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DOG AND CAT VACCINATION PROTOCOLS
“Anytime you inject anything into a patient
you have the potential of killing them”. —Prof. Ron Schultz, DVM.
The practice of giving dogs and cats several different vaccinations against
various diseases all at the same time early in life and then again every year as "boosters" for the rest of their lives is
coming to a close. This is for two primary reasons: animals can have adverse reactions to vaccinations that can impair their
health for the rest of their lives; routine "booster" shots are not needed since earlier vaccinations have given animals sufficient
immunity to the diseases in question.
First, the very young, i.e. before 12 weeks of age, kittens and puppies
should not be given vaccinations since this can interfere with the natural immunity in their systems conferred by the colostrum
or first milk of their mothers. But if the immune status of the mother is unknown, as is the situation for many to-be-adopted
pups and kittens in animal shelters, vaccinations at an earlier age between 5-6 weeks is the usual protocol. Adult animals
in a compromised immune state, as for example those who are ill, injured, or being given an anesthetic and operated on, such
as being spayed or castrated, or for any other surgical procedure, are pregnant or nursing, or are old and infirm, should
not be vaccinated.
Rabies vaccinations, unless in-field conditions make this logistically
difficult, should never be given at the same time other combined vaccinations are given. Separate by at least 3 weeks.
The following protocols for vaccinating dogs and cats have been published
in the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association Journal, Vol. 26, Number 3 October-December, 2007:
The Minimum Vaccine Protocol for cats is at 12 weeks or older to give
the so called ‘core’ vaccinations FVR (herpes/rhinotracheitis) and
FPV (feline parvovirus or panleukopenia), and then rabies 3-4 weeks later, but
only if the anti-rabies vaccination is required by law. PureVac, canary pox vectored
rabies vaccine (Merial) is preferred for cats. Vaccinating against Giardia is not advised since the vaccine can cause granulomas.
FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus), FIP (feline infectious peritonitis)
and Bordetella-kennel cough vaccinations are not recommended.
FeLV (feline leukemia) vaccine should only be given to at-risk cats (such
as indoor-outdoor cats) at 9 and 12 weeks, or 12 and 15 weeks with a booster at a year of age and none thereafter in order
to reduce the chances of injection-site fibrosarcoma, a cancer that can be fatal. Aluminum hydroxide, an adjuvant in many
vaccines, has been given a Class 4 carcinogenesis rating by the World Health Organization. Merial’s Purevax Canary pox
vectored feline leukemia vaccine is the safest and recommended because it does not contain this adjuvant.
Cats should have serum titer
tests for FPV later in life to determine their immune status. All vaccinations to be injected under the skin should be placed
as far down the cat's limbs as possible since it is more difficult to treat fibrosarcomas that develop at other sites such
as the neck and back.
The American Association of Feline Practitioners Feline Vaccination Panel’s
recommendation of early-age, repeated vaccinations is based on the fact that kittens respond differently when vaccinated because
they have different levels of circulating antibodies from their mothers’ milk that can interfere with the immune response
triggered by vaccination. But I consider this protocol excessive and the risks, costs, and stress on kittens unjustified unless
they are at risk in poorly managed breeding facilities and pet stores.
The Minimum Vaccination Protocol for dogs is at 12 weeks or older to
give MLV (modified live virus) distemper, hepatitis (Adenovirus-2) and parvovirus enteritis, and none thereafter. At 12-16
weeks, give rabies vaccination and then only every three years if permitted by law. (State and municipal laws that do not
permit the use of a 3-year rabies vaccination should be challenged and changed).
Corona virus and giardia vaccinations for dogs are not recommended.
For dogs at risk, Leptospirosis vaccine (the four-serovar product of
Fort Dodge being preferred) should be given at 12 and 15 weeks and repeated one year later. It only confers protection, however,
for 3-4 months, so repeated vaccinations are called for with dogs with significant exposure risk. Lyme vaccine should be given
to at-risk dogs but the bacterium vaccine can cause immune-complex disease so Merial’s recombinant Lyme vaccine is preferred.
Again, blood serum titers should be taken to assess dog's immune status where there is doubt, rather than simply giving booster
shots.
Neither Lyme disease vaccinations, that give highly unreliable protection,
and leptospirosis vaccinations should be given close to the time that any other vaccinations are given.
Studies have shown that in normal, healthy dogs at the time of vaccination,
Parvovirus vaccines are good for 7 years, Rabies vaccines for 3-7 years, Distemper vaccines for 5-15 years (depending on the
strain), and Adenovirus 2 vaccines for 7-9 years.
If your cat or dog received
all core vaccines by 16 weeks of age, have antibody blood titers evaluated at 1 year of age if you have reservations about
re-vaccination.
Prof. Ron Schultz recommends using Merial’s 3-way combo; parvo,
distemper and CAV2/hepatitis as the only relatively safe combination of vaccines.
No vaccine can guarantee immunity, since different strains of infective
agents may be involved, and animals who are stressed, suffering from poor nutrition, genetic susceptibility and concurrent
disease may have impaired immune systems and lowered resistance to disease. But this does not mean that they should never
be vaccinated or be routinely re-vaccinated just in case, because vaccinations can cause further immune system impairment
and a host of health problems---the so called vaccinosis diseases--- that these new vaccination protocols are aimed at minimizing.
Veterinarians and cat and dog owners desiring more information, Vaccine Waiver
Consent Forms & Sample Rabies Exemption Letter, contact the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association,
Tel: 410-569-0795 or e-mail Office@AHVMA.org | 
