The Pet Vaccine Truth - Part 2

In my previous article, I discussed the problems with cat and dog vaccines today and the confusion that many pet owners face. Should you vaccinate your dog or cat, and if so, how often and for what diseases?

Most conventional veterinarians would advise "vaccinate for all diseases, and administer booster shots every year". I do not advise this approach.

The evidence is continually becoming more and more clear, and as a result many vet schools are advising alternate protocols for vaccines... basically, fewer vaccines and less often. The newer research has show that immunity from vaccines may last much longer than previously thought. In many cases, a particular vaccine given at less than a year of age may provide lifelong immunity. Think of the Tetanus vaccine and people - we only need to have this boosted once every 10 years, or perhaps longer - and this may be similar for cats and dogs.

In truth, vaccines do help prevent serious diseases, but they really should be used with caution. Before you vaccinate your cat or dog, take time to consider the actual risk. If you have a cat that is indoor-only (and she will never be exposed to non-vaccinated animals), the actual risk of infection is very low. On the other hand, if you board your dog often in kennels, or if she goes to a busy doggie day care, then she may have a high exposure to a variety of diseases.

The Vaccine decision is an individual one, and it should be guided by your personal research on the subject before you make the trip to your veterinarian. Talk with local veterinarians and other people in the pet health field, along with pet owners, and find out which diseases are common and what your dog or cat may be exposed to.

If you would like my dog and cat vaccine recommendations, visit one of my websites (see the resource box for a link to VeterinarySecretsRevealed or TheOnlineVet) and send an email to my support address with the request, and I'll send along my vaccine report. Best wishes to you and your pets!

About the Author:

The decision to vaccinate your dog or cat can be confusing - should you vaccinate your dog or cat, and what should you vaccinate for? Visit Dr. Jones' site VeterinarySecretsRevealed for FREE information today.

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