the vet assistant expressed he may not even need one. I questioned the doctor about the side effects and subsequent reactions my old boy may encounter. She replied and told me he would be just fine. Well, HE'S NOT!
Could the rabies vaccine have effected him in this manner? What can I do to help make him comfortable? I know he is old, but before this he was amazingly happy and active. Now he just sleeps, has muscle craps, and now seizures. PLEASE HELP!!!

Dr Falconer,
How would you suggest someone have their dog housed at a temporary dog care facility if they are to go on a vacation or business trip and have to hire a dog care facility to house them? They require updated vaccination papers. We don't get our dogs vaccinated yearly, but have had to in order to house our dogs.

I would like to know about switching my dog from Hills prescription diet z/d to a real food diet. Please help.

My 8 year old cat got cancer induced by vaccinations per these brainiac specialist Internal Medicine , Oncologist and Surgeon veterinarians. She had to have her leg amputated 3 weeks ago. Makes me sick to know this goes on all day. Vaccinating for your money honey! The vets know it and just want your money a revolving door of greed. Dr. Falconer brought up a good point. The vaccinations say for a healthy animal so if you are the type of person to get intimidated by the DR. in front of a name you can just tell them no vacs today! My pet is under the weather "not healthy" as per recommend on the vac shot. I have not frequented a vet unless I take a rescue in for blood tests this is what I say, works like a charm. I do not have money for vacs today! "Money" is a very powerful word in a vet clinic. They will not argue with you. They want to get to the next victim in the other waiting room!
Think about it most all pets have something wrong with them and this is why vaccinations and foods riddled with chemicals they labeled "pet food". Then the fleas & heart worm poisons. Why should our pets be healthy. What a racket!
The bad thing about this cat of mine I rescued her from an abusive home. I did not vaccinate her. Her abusers did. I have not vaccinated anything since 1992. My cats live to be anywhere from 20-23 years old. They eat grass fed meats, Mountain Valley Spring Water. They stay in my chemical free yard with Diatomaceous earth for fleas. My cleaning tools are White vinegar & baking soda and no shoes worn in my house! I read about no vacs By Pat Lazzarus ~Keeping your Pet Healthy the Natural way book years ago and discussed it with an MD. in which he said he never vaccinated his pets either. He had 3 cats & 2 healthy German Shepards! Any vet or tech that wants to vac "to save you a trip " their famous words when your there for another reason like a sick pet you should Run! Run very fast. They are heartless greedy liars!

Dr. Falconer,
I have an almost 8 year old Great Pyrenees that I rescued from the pound at 18 months of age. He had allergies (probably from being vaccinated by the pound when he'd already been vaccinated by his owners who relinquished him due to problems with their landlord). I immediately put Angus on a breed-specific diet and since we raise our own meat, he was able to avoid conventional meat. His allergies cleared up completely. My vet was fairly good about tolerating my holistic approach to my dog's care until one of his employees complained. After that, the vet told me he would continue to treat Angus, but that he was no longer allowed to be groomed there "because if he had something communicable, it might pass through the duct work and harm other patients". Hmmm...wouldn't that also be a threat if Angus was seen as a patient in one of the exam rooms?!
I have not used any heartworm medications, flea and tick medications or vaccinations except for a 3 year rabies vaccine that I dragged out 4 years. Since reading your website, I won't be doing any more of those either.
Three weeks ago, a family member accidentally ran over Angus due to white dog, white driveway, heavy white fog. Angus suffered a lateral shoulder luxation and bleeding in the lungs. He was in the hospital three days and not expected to live. When the vet ( one at an emergency hospital) wanted to attempt a closed reduction (having warned me there was a slim chance of success in a 140 pound dog), I agreed for him to try.
The vet called me back to tell me that he was shocked, but the shoulder had reduced on its own! I had seen the original x-rays and was quite surprised by the new ones. Our concern was that there was probably significant soft tissue damage if the shoulder ball was able to return to the socket so easily.
Angus has done remarkably well and the vet has been very supportive of my holistic approach. However, it has really bothered me that my "all natural" dog is now on daily doses of Tramadol and was on 14 days' worth of an antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory. I tried to wean Angus off the Tramadol and used arnica, a Hip and Joint supplement, coconut oil and almost constant rest. He only walks across the yard to use the bathroom and is on supervised rest the remainder of the time.
He has started to itch terribly and the vet assures me the medications are not the cause. I'm trying to treat the itching with essential oils, apple cider vinegar and a coconut solution. Unfortunately, Angus has not responded well to being weaned off Tramadol. Basically, he went from being able to limp along to being almost completely crippled. Do you think I should continue Tramadol for a few weeks to relieve his pain or am I causing long-term damage? I've been concerned about his liver and kidneys having to process so much. I'm thankful for the life-saving measures the conventional hospital was able to offer, but I want to get back to a drug-free dog...but not at the expense of his comfort. I would welcome your opinion.