Jacqueline Cutler
Last year I adopted a rescue dog, a 4 year old Sheltie. He has aggression and anxiety problems. After a trip to an Animal Behaviorist and lots of sessions with a gentle "behavior modification" trainer, we could still not get to the root of his aggression and why it happens so randomly. A hair analysis showed very high levels of aluminum and mercury, along with low levels of calcium, magnesium and potassium. His sodium, copper and iron levels were also high. None of the vets I went to could give me any answers on "why" his levels were so high, or how to bring them down.
I put him on a raw diet with all organic fruits and vegetables, along with Standard Process Canine Hepatic support. His levels are coming down [slowly] as I get him re-tested every 3 months. His behavior is getting better also, although he still has occasional anxiety and aggression attacks and still will not let us towel him off or brush him (touch aversion).
After doing much research on my own, I found that over-vaccination may be one of the reasons for this high aluminum and mercury level. Every time he was given to another owner (3 in all) he was vaccinated for everything (including rabies) again and again, along with poison flea control which was used to make sure he did not have fleas (although there was no evidence of fleas).
I finally found a truly holistic vet and have to travel 2 hours one way but they will give him a waiver so he will NEVER be vaccinated for rabies again. I also do the titer test on all my dogs, and I have never had to re-vaccinate them. If you have pet insurance, they will pay for this test.
Harley, the rescue Sheltie, has a long way to go until he is fully recovered but I will not give him any more vaccines. I'm sure that many dogs with aggression and anxiety problems probably have been over-vaccinated.
Find a holistic vet that is truly holistic and does not push vaccines or drugs on your dogs every time you take them in. I had a 17 year old Sheltie who only went to the vet at the end of his life when his heart was getting fluid build up. No vaccinations, no rabies, no antibiotics, a good diet and lots of exercise will keep your dogs healthy for a lifetime.