Vaccinations

[wildoak]

The following is an excerpt from holistichorsekeeping.com message board, the poster is a vet who sued the good old Texas Vet Medical Board over failure to address what he says are unnecessary yearly vaccines in cats & dogs. (I rechecked the date, original post was in 2005 - I don't know how it was resolved). Most of the information probably applies to horses as well, this is a horse board it's on. He does say elsewhere in the text that since many vaccines for horses are killed vaccines, that they can be given annually vs the modified live usually given to small animals. Lots of interesting topics. I don't treat my horses holistically for the most part as it takes some education and a commitment I haven't made, but I think they bring up a lot of good points. You can read the board for free, but have to pay yearly dues to be a poster.

Adjuvants are something that is added to the vaccine to stimulate the immune system. There is lots of evidence to show that it is adjuvants that is the cause of cancer in cats. I’m not saying that a non-adjuvanted vaccines can’t possible cause cancer, but certainly the adjuvant vaccines are at least five times more likely.
Lisa-What type of substances are used for adjuvants?

Dr Rogers-It’s usually an aluminum added. The way it works is it creates inflammation which draws the immune system to the site of the vaccine. It also makes a vaccination more of a sustained release product. Cats are unique in that inflammation can turn into cancer. There are non-adjuvanted vaccines; they don’t cost anymore and yet they only have about 10% of the market. Only 10% of vets are going to all non-adjuvanted vaccines.

Lisa-Does that go back to them just not knowing?

Dr Rogers-I think it goes back to the vaccine manufacturer disseminating false and misleading information. Certainly the companies that don’t make a non-adjuvant vaccines want to go around and say it hasn’t been proven that adjuvants are the culprit.

Lisa-Doesn’t that come down to demand? If there were more vets and owners demanding the types of vaccines, then the drug companies would either get onboard or they’re going to lose their shirt.

Dr Rogers-Absolutely. Adjuvants were declared a Class 2 Carcinogen by the World Health Organization. If that was recognized by the USDA, they would have to take all the adjuvant vaccines off the market. So again I think the USDA is asleep at the wheel.

 

[xxs]

Adjuvants also can be mercury based and we all know that mercury is dangerous. There is a link between kids getting vaccinated and autism.

I am not in the medical professional field, but I have done a lot of reading on this subject. And, it seems that children are never born with autism..it is acquired AFTER they have had their vaccinations. And, autism is on the rise because more and more vaccines are required all the time. I believe the number is 1 out of 164 children who have autism now and to me that is NOT acceptable.

But, if vaccines are given separately, there is no need for adjuvants. My grandson just entered kindergarten last fall, and they gave all his shots seperately instead of all together..not because they were requested to do it that way, but because that is the way the county health board is doing it now...much safer!

With the 5 way and 7 way vacs, I think all would be better off following that lead and separating the vacs. , at the very least choosing the 5 way rather than the 7. The safest is to give them separately, but most vets don't want to do that.

Someone I know had a dog that she just wanted to give one vac. to and the vet tech told her they couldn't do that as they didn't have it separately. So, she asked if they could order it and they said yes, but she would have to pay for the whole bottle and it was well over $100...she told them "ORDER IT!" She WON"T over vaccinate her dogs.

The best thing you can do is to have a titters done to determine is they really NEED to be vaccinated for anything.

There are a lot of problems with vaccinines ...does that mean I am against them? No..but I chose not to vaccinate as I want my horses to develop their own immunities by gradual exposure. And, my horses are never sick..not even colds. BUT, if I were showing, and they were being exposed to a lot of other horses, yes, I would vaccinate, but only for what was going around at the time...not for EVERYTHING!

Here is the problem with some vaccines..in particular WNV and EPMV...if you give these and your horse comes down with something ...and the vet tests for one or both of these....they are going to get a positive because the test is going to show that your horse has been exposed to these things! And, they may be treating the animal for something they don't have! Of course, if the tested horse is not ill and tests pos. and has not had vac., it would mean that they have been exposed and are immune.

I have had several vets tell me..if there is no test for it, it is not a disease...meaning, that they treat the best they can..BUT! if they develop a test for it, all of a sudden it is a dire emergency to get a vaccine and get eveyone to use it...like WNV.... West Nile has been around for a LONG time (as per these vets) but it didn't have a name..or a test..a horse just got sick and died.

Again..these are just my opinions and not telling anyone else what they should do.

edited to correct multiple posts..sorry

 

[SilverDollar]

I'm an original member of the holistic horsekeeping group that you mentioned. There is lots of good information on the site. That being said, however, I practically drove myself nuts by reading the boards regularly. I got so paranoid to treat my horses "conventionally" by reading stories on Western medicine. A very wise vet (not in the group) gave me this advice about vaccinations: "Carefully weigh the risk of reaction against the risk of the disease." She means, is it more likely the horse will die from the vaccine or from the disease? I also found myself wondering: Are horses living longer and battling diseases more successfully because of the advances in science, including the vaccinations and deworming treatments available? Or in spite of them? I do think we can over-vaccinate, but every geographic area is different. In arid California, where I live, we do not have the constant humidity and the problems and pests it brings. I had to base my research on what happens out here versus what occurs in Texas, where the group originated.

I finally found my comfort level for me and my horses. I give EWT and WNV at separate times only once per year. My vet wants us to give WNV twice per year but so far I'm not convinced we need it here in CA. I alternate between giving flu/rhino and not giving it. Still undecided. I deworm about every 12 weeks and use psyllium one week per month. We don't have pasture here and are lucky to see rain. So far, this seems to be working for us. I can't tell anyone how to treat their animals, but I can say that you must do what's comfortable for you. No, I'm not a vet. JMHO.

(I do agree that we must continue to ask for the healthier of the vaccines out there. Even if they're not widely available, our voices can be heard. It may take time but after all, WE are the customer! Just look at what's happened with the organic food market.)

 

[wildoak]

I'm an original member of the holistic horsekeeping group that you mentioned

It's always interesting to read, although as you said, I take it with a grain of salt and manage my horses in the way that makes most sense to me. Dr Ward (originator/owner of the website) is a wonderful vet. She used to work on my big horses here, did lots of chiropractic & acupuncture for me before she got so famous LOL, hard to find her now. I still vaccinate my horses, and probably will continue to do so - but I do agree we probably tend to overvaccinate in many cases. Just another area in which it pays to keep educating ourselves and keep an open mind.

Jan