Why ensure the right to say, "No," to rabies shots for sick and senior pets?

In May 2005, I took a healthy 12 year old calico house cat for a wellness exam and annual vaccinations including rabies.

Within six months, she began to show signs of ill health - dramatic weight loss, great thirst, poor coat, bad breath, eye discharge, ear mites, frequent urination and frequent vomiting. 

A year later, in the midst of an ice storm unprecedented in Texas history, Aimee  was in renal failure and dying.

Only one local  vet was available in that moment; all the others in our area were ice-bound. She didn't know us and because my cat's "shots were "not current," i.e., within the last year, she would gas down my cat. I could not be present.

Animal bites must be reported to the Texas Department of Health Services. If this dog or cat does not have a current rabies vaccination, it must be quarantined, i.e., isolated, for 10 days.

It’s the law.

My animal was in pain. She had no hope to live. I would not prolong her suffering. So I gave my sweet, warm kitty to the veterinarian who disappeared and when she returned, handed Aimee to me as a corpse.

It is not a scene I want to repeat or see any other pet guardian have to go through.

The Pet Wellness Update is dedicated to Aimee and to all the pets who have suffered the negative effects of annual vaccinations because you didn't know better, your vet didn't tell you and the law worked against you.

Know before you go

Our website poses questions that you should be able to answer before your next pet wellness exam.

1. Is the word “overkill” too strong in reference to the common practice of annual pet vaccinations?

In her short life, Aimee had 13 wellness exams and twice as many booster shots – one rabies shot and one combination shot for preventable feline diseases every year.

By contrast, you and I are vaccinated once for smallpox when we are a child and are protected for life.

"There has never been a cat develop rabies that has had one rabies shot in its life. The last case of a human getting rabies from a cat was 1979 in Indiana. These facts support your contention that this Veterinarian's insistence on the masking procedure was unreasonable and unnecessary." ~Robert L Rogers, DVM, Houston, TX

2. Has your companion animal ever shown symptoms of adverse reaction to the rabies vaccine or other animal vaccine shots?

"In a general and frightening context, I see the overall health and longevity of animals deteriorating. The bodies of most animals have a tremendous capacity to detoxify poisons, but they do have a limit. I think we often exceed that limit and overwhelm the body's immune system function with toxins from vaccines. The most common problems I see that are directly related to vaccines on a day to day basis are ear or skin conditions, such as chronic discharges and itching. I also see behavior problems such as fearfulness or aggression. Often guardians will report that these begin shortly after vaccination and are exacerbated with every vaccine." ~Dr. Pat Bradley, DVM ConwayAZ

3. Is the practice of re-vaccinating companion animals based in current science?

 

"The idea of annual vaccines is really questionable. There is no scientific basis from what I've been able to read. There was a good article in Current Veterinary Therapy a couple of years ago. They did a literature search and the two authors were not 'alternative' veterinarians, and they could find no scientific basis for annual vaccines. So it's just being done; there is no real basis for the practice. There are a lot of chronic conditions that develop some time after vaccinating. Some of these conditions that I see are chronic ear infections, digestive problems, seizures, skin problems, and behavioral problems." ~Stephen R Blake, DVM, San Diego, CA.

4. How can a pet owner weigh the promised benefits of animal vaccines against the possible side effects and prevalence of disease?

New guidelines for pet vaccinations have resulted from overwhelming evidence of their potential and real negative effects on companion animals. f your veterinarian has not read them, perhaps it’s time.

5. Is there any official support for a new vaccine protocol?

Endorsements for a new vaccine protocol extend back to 2001, after the veterinary profession recognized an alarming increase in an aggressive cancer at vaccine injection sites in the early 1990s.

Support since then has only grown.

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Council on Biologic & Therapeutic Agents, the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) as well as immunologists and clinicians at 22 veterinary schools in North America all err on the side of fewer vaccinations rather than more.

6. Do city, county and state ordinances that mandate annual rabies vaccinations align with scientific evidence and authoritative recommendations?

Since 2003, most states have extended repeat rabies vaccine to two or three years. Yet, many states, counties and municipalities with local jurisdiction still require annual rabies vaccinations in order to license companion animals.

These laws are at least 20 years behind our current knowledge of vaccinology. They require a consumer to pay for a product (rabies vaccinations) with no benefit and much risk. Worst of all, they force veterinarians to knowingly administer an overdose of a biologic drug.

At this writing, only seven states provide medical exemption for sick and senior companion animals.

Take action

There are myriad ways you can take action on this issue. 

First arm yourself with knowledge. Our website offers case stories from other pet owners and up to date readings about the heath costs of unnecessary vaccinations.

Know before you go to the vet’s office about whether booster shots are in the best interest of your pet’s health.

Talk to your vet. Tell your family. Tell your friends. Tell your neighbors and co-workers about this new knowledge.

Make sure that you have a right to say “no” to rabies booster shots when age, lifestyle or health conditions preclude them.

Your pet’s life is in your hands. Guard it well.