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Like humans, pets needed vaccinations to prevent them from falling
victims to serious diseases. But unlike humans, the vaccination
of pets is an individual decision. That is, in some pets a certain
vaccine may be needed, while in others the same vaccine may be
useless. A
vaccine is an injection that contains weakened pathogens. The
presence of these pathogens will induce the immune system to
produce antibodies to fight the pathogens. Since the pathogens
are weak already, the antibodies can easily defeat them. These
antibodies, perhaps anticipating another attack of such pathogens,
stay in the body.
There are
research studies, however, that show vaccination to be dangerous.
Such studies contend that vaccination is the reason why pets
become ill of chronic diseases, such as arthritis, leukemia,
skin allergies, irritable bowel movement, and respiratory infections.
Thoughtless and indiscriminate vaccination was linked to the
occurrence of cancer in young cats and dogs.
The proposed
reason for this is that vaccination will always strain the immune
system. Even with weakened viruses, it is still considered an
attack against the health of the pet.
To protect
the pet from the health-related dangers of too much vaccination,
here are some suggestions that an owner may prudently keep in
mind:
1. Consider
the age of the pet
Younger
pets are less tough when given vaccines. Their immune systems
are not yet fully developed. This is why there are limits to
age when the pet should be vaccinated. For example, puppies
and kitten should be at least three months old before they are
given a vaccine, such as the parvovirus. Then, the young pet
should be at least six months old before receiving the rabies
vaccine. In the meantime, the owner must strive to keep the
young pet away from exposure to diseases.
2. Consider
the lifestyle of the pet
The lifestyle
of some pets is often enough to keep them away from certain
diseases. For example, an indoor cat may never encounter other
animals that have diseases. The risk of this cat procuring rabies
is almost zero.
3. Consider
the neighborhood
If there
is an outbreak of a serious animal disease in the neighborhood,
such as the corona virus, leptospirosis, or Bordetella, then
the pet should be given a vaccination. Without the presence
of such disease, the vaccine is unnecessary.
4. Limit
the vaccinations
Many vaccinations
provide long-term protection. This means that a pet need not
be given the same kind of vaccination every year. Before a pet
is given the same vaccination, the owner must request a blood
test first. The blood test will indicate if there are still
sufficient antibodies to fight a specific disease.
5. Research
The owner
must conduct his own research about the vaccination of his pet.
For example, a sickly animal should not be given any vaccination
at all. |
