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THE NATURAL DOG
by
CHRISTINE WYNDHAM-THOMAS
Many moons ago I was in the same class of people that believed that good pet ownership began with keeping the annual vaccination of pets (‘companions’, I prefer to call them) completely up to date. I believed that manufacturers of commercially prepared dog food knew everything about dog nutrition. I believed that the men in white coats (conventional vets) were experts on the welfare of our companions because they’d been to university, done many years studying and got their degrees.
Six years ago, about, my beliefs changed. It started with a World in Action TV programme in which Catherine O’Driscoll, author of "What Vets Don’t Tell You About Vaccines" and founder of Canine Health Concern, spoke out on the damage that annual vaccinations were doing to our companions. Three months earlier I had taken Lucky to the vets for his annual booster. Three months later I noticed one of his legs was furless, and it was spreading. Catherine mentioned the connection between vaccines and skin damage and that it was quite normal for symptoms to occur anytime from three months onwards after the booster is given.
I was shocked by what Catherine revealed. My whole attitude quickly changed: no more would my dogs be vaccinated; no more would I feed to my dogs commercially prepared dog food and no more would I trust the conventional vets with the health of my dogs. From that moment on I took charge of my own learning, which would lead to a better understanding of companion welfare, helped by the wealth of information now available from holistic vets.
I studied Homeopathy and got my certificate, the equivalent of a First Aid Certificate. I could have taken my studies further but, being married and already having a full-time job, it just wasn’t practical, but I knew enough to treat my own dogs and that was good enough for me. Also, I became Editor of Homeopathy for Suite101 - http://www.dogsonholiday-uk.com/homeopathybasic..html - and wrote quite a few articles for them until I developed my own website: Dogs on Holiday-UK.
Another change I eventually made was feeding my dogs raw meaty bones. It took a while for me to adapt to that, because the whole concept seemed rather strange. I’d never considered the possibility of feeding raw meat to Pippin, Lucky nor Benji, but I learnt that feeding them raw meat and bone helped strengthen their immune system and that having a healthy immune system was the key to protection against disease. Pippin and Benji took to it like a duck to water, but Lucky’s an adamant little blighter and no way was he going to eat raw food! He’d rather starve. So, being the soppy individual that I am, gave in to Lucky and decided to give him cooked food - on which he is doing very well, although he has raw tripe (the only meat he loves raw) about three times a week.
I now know I have done all I can for the wellbeing of my dogs. It’s called the Natural Dog. It isn’t a new system. It isn’t something that I’ve developed. It’s the way it used to be and the way it should be.
How times have changed
I grew up in the Welsh valleys and when I was a child I remember seeing many free-roaming dogs in our village. Those dogs were never vaccinated. They were fed only on leftover scraps, and many of the dogs never became sick. They lived quite happily. Nowadays, you’re told your dog is doing well if it reaches the age of between 8 and 10 but in those days, 15-17 years was the norm! And isn’t it strange, here we are in the 21st Century with all our wonderful technology and yet disease is on the increase, more and more dogs are spending more and more times in vets rather than enjoying life!
End to annual vaccinations
I no longer vaccinate my dogs. I haven't done for years. My reasons for not doing so are pure and simple: -
Annual vaccinations have never ever been based on scientific fact, but scientific precedence. The only reason for there being an annual vaccination programme is that it brings in a lot of money for the veterinary profession.
The veterinary establishment is not being honest with us when they say that vaccinating our companions against distemper, parvovirus etc. will protect them from those diseases. It actually weakens their immune system, making them more vulnerable to disease, and making them less able to fight off the disease should they unfortunately succumb to it. And it has been known for some dogs to catch the very disease that they’d been vaccinated against. Vaccination does not protect.
Thirty vets have been honest enough to stand up and be counted against the damage the vaccination programme is doing. I Salute them; they're my Heroes. I'd love to see more vets do the same, because there must be many now who are battling with their consciences. You cannot save a sinking ship and if the conventional vets are too afraid to abandon it, they will sink with it because that's where the veterinary establishment is heading.
Below is a copy of the letter that was signed by the 30 vets:
Dear Editor
We, the undersigned, would like to bring to your attention our concerns in the light of recent new evidence regarding vaccination protocol.
The American Veterinary Medical Association Committee report this year states that 'the one year revaccination recommendation frequently found on many vaccination labels is based on historical precedent, not scientific data'.
In JAVMA in 1995, Smith notes that 'there is evidence that some vaccines provide immunity beyond one year. In fact, according to research there is no proof that many of the yearly vaccinations are necessary and that protection in many instances may be life long'; also, 'Vaccination is a potent medical procedure with both benefits and risks for the patient'; further that, 'Revaccination of patients with sufficient immunity does not add measurably to their disease resistance, and may increase their risk of adverse post-vaccination events.'
Finally, he states that: 'Adverse events may be associated with the antigen, adjuvant, carrier, preservative or combination thereof. Possible adverse events include failure to immunise, anaphylaxis, immunosuppression, autoimmune disorders, transient infections and/or long-term infected carrier states.'
