Vaccinating the Rottweiler

Vaccinating the Rottweiler Important Information you need to know about [not] vaccinating your Rottweilers. Please read this carefully. If you don't have time now, please bookmark this page and come back later to finish your reading and to explore the links at the bottom of the page. It is imperative that anyone who owns a puppy from VKW Rottweilers understands the implications of too many vaccines (or the wrong kind). Of annual revaccination, Tom Phillips and Ron Schultz, "Canine and Feline Vaccines," in Current Veterinary Therapy XI, ed. R. Kirk and J. Bonagura (Philadelphia: Saunders, 1992) say, "A practice that was started many years ago and that lacks scientific validity or verification is annual revaccinations. Almost without exception there is no immunologic requirements for annual revaccination. Immunity to viruses persists for years or for the life of the animal. Successful vaccination to most bacterial pathogens produces an immunologic memory that remains for years, allowing an animal to develop a protective anamnestic (secondary) response when exposed to virulent organisms... Furthermore, revaccination with most viral vaccines fails to stimulate an anamnestic (secondary) response as a result of interference by existing antibody... The practice of annual vaccination in our opinion should be considered of questionable efficacy unless it is used as a mechanism to provide an annual physical examination or it is required by law (i.e. certain states require annual revaccinations for rabies)." VACCINATION NEWSFLASH - Dr. Ihor Basko I would like to make you aware that all 27 veterinary schools in North America are in the process of changing their protocols for vaccinating dogs and cats. Some of this information will present an ethical & economic challenge to vets, and there will be skeptics. Some organizations have come up with a political compromise suggesting vaccinations every 3 years to appease those who fear loss of income vs those concerned about potential side effects. Politics, traditions, or the doctor's economic well-being should not be a factor in medical decision. Dr. Ihor Basko DVM. Dr. Jean Dodd's Vaccine Protocol "Dogs and cats immune systems mature fully at 6 months. If a modified live virus vaccine is given after 6 months of age, it produces immunity, which is good for the life of the pet (ie: canine distemper, parvo,feline distemper). If another MLV vaccine is given a year later, the antibodies from the first vaccine neutralize the antigens of the second vaccine and there is little or no effect. The titer is not "boosted" nor are more memory cells induced. "Not only are annual boosters for parvo and distemper unnecessary, they subject the pet to potential risks of allergic reactions and immune-mediated hemolytic anemia."There is no scientific documentation to back up label claims for annual administration of MLV vaccines "Puppies receive antibodies through their mothers milk. This natural protection can last 8-14 weeks. Puppies & kittens should NOT be vaccinated at LESS than 8 weeks. Maternal immunity will neutralize the vaccine and little protection (0-38%) will be produced. Vaccination at 6 weeks will, however, delay the timing of the first highly effective vaccine. Vaccinations given 2 weeks apart suppress rather than stimulate the immune system. A series of vaccinations is given starting at 8 weeks and given 3-4 weeks apart up to 16 weeks of age. Another vaccination given sometime after 6 months of age (usually at 1 year 4 mo) will provide lifetime immunity. A small percentage of  puppies manifest an autoimmune reaction following vaccination. When the immune system of susceptible individuals is challenged by multiple antigens it becomes hyper-reactive and responds in the same way it would respond to fight off an infection; fever, elevated WBC and inflammatory reaction of tissues and joints. Although many puppies can be vaccinated with no adverse reactions, there is no way at the present time to determine which puppies may react. Past research has documented reactions occurring between 8-16 weeks of age with the greatest number of reactions seen in puppies 12-16 week age. Several of the vaccine manufacturers assure that immunity in puppies can be achieved with only two vaccines providing the second vaccine is given at 12 weeks of age. We recommend the following vaccine schedule: 6 weeks: Distemper, Adeno2, Parainfluenza and Parvo, 8 weeks: Distemper, Adeno2, Parainfluenza and Parvo, 12 weeks: Distemper, Adeno2, Parainfluenza and Parvo. Not all vaccine manufactures are equal. It has been our experience that Fort Dodge brand shown the fewest side effects. Our Rottweiler puppies receive the Fort Dodge ~ Duramune 5  at 8,12n and 16 weeks. The use of Corona, Lepto, Bordatella and Lyme vaccine is not recommended unless these diseases are prevalent in the area. The recombinant DNA vaccines available for Distemper and Lyme have shown a significantly lower incidence of reactions.