> Other than the legal requirement by state - is rabies vaccination > necessary? > > PAMoesinger
Pam, Both my dogs' vet and my cats' vet have convinced me to continue giving rabies. Unfortunately, it is required by law every year in Tennessee. I absolutely did not want to give it to Dinah this year, but I was convinced to do so. (I'm not blaming my vet--I could have said no.) Every vet that I've spoken with about this says that if the dog (or cat) were to bite someone such as a vet tech while in their office, that person could insist that the animal be put down and tested for rabies. I argued that my pets would not bite anyone. Of course, if very ill and confused, I guess they could. Both vets agree with me that we give the other vaccines too often, and have agreed to every three years. The cats' vet recommends every three years, and a 3 year rabies vaccine is approved for cats in Tennessee but not for dogs. To make a long story short, I did give Dinah the rabies vaccine this year. In three months her red blood cells were very low and she was very week. This started a process of tests and drugs to try to bring them back up. I was conviced the rabies vaccine caused this. My vet did not think so. At my request, she consulted with Dr. Jean Dodds, who did not think so either. Both Dr. Dodds and my vet thought that there would have been a problem earlier than three months if it was the rabies shot. They both thought it was a combination of things. Dr. Dodds said that MVD and blood circulation can contribute to this in older Cavaliers with advanced MVD. We also considered that an Anipryl reaction was possible. However, while being closely monitored Dinah is back on Anipryl, and her red blood cells are back up. I was also convinced (by a previous vet) to give Savannah her vaccines when she was 9 years old. I told my vet at that time that I would not give them to her again. Three months later she was dead. Cancer was the reason, but I am convinced that the spread of her cancer was accelerated by the vaccines, and she could have lived without pain for a while longer had she not been vaccinated. Of course, I could be wrong and will never know for sure. I will not give Dinah the rabies vaccine (or any other vaccines) again. I will follow Dr. Dodds' protocol for Madeleine and Nick. When Madeleine is 9 years old, or when (or if) she develops MVD with symptoms, I will probably quit giving her any vaccines at all. I would give anything if I had not given Savannah her last vaccines or Dinah her rabies this year. I doubt this is much help, Pam, but it's food for thought. Carol Richards [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.geocities.com/carolscavaliers/ "My little dog, a heartbeat at my feet." Edith W ========================================================= "Magic Commands": to stop receiving mail for awhile, click here and send the email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20NOMAIL to start it up gain click here: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20MAIL E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] for assistance. Search the Archives... http://apple.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ckcs-l.html All e-mail sent through CKCS-L is Copyright 1999 by its original author.