The report of the American Animal Hospital Association Canine Vaccine Taskforce in JAAHA (39 March/April 2003) is also interesting reading: 'Current knowledge supports the statement that no vaccine is always safe, no vaccine is always protective and no vaccine is always indicated'; 'Misunderstanding, misinformation and the conservative nature of our profession have largely slowed adoption of protocols advocating decreased frequency of vaccination'; 'Immunological memory provides duration of immunity for core infectious diseases that far exceed the traditional recommendations for annual vaccination. This is supported by a growing body of veterinary information as well as well-developed epidemiological vigilance in human medicine that indicates immunity induced by vaccination is extremely long lasting and, in most cases, lifelong.'
Further, the evidence shows that the duration of immunity for rabies vaccine, canine distemper vaccine, canine parvovirus vaccine, feline panleukopaenia vaccine, feline rhinotracheitis and feline calicivurus have all been demonstrated to be a minimum of seven years, by serology for rabies and challenge studies for all others.
The veterinary surgeons below fully accept that no single achievement has had greater impact on the lives and well-being of our patients, our clients and our ability to prevent infectious diseases than the developments in annual vaccines. We, however, fully support the recommendations and guidelines of the American Animal Hospitals Association Taskforce, to reduce vaccine protocols for dogs and cats such that booster vaccinations are only given every three years, and only for core vaccines unless otherwise scientifically justified.
We further suggest that the evidence currently available will soon lead to the following facts being accepted:
* The immune systems of dogs and cats mature fully at six months and any modified live virus (MLV) vaccine given after that age produces immunity that is good for the life of that pet.
* If another MLV vaccine is given a year later, the antibodies from the first vaccine neutralise the antigens from the subsequent so there is little or no effect; the pet is not 'boosted', nor are more memory cells induced.
* Not only are annual boosters for canine parvovirus and distemper unnecessary, they subject the pet to potential risks of allergic reactions and immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia.
* There is no scientific documentation to back up label claims for annual administration of MLV vaccines.
* Puppies and kittens receive antibodies through their mothers' milk. This natural protection can last eight to 14 weeks.
* Puppies and kittens should NOT be vaccinated at less than eight weeks. Maternal immunity will neutralise the vaccine and little protection will be produced.
* Vaccination at six weeks will, however, DELAY the timing of the first effective vaccine.
Vaccines given two weeks apart SUPPRESS rather than stimulate the immune system.
This would give possible new guidelines as follows:
1. A series of vaccinations is given starting at eight weeks of age (or preferably later) and given three to four weeks apart, up to 16 weeks of age.
2. One further booster is given sometime after six months of age and will then provide life-long immunity.
In light of data now available showing the needless use and potential harm of annual vaccination, we call on our profession to cease the policy of annual vaccination.
Can we wonder that clients are losing faith in vaccination and researching the issue themselves? We think they are right to do so. Politics, tradition or the economic well-being of veterinary surgeons and pharmaceutical companies should not be a factor in making medical decisions.
It is accepted that the annual examination of a pet is advisable. We undervalue ourselves, however, if we hang this essential service on the back of vaccination and will ultimately suffer the consequences. Do we need to wait until we see actions against vets, such as those launched in the state of Texas by Dr Robert Rogers? He asserts that the present practice of marketing vaccinations for companion animals constitutes fraud by misrepresentation, fraud by silence and theft by deception.
The oath we take as newly-qualified veterinary surgeons is 'to help, or at least do no harm'. We wish to maintain our position within society, and be deserving of the trust placed in us as a profession. It is therefore our contention that those who continue to give annual vaccinations in the light of new evidence may well be acting contrary to the welfare of the animals committed to their care.
Yours faithfully
Richard Allport, BVetMed, MRCVS ,
Sue Armstrong, MA BVetMed, MRCVS
Mark Carpenter, BVetMed, MRCVS
Sarah Fox-Chapman, MS, DVM, MRCVS
Nichola Cornish, BVetMed, MRCVS
Tim Couzens, BVetMed, MRCVS
Chris Day, MA, VetMB, MRCVS
Claire Davies, BVSc, MRCVS
Mark Elliott, BVSc, MRCVS
Peter Gregory, BVSc, MRCVS
Lise Hansen, DVM, MRCVS
John Hoare, BVSc, MRCVS
Graham Hines, BVSc MRCVS
Megan Kearney BVSc, MRCVS
Michelle L'oste Brown
BVetMed, MRCVS
Suzi McIntyre, BVSc, MRCVS
Siobhan Menzies, BVM&S, MRCVS
Nazrene Moosa, BVSc, MRCVS
Mike Nolan, BVSc, MRCVS
Ilse Pedler, MA, VetMB, BSc, MRCVS
John Saxton, BVetMed, MRCVS
Cheryl Sears, MVB, MRCVS
Jane Seymour, BVSc, MRCVS
Christine Shields, BVSc, MRCVS
Suzannah Stacey, BVSc, MRCVS
Phillip Stimpson, MA, VetMB, MRCVS
Nick Thompson, BSc, BVM&S, MRCVS
Lyn Thompson, BVSc, MRCVS
Wendy Vere, VetMB, MA, MRCVS
Anuska Viljoen, BVSc, MRCVS, and
WendyVink,BVSc,MRCVS
A new way forward
It’s not all gloom and doom. Many owners would be more than willing to take their companion along to a vet each year in order to get it checked. They would be able to discuss with the vet any problem they may have with their own dog or cat, without the need for the annual booster. The vets would still be getting their income and the owners would have peace of mind.
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