No
One Took My $500 Bet. Go Ahead, Call
Your Shot
Project
2001
See
Part
One
September 1993 © TheDogPlace
/ Barbara J. Andrews -
(Part
2 of 2)
Pun intended. My five one hundred dollars bills are still on
the table. While we wait for someone to take my bet, let's continue to explore
immune-system disease.
 Lyme disease evolved from "unheard of" to a priority subject and almost
simultaneously, there was a vaccine. It's almost as if the drug company had
developed the cure before the disease became a problem. One has to wonder where
all the new vaccinatable diseases come from? How widespread are they? Is the
significance of some viruses only as a line on a financial plotting graph? Will
the efficiency of a new vaccine outweigh its possible side effects? How does one
get factual information on the frequency and seriousness of side effects?
Unfortunately, there are not enough scientists willing to candidly discuss these
issues, much less raise their own pertinent questions. One does not bite the
hand that feeds....
One of the most famous (and credible) of all is Dr. Jonas Salk whose biological
research resulted in the polio vaccine. The December 1988 issue of DVM magazine
featured a Vaccine Roundtable discussion in which the many benefits of vaccines
were weighed against the risks, both known and suspected.
Young animals are at higher risk of contracting vaccine-induced disease due to
their undeveloped immune systems. Dr. Swango (Auburn University Assoc. Professor
of Virology, specializing in canine virus diseases) cites high risk in "Any
animal under 4 weeks of age..." and went on to say that "even
in 6 to 8 weeks old puppies the distemper vaccine may occasionally induce
disease." He stipulated that vaccine disease is
more likely in compromised puppies and kittens. Dr. Swango also makes a
mind-stopping statement. "There
is a difference between vaccination and immunization."
i.e. vaccination doesn't guarantee immunity.
Dr. Tizard (Professor and Head of Microbiology and Parasitology, TX A&M)
acknowledges "There
is a problem of vaccine-associated disease that cannot be avoided."
Dr. Salk reminds us "to
be altogether pragmatic when the disease is of far greater risk than the methods
that are employed in their control." For example, the
risk of widespread rabies is far greater than the possible result of
vaccine-induced reactions or disease. As science has advanced, we now know that
modified live vaccines shed, mutate in the host, and are capable of inducing
disease, therefore killed rabies is now used. Regarding the choice of killed
over modified live products, Dr. Salk emphatically states "with
the killed virus vaccine we can eliminate the disease altogether, both
vaccine-induced and naturally-occurring."
In
Part One, we touched on the effect of vaccines on the immune system and the
corresponding increase in immune related diseases in the last decade. We accept
that vaccines are meant to challenge the immune system. Our bodies whip the
weakened form of the virus and therefore are primed and ready to kill the more
virulent bug should it ever try to invade us. Works great. Except when we OVER
challenge the immune system. That's when we become "allergic" and susceptible to
a lot of puny bugs that we should have sloughed off.
If we keep pecking away at our defense system, year after year, with this shot
and that, with a wide assortment of chemicals and toxins, with "medicines" which
are proven to confuse and weaken the immune system; sooner or later, that
defense will crumble.
Now, about our pets. We humans only get "puppy shots." I don't know one person
that gets yearly boosters for polio, whooping cough, measles, etc, etc. Do you?
Then why do you suppose our dogs need yearly shots? Experts say they don't! The
body keeps tabs on what virus it's already defeated and if the immune system is
strong, (with but few exceptions such as tetanus) it is able to ward off a
subsequent attack from the same virus. Furthermore, if we accept Dr. Salk's
words on herd immunization, a healthy dog is constantly accumulating new
immunities from vaccinated dogs.
The knowledge I share with you could well impact the profit level of a clinic
that refuses to move forward into preventative health care rather than health
care maintenance. Knowing that, I realize some vets are beginning to seethe and
are already planning a scathing rebuttal. That's good because in order to
debate, the good veterinarian will do his or her own research and in so doing,
may well come to share the beliefs of a growing number of medical doctors and
animal care professionals.
Here's the nightmare. We start our babies out with wormings and big-time
challenges to their UNDEVELOPED system and we keep at it and keep at it until
they are at least 16 weeks old - or dead from the parvo or corona they shouldn't
have caught. If they break with disease, we're always told it was because of
that window. The window exists - but so does the reality of vaccine-induced
disease!
