Latest guidelines on "annual" vaccinations - please read!

[Stephanie]

These are the latest guidelines as laid out by the WSVA.  The WSVA are:

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) is an association of associations. Its membership is made up of veterinary organisations from all over the world, which are concerned with companion animals. Currently there are 93 member and affiliate associations, representing over 180,000 individual veterinarians from around the globe.
 
  "The WSAVA is dedicated to the continuing development of companion animal care around the world."  WSAVA's primary purpose is to advance the quality and availability of small animal medicine and surgery, creating a unified standard of care for the benefit of animals and humankind. As “Global Veterinary Community” is our tagline, being a part of WSAVA also creates a space in which we can help each other and to generate a “One global voice” from the veterinary profession to contribute to the world.

I have put into bold print the points that are most important as it seems some vets are choosing NOT to tell clients of these changes and are still re-vaccinating dogs and cats on an annual basis......

VACCINATION GUIDELINES FOR NEW PUPPY OWNERS

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) has issued guidelines to veterinary surgeons and dog owners which aim to ensure that dogs are protected from infectious disease, while reducing the number of vaccines that are given routinely. Full guidelines are available at this link: http://www.wsava.org/guidelines/vaccination-guidelines

The basic principles of these guidelines are:
1. We should aim to vaccinate every animal with core vaccines, and to vaccinate each individual less frequently by only giving non-core vaccines that are necessary for that animal.

2. Vaccines should not be given needlessly. Core vaccines are those that are required by every dog in order to protect them from life-threatening infectious diseases that remain prevalent throughout the world. Core vaccines should not be given any more frequently than every three years after the 12 month booster injection following the puppy/kitten series, because the duration of immunity (DOI) is known to be many years and may be up to the lifetime of the pet.

3. The WSAVA has defined non-core vaccines as those that are required by only those animals whose geographical location, local environment or lifestyle places them at risk of contracting specific infections.

4. The WSAVA strongly supports the concept of the ‘annual health check’ which removes the emphasis from, and client expectation of, annual revaccination and suggests that vaccination (if required) forms only one part of an annual veterinary visit that considers the entire health and wellbeing of the individual dog.


What this means in practice is that:

Core Vaccines
1. The WSAVA recommends that all puppies should have their initial vaccines against the core diseases, which are distemper, parvovirus and hepatitis (also called adenovirus). Note that in countries where canine rabies is endemic, rabies vaccination is also considered core, even when it is not required by law.

2. The WSAVA also states that the last puppy vaccine against the core diseases should be given at 14-16 weeks of age. This is because, before this time, the mother passes immunity to her puppies, and this ‘maternal immunity’ can prevent the vaccine from working.

3. A high percentage (98%) of core puppy vaccines given between 14-16 weeks of age will provide immunity against parvovirus, distemper and adenovirus for many years, and probably for the life of the animal.

4. All dogs should receive a first booster for core vaccines 12 months after completion of the primary vaccination course. The 12 month booster will ensure immunity for dogs that may not have adequately responded to the puppy vaccinations.

5. The WSAVA states that we should vaccinate against the core diseases no more frequently than every three years. This is often taken to mean that we should vaccinate every three years – but this is not the case. If the dog is already immune to these three core diseases, re-vaccinating will not add any extra immunity.

6. The WSAVA supports the use of titre testing. This is where a small sample of blood is taken from the dog and checked for the presence of circulating antibodies. The presence of circulating antibodies indicates that the dog is immune, and revaccination (with core vaccines) is not required. You may decide to titre test before giving the 12 month booster, as this may show that boosting is unnecessary. Two new in-practice titre-testing kits are now available which will allow your vet to do a titre test very quickly, without sending the blood sample to a laboratory. Ask your vet to look into this less expensive option. One kit is called VacciCheck (Biogal Laboratories) and the other is called TiterChek (Zoetis).

7. It is important to give as few vaccines as possible, whilst also ensuring that dogs are protected from life-threatening viral diseases. The WSAVA seeks to reduce the number of vaccines given as there is always a risk of adverse reactions with any vaccination. The risk of adverse reaction is considered small and the WSAVA asserts that the benefit of protecting your pet from life-threatening infections far outweighs the risk of adverse reaction – although any reaction to a vaccine that is not needed is unacceptable. The WSAVA has listed the types of reactions in its vaccine guidelines (which you can see on the link given above). They range from mild (such as fever, loss of appetite), through to severe (such as epilepsy, arthritis, autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, and allergic reactions). The most severe adverse effects can be life-threatening.


Non-core Vaccines

The non-core vaccines commonly used for dogs are for leptospirosis and kennel cough.

