Vaccinations - Know Your Options

• Posted on 3 August 2016
• By Dr. Jill Tack
• Posted in options, vaccinations
• 0

At our July Meetup, we got together and talked about vaccines. For many, this is a hot button issue because of the recent controversy floating around and people on both sides of the issue being attacked. Here at The Pet Beastro, we believe in being informed and making decisions based on knowledge, not fear. If you are ready to learn more about your options, then keep on reading!

At our July Meetup, we got together and talked about vaccines. For many, this is a hot button issue because of the recent controversy floating around and people on both sides of the issue being attacked. Here at The Pet Beastro, we believe in being informed and making decisions based on knowledge, not fear. If you are ready to learn more about your options, then keep on reading!

What exactly is a vaccine?
A vaccine is a prepared solution of killed microorganisms, living modified organisms, or fully live organisms that is injected under the skin surface in order to force the bodies immune system to activate and artificially increase antibodies to “increase immunity” against the disease being injected.

What do vaccines do to the body?
Animals, like humans have two immune systems: the innate immune system and the adaptive immune system.

The innate immune system is found in everything from trees to animals and humans. This is the first line of defense that keeps everything out. The innate immune system never adapts or changes to specific invaders or attacks; it remains a steady barrier. Skin, stomach acid, saliva, and mucus are all part of the innate immune system. The innate immune system is able to warn the adaptive immune system that invaders are coming.

The adaptive immune system is where the fight happens. This immune response is called on after an antigen (invader) enters the body. Antigens use healthy cells to make copies of themselves to take over. There are four major types of antigens: virus, bacteria, fungus, and parasites.

Vaccines bypass the innate immune system and go right to the adaptive immune system. This throws the body into overdrive because the adaptive immune system was not warned and was not able to start preparing a body for the fight. This overdrive causes a weaker immune system in the body. If the immune system is not supported after this attack and rebuilt, other problems can start to arise in the body.

What makes vaccines dangerous?
While there are only five major manufacturers of animal vaccines, there are numerous preservatives that are used in vaccinations for dogs and cats that can have potentially harmful side effects.

Side effects include:

Renal failure
Kidney problems
Muscle weakness
Lung damage
Gut dysbiosis
Ataxia
Cardiac arrest, shock, or failure
Open sores
Ulcers
Deafness
Confusion
Dizziness
Ulcers
Depression
Sarcomas/Tumors
Changes in vision
Skin eruptions and rashes
You can see the whole list of side effects from each preservative here.

Which dog or cat vaccinations are required?
According to The Michigan Dog Law – Act 339 of 1919, dogs are required to be licensed in the county (or city) of residence. In order to obtain this license, the dog in question must have an up-to-date rabies vaccination.

The only vaccine for dogs that is required by the State of Michigan is the rabies vaccination. Under state law, cat’s do not require any vaccinations. (This may vary; check your local municipalities.)

Are vaccines effective?

Because diseases are always changing and mutating, no one vaccine can protect against the current strain of a disease. The best form of protection from disease for your cat or dog is a healthy immune system. Animals must have a balanced diet (including supplements) that strengthens their immune system, which is key to fighting bacteria, viruses, and disease.

What about titers?
A vaccine titer is a blood test that determines the presence of antibodies that develop in response to the vaccine. It reveals whether or not the animal currently has adequate protection against a disease. There are no real contraindications to performing this test, any veterinarian can perform it.

Since varying amounts of antibodies can be detected in different animals, titers are expressed in terms of ratios. Low titers indicate that vaccination will be necessary to provide immune protection or that your animal has not been exposed to the disease and their antibodies have not needed to fight. Adequate levels of vaccine titers indicate that the pet does not need a booster vaccination at that time, and oftentimes doesn’t need to be retested again for another three years.

Know your rights!
It is not required for you to vaccinate your pet with every “new” and “cutting-edge” vaccination.  There are also certain health-related reasons such as auto-immune diseases when vaccinating is  not recommended and for which you can receive a waiver. You can read about W. Jean Dodds, DVM views on vaccines here. However, if it is unavoidable:

Ask for the vaccination to be done in front of you, so you can be ready with essential oils to put on the injection site. You will also be a calming presence for your pet.
Try using homeopathic antidotes. Call us at 248-548-3448 to ask what is needed for the homeopathic antidotes. Many times it is the bottle that the vaccine came in, which will need to be requested from the vet at the time of injection.
Plan ahead! At least one week before the vaccination, start boosting the immune system. There are many ways to boost the immune system naturally. For more information see our blog post called: “Immunity Building Supplements for Your Pets.” You will also want to continue boosting the immune system for at least one week after the vaccination.
Detoxify the liver after the vaccination. This can be achieved easily by using the Detox Blend from Animal Essentials. Supporting the liver is important after a vaccination because the liver is responsible for removing toxins and cleaning the blood in your dog’s or cat’s body. There are single herbs that can be used to support the liver as well, including dandelion, milk thistle, and nettle.
 
Speak your truth!
We are the only voice for our pets! They are part of our family and we never want to do anything that will cause harm to them. Stand your ground and do not let yourself get bullied into something that you do not want to do. You can always go home and do research before making a decision. If your pet needs to be vaccinated, keep an eye on them. Make sure that you report side effects of the vaccination to The USDA if your pet has a bad reaction.