The basic vaccination given to dogs in Australia is promoted as protective against three serious infectious diseases. All these diseases are life threatening to an infected dog. Those three diseases are Canine Distemper, Canine Hepatitis and Parvovirus. In some vaccines a Kennel Cough component is added, but Kennel Cough, of itself, is not a life threatening disease.

What is in the Vaccine Given to Dogs?

The vaccines given to dogs in Australia contain live viruses. Live viruses in vaccines are modified and are known as MLV's (Modified Live Viruses). In addition to the modified live viruses, these vaccines also contain various substances to stabilize and preserve the vaccine. Some of these substances are known carcinogens and others have been linked to neurological disorders.

How Do Vaccines Work?

Vaccines do not directly confer immunity to disease. Vaccines work by programming the body's immune system. When the body is challenged by a disease (a vaccine is a 'disease') then the immune system is stimulated to produce antibodies and memory cells. It is the antibodies and memory cells that fight the disease and then provide lasting immunity to it.

Why Do Vaccines Cause Problems?

Immunity acquired from vaccination, or through successfully overcoming exposure to the disease, lasts because of cellular memory. It is not possible to 'boost' immunity in an already immune dog. The dog is either immune to a particular disease or it is not!

Through 'booster' vaccinations, the dog's immune system is being unnecessarily over-stimulated by repeated challenges. This can lead to a weakening of the immune system - and many individual dogs, as well as certain breeds, are susceptible to that outcome.

If a dog's immune system is compromised then that system cannot work as it should do.

Skin, and other allergies, are perhaps the fastest growing chronic health problem in our dogs today. Allergies are one sign of a compromised immune stsyem.

Updated November 2013

From Jean Dodds' Pet Health Resource Blog

2013 and 2014 Canine Vaccination Protocol - W. Jean Dodds, DVM

Dr. Dodds has made only slight, minor changes to the basic, core Canine Vaccination Protocol she established in previous years. Dr. Dodds bases her decisions on numerous factors such as presence of maternal immunity, prevalence of viruses or other infectious agents in the region, number of reported occurrences of the viruses and other infectious agents, how these agents are spread, and the typical environmental conditions and exposure risk activities of companion animals.

Dr. Dodds considers infectious canine hepatitis (adenovirus-1), canine adenovirus-2, bordetella, canine influenza, canine coronavirus, leptospirosis, and Lyme regional and situational. Please research the prevalence in your area, and discuss it with your veterinarian.

For Dr. Dodds’ position on various canine vaccines, please refer to the following posts:
Frequently Asked Questions about Titers and Vaccination Protocol
Dr. Ron Schultz on Lyme Vaccine
Dr. Ron Schultz on Leptospirosis Vaccines
Kennel Cough Complex Vaccines
Infectious Canine Hepatitis
Canine Influenza (H3N8)
Vaccinations: A Global Perspective

2013 and 2014 Vaccination Protocol
Note: The following vaccine protocol is offered for those dogs where minimal vaccinations are advisable or desirable. The schedule is one Dr. Dodds recommends and should not be interpreted to mean that other protocols recommended by a veterinarian would be less satisfactory. It’s a matter of professional judgment and choice.

9-10 Weeks Old:
Distemper + Parvovirus, MLV (e.g. Merck Nobivac [Intervet Progard] Puppy DPV)

14-16 Weeks:
Same as above

20 Weeks or Older (if allowable by law):
Rabies

1 Year:
Distemper + Parvovirus, MLV

1 Year:
Rabies, killed 3-year product (give 3-4 weeks apart from distemper/parvovirus booster)

Perform vaccine antibody titers for distemper and parvovirus every three years thereafter, or more often, if desired. Vaccinate for rabies virus according to the law, except where circumstances indicate that a written waiver needs to be obtained from the primary care veterinarian. In that case, a rabies antibody titer can also be performed to accompany the waiver request. See the Rabies Challenge Fund website.