Leptospirosis

Of the leptospirosis vaccine, the WSAVA states: “Vaccination should be restricted to use in geographical areas where a significant risk of exposure has been established or for dogs whose lifestyle places them at significant risk. These dogs should be vaccinated at 12–16 weeks of age, with a second dose 3–4 weeks later, and then at intervals of 9–12 months until the risk has been reduced. This vaccine is the one least likely to provide adequate and prolonged protection, and therefore must be administered annually or more often for animals at high risk. There are many different serovars (strains) of Leptospira in the world. Leptospirosis in dogs is most often caused by one of a small number (four to six) of these serovars. The vaccines available today contain the serovars that are most often the cause of canine leptospirosis in a particular geographical area. This product is associated with as many or more adverse reactions than occur for any other vaccine. In particular, veterinarians are advised of reports of acute anaphylaxis in toy breeds following administration of leptospirosis vaccines. Routine vaccination of toy breeds should only be considered in dogs known to have a very high risk of exposure.”


Simply, this means:
1. The leptospirosis vaccine provides protection for a maximum of 12 – 18 months.

2. This vaccine can be associated with adverse reactions.

3. This vaccine should only be given if there is a real risk.

4. Leptospirosis may be relatively rare in your geographical area, so it’s also worth asking your veterinary surgeon if he/she has recently seen any confirmed cases locally. If not, and your dog does not lead a lifestyle which carries a risk of exposure, you may decide not to vaccinate against leptospirosis.

5. Signs of leptospirosis may include one or more of the following: fever, joint or muscle pain, weakness, vomiting and diarrhoea, discharge from the nose and eyes, frequent urination, and yellowing of gums and around the eyes. If you observe these signs in your dog, you should take him to your veterinary surgeon straight away.


Kennel Cough

1. In most dogs, kennel cough is generally a mild illness, similar to humans having a cold or the flu. It is usually treated by keeping the dog quiet and giving throat- soothing medications. Occasionally antibiotics can be given to treat secondary infections.

2. Kennel cough vaccines are generally only required by dogs in close contact with other dogs – for example in boarding kennels. However, you should check with your kennel because some will demand kennel cough vaccines, and others will not accept dogs that have been vaccinated against kennel cough (due to shedding).

 

[Stephanie]

More information on titres can be found here - https://www.boxerdogforums.com/index.php?topic=4503.msg48905#msg48905

[Eilene1015]

Good info thanks

[Nancy-IL]

Excellent Stephanie!  Thank you for all you do for us and the fur babies. 

[Idigboxersman]

Thank You.
I sent a copy to several friends. Hope you don't mind.

[grkline]

Thanks Stephanie We appreciate it.

[Janice59]

Has any one else been told that it is a state law the dogs have to be heartworm tested EVERY YEAR. They wouldn't give me the meds till I had the girls retested.

[Mr Nub]

Has any one else been told that it is a state law the dogs have to be heartworm tested EVERY YEAR. They wouldn't give me the meds till I had the girls retested.

I have my boy tested every year the heartworm pharmaceutical companies are not required to stand behind their products if there is no proof that the dogs are heartworm free. That is usually one of the reasons that Vets require dogs to be tested every year....for your protection, and your dog's. If for any reason the heartworm protection fails the pharmaceutical company in question will pay for any medications, treatments for your dog.

Edit to add here that I give my boy 6 months of one brand of heartworm preventative, and 6 months of another.

[Nancy-IL]

Has any one else been told that it is a state law the dogs have to be heartworm tested EVERY YEAR. They wouldn't give me the meds till I had the girls retested.

I've never heard of it being a "state law" to have them heartworm tested.  I do know that the vet's office do have to perform the test IF you are getting the Heartgard for dogs.  That's only to see if they have the parasite before giving it to them.  But not a "state law" that I know of. 

We give ours the Hearthgard Plus monthly. 

[Nancy-IL]

Stephanie,
Thank you for doing your research and giving us spot on information.  I am going to copy your post and place copies in each of our vehicles and also carry one in my purse.  That way I will always have it when we do take the dogs in to the vet.  Thanks again!

[Stephanie]

From this link -  http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/what-every-vet-should-know-about-vaccines/ 

Are you and your vet at odds about how often your dog should be vaccinated for the core vaccines?  We’re here to help.
 
First, it is important to understand that the core vaccines are not required by law – only rabies can be.  Nobody can force you to vaccinate your dog with any other vaccine.  This is a decision best left up to you and your vet.  Before that decision is made however, make certain that you are both aware of the duration of immunity of those vaccines and the potentially lethal consequences of giving just one vaccine too many.
 
More is not better
 
When it comes to immunity and duration of immunity for vaccines, there is one clear expert.  Dr Ronald D Schultz is one of perhaps three or four researchers doing challenge studies on veterinary vaccines – and he has been doing these studies for 40 years.  It is Dr Schultz’s work that prompted the AAHA and AVMA to re-evaluate vaccine schedules.  In 2003, The American Animal Hospital Association Canine Vaccine Taskforce warned vets in JAAHA (39 March/April 2003) that ‘Misunderstanding, misinformation and the conservative nature of our profession have largely slowed adoption of protocols advocating decreased frequency of vaccination’; ‘Immunological memory provides durations of immunity for core infectious diseases that far exceed the traditional recommendations for annual vaccination.’
 
