Pet Vaccines - Are You Helping Your Pet Or Hurting It?

By Becky Kimes

Every responsible pet caretaker wants to take the best possible care of their companion. This includes preventative care including a proper vaccination schedule.

Once animals are given their core vaccines they are typically given a yearly booster. In the case of horses, a twice per year booster is usually recommended.

Have you ever wondered why people get vaccinated only as children for most diseases, yet animals need to be re-vaccinated every year, sometimes twice a year, for life?

For years now holistic veterinarians have voiced objections to yearly vaccines. However long practiced habits and routines are hard to break.

Recently there has been much scientific evidence showing that yearly vaccines could be hurting your pet more than helping it.

The practice of vaccinating pets began in the 1950s when rabies and distemper were all to common and very lethal. At that time, little was understood about the natural immune system of animals and vaccines were in their infant stages.

Today our understanding of the immune system has vastly improved. In addition, the potency of vaccines has increased immensely. For example, many vaccines are now available for dogs and cats which protect against six or seven viruses in a single shot.

To understand how vaccines affect your animal you must first consider how they work. Essentially vaccines deliver antigens, something that the body considers an invading organism, into your pets body. This stimulates the body's immune system which produces specific antibodies or protection against the foreign antigens.

Yearly boosters can easily over-stress your pet's immune system. Especially since today's vaccines introduce multiple antigens (protection for different diseases) all at the same time. If your pet's immune system is currently fighting some sort of problem like an ear infection or allergy it is all too easy to cause more problems than you are trying to prevent.

Evidence of over-stressed pet immune systems is increasing. Today dog allergies are the number one cause of veterinarian visits. An allergy is simply a misguided immune system. For example, if you dog is allergic to corn, it isn't the corn that's the problem. The problem is that your pet's immune system thinks corn is an antigen and is "properly" responding to the invader.

In the mid-1990s, cats began developing malignant tumors between their shoulder blades--right where they are typically vaccinated. The correlation is all too clear.

Current research shows that the immunity created from a vaccination shot lasts 3-4 years. So why are some veterinarians still recommending yearly boosters?

Vaccines are an important tool in disease prevention and keeping your pet healthy. However it is your responsibility and right to have a candid conversation with your veterinarian about creating a vaccination schedule that properly supports your pet's health.

Becky Kimes is a Divine Animal Healer and Pet Loss Grief Recovery Coach. If your pet is suffering from a poor immune system or plagued with allergies Becky can help. Visit her at http://divinehealingforanimals.com and schedule a complimentary 15 minute consultation to discover how she can help your pet return to optimal health.