Monday, October 19, 2009

Pet Vaccines - Are You Helping Your Pet or Hurting It?

 

Pet Vaccines - Are You Helping Your Pet or Hurting It?

Every responsible pet caretaker wants to take the best
possible care of their companion. This includes
preventative care including a proper vaccination schedule.

Once animals are given their core vaccines they are
typically given a yearly booster. In the case of horses, a
twice per year booster is usually recommended.

Have you ever wondered why people get vaccinated only as
children for most diseases, yet animals need to be
revaccinated every year, sometimes twice a year, for life?

For years now holistic veterinarians have voiced objections
to yearly vaccines. However long practiced habits and
routines are hard to break.

Recently there has been much scientific evidence showing
that yearly vaccines could be hurting your pet more than
helping it.

The practice of vaccinating pets began in the 1950s when
rabies and distemper were all to common and very lethal.
At that time, little was understood about the natural
immune system of animals and vaccines were in their infant
stages.

Today our understanding of the immune system has vastly
improved. In addition, the potency of vaccines has
increased immensely. For example, many vaccines are now
available for dogs and cats which protect against six or
seven viruses in a single shot.

To understand how vaccines affect your animal you must
first consider how they work. Essentially vaccines deliver
antigens, something that the body considers an invading
organism, into your pets body. This stimulates the body's
immune system which produces specific antibodies or
protection against the foreign antigens.

Yearly boosters can easily over-stress your pet's immune
system. Especially since todays vaccines introduce
multiple antigens (protection for different diseases) all
at the same time. If your pet's immune system is currently
fighting some sort of problem like an ear infection or
allergy it is all too easy to cause more problems than you
are trying to prevent.

Evidence of over-stressed pet immune systems is increasing.
Today dog allergies are the number one cause of
veterinarian visits. An allergy is simply a misguided
immune system. For example, if you dog is allergic to
corn, it isn't the corn thats the problem. The problem is
that your pet's immune system thinks corn is an antigen and
is "properly" responding to the invader.

In the mid-1990s, cats began developing malignant tumors
between their shoulder blades--right where they are
typically vaccinated. The correlation is all too clear.

Current research shows that the immunity created from a
vaccination shot lasts 3-4 years. So why are some
veterinarians still recommending yearly boosters?

Vaccines are an important tool in disease prevention and
keeping your pet healthy. However it is your
responsibility and right to have a candid conversation with
your veterinarian about creating a vaccination schedule
that properly supports your pet's health.

About the Author:

Becky Kimes is a Divine Animal Healer and Pet Loss Grief
Recovery Coach. If your pet is suffering from a poor
immune system or plagued with allergies Becky can help.
Visit her at http://divinehealingforanimals.com and
schedule a complimentary 15 minute consultation to discover
how she can help your pet return to optimal health.

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