If they survive the first weeks of constant bombardment, we then hit them with a
rabies shot. NOT to protect the dog. It is to protect the human population and
rightly so. Compared to human lives, animals are expendable and that's as it
should be. It doesn't mean that we should close our eyes to the possible
side-effects of rabies vaccination, failing to recognize and respond to symptoms
should they occur in our own beloved dogs.
OK, so about six months after the potent rabies vaccine, we assault them again
with boosters and probably get them up the nose again while we're at it, and by
now they're wearing flea collars or are being dipped and dusted, and of course,
they're getting that heartworm poison. Six months later, another rabies shot;
hopefully your state will let the dog recover for two to four years before
blasting him with yet another rabies booster. By the way, who decides that dogs
in some states must be "challenged" every year with potent rabies vaccine
whereas dogs in other states are immune for up to four years? The state
Veterinary association? The Legislature? Who????
It's along about this time that an estimated fifty percent of "cared for" dogs
develop immune and/or thyroid problems. Many are simply treated as "allergies"
and as such, the dog often receives medications specifically designed to QUIET
the immune system!! Hard to believe isn't it? Strays escape the onslaught of
care most of us provide our dogs..... and notably, their immune systems are
strong. Of course, those of us who notice that interesting fact are just asking
to be blamed for "inbreeding" our dogs and harming their immune systems. Our
fault again!
DVM June 1991 carried an interesting article by Priscilla Stockner, DVM. She
details case histories of immune-mediated orthopedic disease symptoms which
occurred following modified-live vaccine administration in Great Danes. The
vaccine reactions included inability to rise, pain, joint stiffness, high temps,
and dramatic thyroid malfunctions.
Other case histories mention aggression as a not uncommon reaction. Now if Dr.
Blank vaccinates Mrs. Smith's lap dog and then hears that Poopsie is "sick" and
then that Poopsie is "nasty" he's likely to think the problem is in Mrs. Smith's
mind. If the family dog attacks a child, the horror of the incident overrides
the likelihood of exploring a connection to recent booster shots. I'm not
suggesting that we write bad temperament off to "shots." On the other hand, when
we encounter sudden and inexplicable behavioral changes, the first person we
should turn to is a well informed veterinarian.
Trainers and behavioral counselors please take note. Do your homework on this.
Example, a description of severe reactions to canine distemper virus. JAVMA vol
196, No. 11, June 1, 1990 pg 1852 reports "Development of nervous system lesions
was reflected by observation of signs of aggression, which eventually progressed
to in-coordination, prostration, convulsions, and death." The signs may be less
pronounced, (sub-clinical from an owner's perspective) but still dangerous if
one is dealing with a large breed.
There have been similar documented cases of post-vacinal rabies in dogs, cats,
and people. Symptoms usually begin with lameness, limb paralysis, and may
include nervousness, phobias, and even radical aggression. Dr. Jean Dodds, DVM
(prominent researcher, NY State Dept. Of Health, widely published) reports in a
paper on Reactions to Vaccines And Drugs, Part I "Parallel
bone marrow failure, immunosuppression, and immune-mediated hematologic disease
have been recognized since the late 1970's in dogs exposed to canine parvo virus
or recently vaccinated with modified live parvo virus and other vaccines."
Dr. Dodds cites fever, stiffness, sore joints and abdominal tenderness, and
eventual collapse among symptoms that may appear 1-3 days or 10-21 days after
vaccination.
Well, the references could go on and on. Our ability to absorb such heavy doses
of uncomfortable information does not. If you would like SHOWSIGHT to continue
this subject, drop me a note. Time does not permit me to respond to you on an
individual basis but I am interested in medically documented experiences of
vaccine reactions or your quotable comments regarding the increase in immune
problems over the last decade. Just as I did with data on reproductive problems
associated with feline distemper/early canine parvo vaccine (The Dog Newspaper),
we will report YOUR findings to the Fancy. Please indicate whether your name can
be used in giving credit or quotes for future columns.
By the way, shall we talk about Clinton's REQUIRED vaccination of children and
the possibility that newborns will be vaccinated before leaving the hospital?
Possibly that injection will include a micro-chip? Are our dogs canaries of the
twentieth century in more ways than one? You tell me.....
In the meantime still waiting for "anyone" to take
me up on my $500 bet!
See
Part
One
reprint permission
September 1993
SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE
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