‘This is supported by a growing body of veterinary information  as well-developed epidemiological vigilance in human medicine that indicates immunity induced by vaccination is extremely long lasting and, in most cases, lifelong.’
 
“The recommendation for annual re-vaccination is a practice that was officially started in 1978.”  says Dr Schultz.  “This recommendation was made without any scientific validation of the need to booster immunity so frequently. In fact the presence of good humoral antibody levels blocks the anamnestic response to vaccine boosters just as maternal antibody blocks the response in some young animals.”
 
He adds:  “The patient receives no benefit and may be placed at serious risk when an unnecessary vaccine is given. Few or no scientific studies have demonstrated a need for cats or dogs to be revaccinated. Annual vaccination for diseases caused by CDV, CPV2, FPLP and FeLV has not been shown to provide a level of immunity any different from the immunity in an animal vaccinated and immunized at an early age and challenged years later. We have found that annual revaccination with the vaccines that provide long-term immunity provides no demonstrable benefit.”
 
Below is the result of duration of immunity testing on over 1,000 dogs.  Both challenge (exposure to the real virus) and serology (antibody titer results) are shown below:
 
Table 1: Minimum Duration of Immunity for Canine Vaccines
 Vaccine
 
Minimum Duration of Immunity
 
Methods Used to Determine Immunity
 
CORE VACCINES
 
Canine Distemper Virus (CDV)
 
Rockbom Strain
 
7 yrs / 15 yrs
 
challenge / serology
 


Onderstepoort Strain
 
5 yrs / 9 yrs
 
challenge / serology
 


Canine Adenovirus-2 (CAV-2)
 
7 yrs / 9 yrs
 
challenge-CAV-1 / serology
 


Canine Parvovirus-2 (CAV-2)
 
7 yrs
 
challenge / serology
 

It is important to note that this is the MINIMUM duration of immunity.  These ceilings reflect not the duration of immunity, rather the duration of the studies.
 
Dr Schultz explains “It is important to understand that these are minimum DOI’s and longer studies have not been done with certain of the above products. It is possible that some or all of these products will provide lifelong immunity.”
 
Dr Schultz has seen these results repeated over the years.  In 2010, he published the following with newer generation, recombinant vaccines.  It is important to note that not only did the vaccines provide protection for a minimum of 4 to 5 years, it did so in 100% of the dogs tested.
 
Vaccine Dangers
 
Why is it important to understand Dr Schultz’s work?  Because vaccines can create very real health problems in dogs.  It is important that vaccines are only given when necessary because every vaccine has the potential to kill the patient or create debilitating chronic diseases including cancer and allergies.
 
Below is a list of potential adverse vaccine reactions, according to Dr Schultz:
 
Common Reactions

 Lethargy
 Hair loss, hair color change at injection site
 Fever
 Soreness
 Stiffness
 Refusal to eat
 Conjunctivitis
 Sneezing
 Oral ulcers

Moderate Reactions

 Immunosupression
 Behavioral changes
 Vitiligo
 Weight loss (Cachexia)
 Reduced milk production
 Lameness
 Granulomas/abscesses
 Hives
 Facial edema
 Atopy
 Respiratory disease
 Allergic uveitis (Blue Eye)

Severe Reactions triggered by Vaccines

 Vaccine injection site sarcomas
 Anaphylaxis
 Arthritis, polyarthritis
 HOD hypertrophy osteodystrophy
 Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia
 Immune Mediated Thrombocytopenia (IMTP)
 Hemolytic disease of the newborn (Neonatal Isoerythrolysis)
 Thyroiditis
 Glomerulonephritis
 Disease or enhanced disease which with the vaccine was designed to prevent
 Myocarditis
 Post vaccinal encephalitis or polyneuritis
 Seizures
 Abortion, congenital anomalies, embryonic/fetal death, failure to conceive
 
Dr Schultz summarizes his 40 years of research with the following:
 
“Only one dose of the modified-live canine ‘core’ vaccine (against CDV, CAV-2 and CPV-2) or modified-live feline ‘core’ vaccine (against FPV, FCV and FHV), when administered at 16 weeks or older, will provide long lasting (many years to a lifetime) immunity in a very high percentage of animals.”
 
We understand vets are frightened because they have seen animals die and suffer from preventable disease.  Vaccine-induced diseases are also deadly and they are also preventable.  Our companion animals rely on vets to make the right decisions when it comes to vaccines.  We are begging vets to stand up and take notice – our pets’ lives depend on it.