W. Jean Dodds, DVM
Hemopet / NutriScan
11561 Salinaz Avenue
Garden Grove, CA 92843

Critter Advocacy - Responsibility Ethics Science
Recent Advances in Immunology, New Principles of Immunology-Canine, Consumer Warnings and much more
http://www.critteradvocacy.org/K9%20Recommendations.htm * recommended reading

Many excellent articles and resourses can be found here, (one of my favourite sites for Information)
Chinaroad Lowchens of Australia ..... Canine Vaccinations
http://www.lowchensaustralia.com/health/vacc.htm

VACCINATIONS - The Good the Bad and the Ugly
http://www.aahanet.org/About_aaha/About_Guidelines_Canine06.html
Report of the American Hospital Association (AAHA) Canine Vaccine Task Force: 2003 Canine Vaccine Guidelines, Recommendations, and Supporting Literature

Considerations in Designing Effective and Safe Vaccination Programs for Dogs
http://www.pugrescuenc.org/vaccines.htm
Do Not Vaccinate Needlessly
Don't revaccinate more often than is needed and only with the vaccines that prevent diseases for which that animal is at risk.
Do Not Assume that Vaccines Cannot Harm a Pet
Vaccines are potent medically active agents and have the very real potential of producing adverse events.

New Updates on Vaccinations - Vets in UK Speak Out Against Vaccination
http://www.dogs4sale.com.au/Notice_Board_Dogs_World_UK.htm
New Updates on Vaccinations - Vets in UK Speak Out Against Vaccination - Vaccination Story in the Dogs World UK March 2004 - Links to recent articals in this topic

Critter Advocacy http://www.critteradvocacy.org/ On this web site you will find consumer warnings about unnecessary and potentially harmful vaccines.

Pets don't need shots every year
http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/annual_vacs.htm
Vaccination findings - Veterinary research challenges the notion that pets need to be vaccinated every 12 months. Some of the findings:Dog vaccines/Minimum duration of immunity · Canine rabies - 3 years · Canine parainfluenza - 3 years · Canine distemper (Onderstepoort strain) - 5 years · Canine distemper (Rockborn strain) - 7 years · Canine adenovirus (kennel cough) - 7 years · Canine parvovirus - 7 years

Homeopathy is a complex specialty that a growing number of veterinarians are choosing to incorporate into their practices. In Australia, many members of the Australian Association of Holisitc Veterinarians are qualified to practice homeopathy.

Vaccine Alternatives (oral nosodes)

Definition of Homeopathic ‘Nosodes’are remedies or medicines made from the disease itself and are diluted or potenized so only the energy of worm or disease exists.
They are administered orally.
So far, experience has shown no problem with side effects, unlike the live virus vaccinations (C3, C4,C5)
Safe for kittens or puppies starting at the age of 4 weeks.

For pets already vaccinated
There are products such as the one below (available from Wholistic Animal) are available for previously vaccinated pets.

CANINE VACCINE & HEAVY METAL DETOX
Cleansing and detox from past or present vaccinations (if pet has had previous vaccinations), drugs, over use of antibiotics chemicals, insecticides and pet food preservatives of the Carcinogenic ethoxyquin preservative and white sugar in pet food, previous x-rays.

BARF!!! Bones and Raw Food - We have fed our dogs a mainly raw food and bone diet for over eight years , with impressive results - and believe it has contributed to their good health and reproduction.

BARF AUSTRALIA - Dr Ian Billinghurst - author of the book "Give Your Dog a Bone” which began the worldwide BARF dietary revolution for pets, his second book "Grow Your Pups With Bones" is also excellent.

WholisticAnimal.com - This is where we aquire our homeopathic nosodes and other homeopathic remedies

Natural healing - Herbology, Aromatherapy, Flower Essences, Acupuncture, Acupressure, Chiropractic, TCM, Magnetic Therapy, Reiki, TTouch