Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Rabies Vaccine

I recently received this in an email from one of the groups I belong to. Today upon checking Marty's lump, I think it has gotten much smaller! I have to measure it, but it feels very different and you all know that I checked it a thousand times. Anyhow, Girlville and I were discussing vaccinations and I told her about a study I knew of. She suggested that it would be something good to share with you all.

CONTENT BELOW:

Greetings!

The Rabies Challenge Fund is pleased to announce that the canine rabies challenge studies have begun!!! Permission is granted to post and cross-post the text of our press release below.

CANINE RABIES CHALLENGE STUDIES BEGIN !

One of the most important vaccine research studies in veterinary medicine is underway at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine in Madison. Dr. Ronald Schultz, a leading authority on veterinary vaccines and Chair of the Department of Pathobiological Sciences, has begun concurrent 5 and 7 year challenge studies to determine the long-term duration of immunity of the canine rabies vaccine, with the goal of extending the state-mandated interval for boosters. These will be the first long-term challenge studies on the canine rabies vaccine to be published in the United States.

Dr. Schultz comments that: "We are all very excited to start this study that will hopefully demonstrate that rabies vaccines can provide a minimum of 7 years of immunity."

This research is being financed by The Rabies Challenge Fund, a charitable trust founded by pet vaccine disclosure advocate Kris L. Christine of Maine, who serves as Co-Trustee with world-renowned veterinary research scientist and practicing clinician, Dr. W. Jean Dodds of Hemopet in California. The Rabies Challenge Fund recently met its goal of $177,000 to fund the studies’ first year budget with contributions from dog owners, canine groups, trainers, veterinarians, and small businesses. Annual budget goals of $150,000 for the studies must be met in the future.

Dr. Jean Dodds, DVM states: "This is the first time in my 43 years of involvement in veterinary issues that what started as a grass-roots effort to change an outmoded regulation affecting animals will be addressed scientifically by an acknowledged expert to benefit all canines in the future."

Scientific data published in 1992 by Michel Aubert and his research team demonstrated that dogs were immune to a rabies challenge 5 years after vaccination, while Dr. Schultz’s serological studies documented antibody titer counts at levels known to confer immunity to rabies 7 years post-vaccination. This data strongly suggests that state laws requiring annual or triennial rabies boosters for dogs are redundant. Because the rabies vaccine is the most potent of the veterinary vaccines and associated with significant adverse reactions, it should not be given more often than is necessary to maintain immunity. Adverse reactions such autoimmune diseases affecting the thyroid, joints, blood, eyes, skin, kidney, liver, bowel and central nervous system; anaphylactic shock; aggression; seizures; epilepsy; and fibrosarcomas at injection sites are linked to rabies vaccinations.

Study co-trustee Kris Christine adds: “Because the USDA does not require vaccine manufacturers to provide long-term duration of immunity studies documenting maximum effectiveness when licensing their products, concerned dog owners have contributed the money to fund this research themselves. We want to ensure that rabies immunization laws are based upon independent, long-term scientific data.”

More information and regular updates on The Rabies Challenge Fund and the concurrent 5 and 7 year challenge studies it is financing can be found at the fund’s website designed by volunteer Andrea Brin at:
www.RabiesChallengeFund.org.

While it is not my suggestion to STOP giving your pets their vaccinations, it certainly is apparent that a second look should be taken at how often this happens.

8 comments:

kristie said...

always ask what vaccine(s) your pet is being given and WHY. our cats, who are strictly indoor, get very few vaccines anymore because they aren't necessary and the risks outweigh any potential benefits.

Magnolia Sun said...

Thanks for sharing, good information to know and hopefully the study will prove accurate for a 7 yrs rabies shot.

Pam said...

We recently talked to our vet about about the rabbies vaccine and while the 3-year rule is out there, our state still requires annual. I didn't know that there was a reserach moment to push for even 5-7 years. Interesting. Thanks for sharing that.

Pam said...

Oh...I'm very happy to hear that Marty's "lump" is getting smaller. Good news!!!

Goodboy Norman Featherstone said...

I do not get vaccinated any more for anything. Haha! No more shots for me! The Vet doesn't want to take any chances with my mast cell tumors. Woman thinks the tumors were caused by a heartworm shot I got one time. The Vet assured her it was safe and tested and just fine to give me. It was pulled from the market a couple months later, and dogs that had the shot showed a higher incidence of mast cell tumors than dogs who did not get the shot. We don't like those people.

Sandy said...

We don't get rabbies shot here ever year either...we got a few years between shots for that one.

Leah said...

Glad to hear Marty's lump is smaller!

Anonymous said...

OWNER BEWARE..WHAT THEY DON'T TELL YOU ABOUT VACCINES!!My pug recieved his second rabies shot yesterday, and it was even worse than his first. The first one he recieved, he developed a large lump at the injection site, and it followed by lethargy and diaharea for weeks. This most recent one, caused him anaphylactic shock within a few minutes of the shot. Had I not still been at the vet's office he might have died. The first sign was unstable breathing followed by vomiting, a fever spiked, and his gums went pale. The doctor immediately administered steroids, benedryl, and saline. It was terrifying and disturbing, especially since I had made it clear that he had a bad reaction the first time. But as I have read more, it seems that subsequent vaccines can be more harmful due to the intial exposure. Needless to say I am done with any an all vaccines, and the doctors have already offered to provide all documentation necessary to obsolve him of future vaccines. He is stable, but very worn out from the experience and I just hope that there will be no suprise long term effects due to these vaccinations. I would suggest that anyone who owns a breed susceptible to these reactions, plan the visit carefully to the vet with caution as to allow for any adverse reactions. It was a blessing I didn't rush out of the office, and I knew within minutes there was a problem and alerted the doctor. Please learn from my experience, it was a very scary and emotionial day for owner and pet.

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