Vol. 1 Issue 5, August 2006
by Barbara Marshall-Cassel
To inject or not to inject, that is the question.
Hi all you curly lovers out there in poodle land. I have always wondered about
vaccinations in people and in animals. How effective are they?, how much harm could
they be doing?, are they necessary? Etc. Being a biology major, I know enough about the
sciences to be dangerous, and I have a very questioning mind to go along with that
aspect. I have always looked at natural ways to treat my animals and have been a person
who has done it my way. I learned very early on how to give shots to horses, dogs, and
cats, and how to do my own worming and treating of almost everything. I learned it was
much cheaper and less stressful for my animals to get the shots and give them at home,
than to drag them into the vets kicking and screaming (well, yowling and howling, that’s
right, it was the kids I had to drag into the dr. kicking and screaming). My vets seemed to
be in agreement with me after chasing one of my horses around the stall for an hour to try
to give her a shot and still having no luck, then watching as I laid her lead strap down on
the floor and calmly walked up to her and gave her the shot without so much as a flinch,
after they left the stall. After that, there was no problem with me picking up shots to give
on my own.
OK, all that said, I have always questioned rabies shots? Do my cats need them if they
are never out of the house (don’t think we get many rabid animals in through the cracks,
not sure I’ve heard of a rabid field mouse or fly yet)? Now, I do know we have rabid
animals outside for sure, raccoons, fox, skunks, etc. So, the next question is, what about
my animals that do go outside, and is it necessary to vaccinate as much as we have been
told we need to or are the vets just after our money! (Hmmm???, interesting concept,
don’t you think.) I think the following information from Tunia and Bill Hyland may
answer some questions, or maybe raise more questions. Whichever, I thought it was
interesting and might be of some interest, so please enjoy the read and feel free to express
your opinions. Still questioning, Barbara
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Dear Friends,
Many dog caregivers across the country are becoming more and more aware of the
possibility that over vaccination can have harmful effects on dogs - and the rabies vaccine
is no exception. The incidence of rabies exposure in companion animals and humans,
though very low today, still remains a distinct possibility. Consequently, the Federal and
state governments require every dog to be vaccinated triennially (still even annually or
biannually in a few states) against rabies. However, the veterinary community is
increasingly concerned that rabies vaccination given this frequently is not only
unnecessary but also responsible for inducing adverse reactions that lead to both acute
and chronic immunological and other disorders. Although a French medical study
completed in 1992 showed that rabies vaccine is protective for at least five years, Federal
and state legislatures have not accepted this finding. Thus, the health and well-being of
millions of dogs in the United States remain threatened by the potential for adverse
vaccinal events.
Surprisingly, formal, credible research has yet to be performed by either the
manufacturers of rabies vaccines or U.S. academic institutions. The Federal and state
legislatures want to see the results of such research before any relevant, existing policy or
statute regarding rabies vaccination can be modified. Because of the complexities of
politics and bureaucratic mindsets, the best way to change the rabies protocol is to prove
through a challenge study that dogs not revaccinated for five and seven years after their
first two vaccinations remain as protected against rabies as they were at the age of one
year.
Facilities and staff to commence this important research have been graciously offered by
the University of Wisconsin/Madison under the auspices of Ronald D. Schultz, PhD,
Professor and Chair of the Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary
Medicine. W. Jean Dodds, DVM, is both the organizer and supervisor of this project . A
world-renowned veterinarian in the fields of hematology, immunology, endocrinology,
nutrition and holistic medicine, Dr. Dodds in 1986 established Hemopet, the first
nonprofit national blood bank program that benefits dogs throughout North America.
Forty dogs will be involved in the study at the University of Wisconsin/Madison. Twenty
will be used for a five year study and the same number for a concurrently run seven year
study. Because Drs. Dodds and Schultz believe through monitoring of rabies serologic
studies and other experiences that the two rabies vaccinations a dog receives by one year
of age are fully effective for life, they want to initially prove that effectiveness over a
five-year as well as seven-year span. The successful completion of this research
conducted according to federally mandated guidelines should allow USDA licensing and
state legislative acceptance of the tested rabies vaccine for more than three years. The
University of Wisconsin will provide all of the necessary overhead for these studies free
of charge and Dr. Schultz, the Principal Investigator, has volunteered his time involved in
the formal conduct of the research. Dr. Dodds and her staff are donating their efforts as
well in support of this project. A proforma of the direct expenses needed to complete both
studies entails $177,000 for year one, $150,000 each for years two to five and $90,000
each for years six and seven.Dr. Dodds, Supervisor of this project, has established THE
RABIES CHALLENGE FUND CHARITABLE TRUST to solicit, receive and distribute
funds to the University of Wisconsin Foundation in order to initiate, maintain and
complete Dr. Schultz's research studies. Kris L. Christine, a leading pet vaccine
disclosure activist, is the co-founder and co-trustee of this Trust. All gifts made to this
charitable trust are deductible for Federal tax purposes and will be distributed in full to
the University of Wisconsin Foundation.]
Tunia and Bill Hyland
Friends of The Rabies Challenge Fund
http://www.itsfortheanimals.com/RABIES-CHALLENGE-FUND.HTM
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only******Hope you enjoyed this article!
Blessings to all,
Barbara
©2006 Barbara Marshall-Cassel
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