Pam, I agree. The rabies law is the most difficult to get around, especially if you adopted from the town shelter and they send you the renewal license and also want proof of the rabies vaccine every year. When I first adopted Princess from our shelter, they automatically give the one year vaccine before they are allowed by law to release a dog. The following year she got another 1 yr shot and after that she got a 3yr shot. She had a mild reaction to the 3yr shot. She was very hyper, restless, very clingy. She kept running around as if she was searching for something. Very weird behavior and it lasted all through the night, she kept me up most of the night and refused or couldn't sleep herself. Finally the next day she was exhausted and slept the whole day right through the following night. She only ate half a meal for that whole day, I am done with the rabies shot. When they sent me the license renewal papers this past summer, I didn't return it. If they harass me for them, then I am going to tell them she isn't here anymore.They can fine me if they want. You can't put a price on the dog you love, so they can fine me all they want and then hold their breath for it. What gets me is they say that the dosage and the vaccine are identical for the one year and the three year shot. So how can they offer one or the other? Not only that, but the same amount of the vaccine is given to Great Dane as it is to a 2 pound Chi. Makes no sense! Gigi was about 5-6 years old when I got her, so I figure some where along the line she probably already had the rabies shot, so I never got that one for her. Rabies hasn't been in NY for so many years, that I am not going to worry about it. I did give Gigi a 6 in one Parvo/Booster when I first got her, and that is all that she is getting and the same holds true for Princess, who originally had them several times through the years. They have immunity for life, and don't need anymore. The only time in my opinion that they may need shots is if Parvo changes it s strain, or like the new Canine Flu that is now prevalent here on the east coast. But with the flu shot, it hasn't been out long enough to determine as to whether one or two shots gives a life time immunity or not, so like the other virus's it will take years for them to collect enough data to determine that, and any overall side affects if any. In the meantime, people will be afraid not to give there dogs that shot, year after year.
Just for the record, there has been more deaths from complications with the
canine flu, then was originally reported on the news, here in NY, and last
year a Eskie rescue in the mid west had there hands filled with 9 dogs that
came down with it, and it kept going back and forth among the dogs for
months. They did loose 2 Eskies from pneumonia. It was so bad with the
constant diarrhea and vomiting that they had to ban the dogs from the house
where they normally lived, and cleaned out a shed and put in fans and
heaters to hold the dogs.
-------Original Message-------
From: Pam Dean
Date: 1/28/2012 8:52:15 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Canine Influenza
I personally after much research believe we seriously overvaccinate..with
the help of our money making vets. My little has serious reactions to all
vaccines, including rabies, which I have no choice but to give him. Damned
if I do, and damned if I don't. But I don't give him the others at this
point.
From: Peggy & The Girls <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Saturday, January 28, 2012 3:40 AM
Subject: RE: [Chihuahuas] Canine Influenza
I don't know if reducing the amount she gets would be effective enough. I
can't find too much info on the actual vaccine either. I would have to ask
the Vet and the odds are, she will probably say to give her the full dose
each time. I hope you realize that this vaccine is really experimental as
are most new vaccines, and our pets are the guinea pigs, just as most pets
have been guinea pigs for the other vaccines.
-------Original Message-------
From: Joan Croft
Date: 1/28/2012 2:13:44 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: [Chihuahuas] Canine Influenza
Gigi is so small, that perhaps your vet can just give her a tiny dose of the
first shot. If she seems to do OK with that, the second shot the first
season is a month afterwards. For that reason, I would maybe even have her
wait a tiny bit longer for the second of the first year’s series. For the
second year forward there is just one injection.
It is too bad about not being able to take our dogs where we would like to.
I took Dolly & Desi to three dog fairs in the last couple of years, but
there are tons of dogs there and a lot of them have their heads higher than
the top of the stroller. Sure…my dogs have the flu vaccine and the
bordatella vaccine and all the other ones that they should have. But, if
some big dog comes and sneezes or drools on something near Dolly & Desi,
there probably is not much of a chance that they would not get sick. I
can’t take Desi to Petco or PetSmart because he is the little yapper that
wants everyone to know that he is there…unless he is trying to locate little
Chiquitas in the store. I rarely take Dolly anywhere without Desi, and the
only place that is lately is to the vet for her hernia surgery, stitches
removal and now the bleeding eye infection. Well…guess I shouldn’t complain
because I can’t really get out too often myself!
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On
Behalf Of Peggy & The Girls
Sent: Friday, January 27, 2012 7:15 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: [Chihuahuas] Canine Influenza
The canine flu (H3N8) actually came from horses and spread to greyhounds, in
2004, in FL. It's rare that a virus can jump from one species of animal to
another, which is why it was so hard to detect in the beginning. It's not so
much that the virus itself can cause death in a dog, but some dogs who's
immune system has been compromised can get pneumonia and that is what
usually kills them. The shot does not prevent the dog from getting the virus
but if the dog does come in contact with the virus, it isn't as servere,
and they usually won't come down with pneumonia, but rather a servere
consistent hacking cough that sounds more like Kennel Cough. Only a blood
test can prove if it is the virus or KC. This is what I was told by my Vet,
and I also read it some where.
It spread from the southern states to the east north coast mainly from
shelters and with the constant transferring of shelter dogs and rescues, it
made it's way to the West. Last year, Petsmart here on LI who boards dogs,
had an outbreak and had to close it's boarding facility. For that reason, I
didn't take my girls to the petshops anymore and I even stopped using the
dog parks. Believe me, I miss doing that, and Princess really misses the
freedom of running free in an enclosed area, like the dog parks. I really
wish there was some place safe that I could let her run and exercise free
again, but there isn't. One of the drawbacks of renting and not having your
own yard. With Gigi's health issues, I am afraid to give her any shots what
so ever. She too liked the freedom of the dog park, but not as much as
Princess needs it. :(
Now I am thinking, what's the difference, when I walk them, they have their
nose in everything and are constantly smelling where other dogs go anyway.
Maybe when the Spring comes around, I will get them the shot and pray that
Gigi doesn't have any side effects from it.
<<attachment: GIRLSC~1.GIF>>
<<attachment: TRANSP~11.PNG>>
<<attachment: image00112.png>>
