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.
