Vaccinating Pets Could Do More Harm Than Good

[Tara]

Vaccinating Pets Could Do More Harm Than Good


LOS ANGELES -- Many people get their pets vaccinated every year for health and protection.
But is it possible those same vaccinations could be harming your pet or worse? Some veterinarians are starting to look more closely at those claims, reported NBC4's David Cruz.

Today, Molly is a playful 4-year-old Basenji, but at 2 years old, she was covered in sores and fighting for life.

"She was dying," her owners told NBC4. "Laying in her bed, she wouldn't get up. She would hardly eat."

Doctors were baffled by the dog's mystery illness until they narrowed it down to a most likely cause, a severe reaction to multiple vaccines, given at the rescue shelter where her owners adopted her.

"What I understand now is that that can potentially overload the immune system," said Molly's owner.

You do not need to vaccinate your pet every year and it may not be safe to do so, reported NBC4's Cruz.

One veterinarian told NBC4 that millions of pets get booster shots every year, for everything from rabies and distemper to parvovirus and lyme disease, and most suffer no ill effects.

But these days, many veterinarians are taking a "less is better" approach.

People often are so hysterical, they put the animals to sleep because it's an acute vaccine reaction and has to be treated rapidly to have the animal recover, but then you don't vaccinate again because the next one could kill the animal, the veterinarian said.

One Los Angeles veterinarian said vaccines can remain effective for years without booster shots.

He did a survey of more than 100,000 dogs that were vaccinated once for distemper and parvovirus. In every case, those who were tested and did not get boosters have remained healthy.

Overvaccination has been suspected in causing tumors in some cats and immune problems in dogs.

One family said their Yorkshire Terrier, Nicky, nearly died after an annual series of booster shots.

"She couldn't breathe well, she was weak, limp," a family member said. "She was going to die. They said she probably wouldn't pull through it."

After $6,000 in medical fees and a week in intensive care, Nicky pulled through. Doctors suspect an adverse vaccine reaction.

"You bring your dog in because you're trying to keep her healthy, and a week later you find out you almost killed her," the family member said.

One doctor told NBC4 that if you're getting your pet vaccinated, here's a simple plan: Start with the basics, rabies, distemper and parvovirus, then consult with your vet.

The doctor said German shepherds, rottweilers and poodles are at higher risk for adverse vaccine reactions, as are older pets.

Concerned pet owners with questions are encouraged to consult with their veterinarian.