Summer Safety

Hot weather can make us all uncomfortable, and it poses special risks for your dog. Keep the following safety concerns in mind as the temperature rises, and follow our tips to keep your dog cool.

Heat Hazards

If your dog is outside on a hot day, make sure he has a shady spot to rest in. Doghouses are not good shelter during the summer as they can trap heat. You may want to fill a child's wading pool with fresh water for your dog to cool off in.

Never leave your dog in a closed vehicle on a hot day. The temperature inside a car can rise to over 100 degrees in a matter of minutes.

Always provide plenty of cool, fresh water.

Avoid strenuous exercise on extremely hot days. Take walks in the early mornings or evenings, when the sun's heat is less intense.

Try to avoid prolonged exposure to hot asphalt or sand, which can burn your dog's paws.

Dogs that are brachycephalic (short-faced), such as Bulldogs, Boxers, Japanese Chins, and Pekingese, have an especially hard time in the heat because they do not pant as efficiently as longer-faced dogs. Keep your brachycephalic dog inside with air-conditioning.

General Health

Make sure your dog's vaccinations are up to date, especially since dogs tend to stay outdoors longer and come into contact with other animals more during the summer months.

Keep dogs off of lawns that have been chemically treated or fertilized for 24 hours (or according to package instructions), and away from potentially toxic plants and flowers.

Keep your dog well-brushed and clean.

Fleas and ticks, and the mosquitos which carry heartworm disease, are more prevalent in warmer months. Ask your veterinarian for an effective preventive to keep these parasites off your dog. The AKC Pet Healthcare Plan can help with the cost of providing quality healthcare, including preventive medicine, throughout your dog's life.

Beach Tips

Make sure your dog has a shady spot to rest in and plenty of fresh water.

Dogs, especially those with short hair, white fur, and pink skin, can sunburn. Limit your dog's exposure during the day and apply sunblock to his ears and nose 30 minutes before going outside.

Check with a lifeguard for daily water conditions. Dogs are easy targets for sea lice and jellyfish.

Running on the sand is strenuous exercise. A dog that is out of shape can easily pull a tendon or ligament, so keep a check on your dog's activity.

Do not let your dog drink seawater; the salt will make him sick.

Salt and other minerals in ocean water can damage your dog's coat, so rinse him off at the end of the day.

Not all beaches permit dogs; check local ordinances before heading out.

Water Safety

Most dogs enjoy swimming, but some cannot swim, and others may hate the water. Be conscious of your dog's preferences and skills before trying to make him swim.

If you're swimming for the first time with your dog, start in shallow water and coax him in by calling his name. Encourage him with toys or treats. Or, let him follow another experienced dog he is friendly with.

Never throw your dog into the water.

If your dog begins to paddle with his front legs, lift his hind legs and help him float. He should quickly catch on and keep his back end up.

Don't let your dog overdo it; swimming is very hard work and he may tire quickly.

If swimming at the ocean, be careful of strong tides.

If you have your own pool, make sure your dog knows where the stairs or ladder are located. Be sure that pool covers are firmly in place; dogs have been known to slip in under openings in the covers and drown.

Never leave your dog unattended in water.

Travel

By Air - Many airlines will not ship animals during summer months due to dangers caused by hot weather. Some will only allow dogs to fly in the early morning or in the evening. Check with your airlines for specific rules.

If you do ship a dog, put icepacks or an ice blanket in the dog's crate. (Two-liter soft drink bottles filled with water and frozen work well.) Provide a container of fresh water, as well as a container of frozen water that will thaw over the course of the trip.

By Car - Keep your dog cool in the car by putting icepacks in his crate. Make sure the crate is well ventilated.

Put a sunshade on your car windows.

Bring along fresh water and a bowl, and a tarp or tent so you can set up a shady spot when you stop. Keep a spray bottle filled with water to spritz on your dog to cool him down.

By RV - A dog's safety should not depend on the air conditioning and generator systems in an RV or motor home. These devices can malfunction, with tragic results.

If you leave your dog in an RV with the generator running, check it often or have a neighbor monitor it. Some manufacturers have devices that will notify you if the generator should malfunction.

Never leave an RV or motor home completely shut up, even if the generator and AC are running. Crack a window or door or run the exhaust fan.

Never, ever leave a dog unattended in a vehicle in the summer months. Heatstroke and death can occur within minutes in warm temperatures.

Heatstroke

Heatstroke can be the serious and often fatal result of a dog's prolonged exposure to excessive heat. Below are the signs of heatstroke and the actions you should take if your dog is overcome.

Early Stages:
Heavy panting.

Rapid breathing.

Excessive drooling.

Bright red gums and tongue.

Standing 4-square, posting or spreading out in an attempt to maintain balance.
Advanced Stages:
White or blue gums.

Lethargy, unwillingness to move.

Uncontrollable urination or defecation.

Labored, noisy breathing.

Shock.
If your dog begins to exhibit signs of heatstroke, you should immediately try to cool the dog down:
Apply rubbing alcohol to the dog's paw pads.

Apply ice packs to the groin area.

Hose down with water.

Allow the dog to lick ice chips or drink a small amount of water.

Offer Pedialyte to restore electrolytes.
Check your dog's temperature regularly during this process. Once the dog's temperature has stabilized at between 100 to 102 degrees, you can stop the cool-down process.

If you cannot get the dog cooled down and you begin to see signs of advanced heatstroke, take the dog to the veterinarian immediately.

   Article  From AKC     

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Foods, substances and plants that are toxic to Dogs

What is NOT good for your best friend...........

There's a lot of common foods (or things that might be mistaken for food) that will make a dog sick, or even kill em. Here's a list of some of the household items a dog might be likely to eat that it shouldn't.

Aluminum Foil

When ingested, aluminum foil can cut a dog's intestines, causing internal bleeding, and in some cases, even death.

Anti-Freeze

If ingested, anti-freeze (ethylene glycol) is often lethal -- even in very small quantities. Because many dogs and cats like its sweet taste, there are an enormous number of animal fatalities each year from animals drinking anti-freeze. Poisoning from anti-freeze is considered a serious medical emergency which must be treated by a qualified veterinarian IMMEDIATELY. Fortunately, the Sierra company now offers a far less toxic form of anti-freeze. They can be reached at (888)88-SIERRA.

Bloat

Bloat (gastric torsion & stomach distension) is a serious life-threatening emergency which must be treated by a qualified veterinarian IMMEDIATELY. Bloat is relatively common among large and deep-chested breeds, such as Basset Hounds, Dobermans, German Shepherds and Great Danes. Many experts believe that a feeding a large meal within 2 hours of exercise or severe stress may trigger this emergency. Eating quickly, changes in diet, and gas-producing foods may also contribute to this serious condition. Symptoms of Bloat include: unsuccessful retching, pacing, panting, drooling, an enlarged stomach/torso, and/or signs of distress.

Chocolate

Chocolate contains an element which is toxic to dogs, called Theobromine. Even an ounce or two of chocolate can be lethal to a small dog (10 lbs. or less). Larger quantities of chocolate can poison or even kill a medium or large dog. Dark and unsweetened baking chocolates are especially dangerous. Symptoms of chocolate poisoning include: vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, hyperactivity and seizures. During many holidays such as Christmas, New Year's Day, Easter and Halloween, chocolate is often accessible to curious dogs, and in some cases, people unwittingly poison their dogs by offering them chocolate as a treat.

Electrocution

Christmas tree lights and electrical cords can be fatal if chewed on by a dog (or cat). Whenever possible, keep electrical cords out of reach.

Fireworks

Never unnecessarily expose your pet to firecracker noise or fireworks displays, as they can cause companion animals tremendous fear, and in> many cases, long-term phobias. Make sure to keep dogs indoors, and keep walks (on a leash) very brief. Try masking loud firecracker noises with "white noise" (from the air conditioner or white noise machine), as well as with music or other familiar sounds (radio or television). Or if possible, take a brief vacation with your pet in a quiet rural area, until The Fourth of July fireworks are over.

Heatstroke and Heat Exhaustion

A dog's normal internal body temperature is between 100.5 degrees F and 102 degrees F. Leaving a dog in a parked car in the summer (even with the window a few inches open), can cause heatstroke within minutes. Heat exhaustion is usually caused by over-exercising a dog during hot weather. Both heatstroke and heat exhaustion can result in brain damage, heart failure or even death in a short period of time. To cool off an overheated dog, wet the dog's body and paws with cool water, then fan. If the dog experiences heatstroke or heat exhaustion, he should receive veterinary attention as soon as possible.

Hypothermia

When a dog's internal temperature drops below 96 degrees F (by being exposed to cold weather for long periods, or getting both wet and cold), there is a serious risk to the dog's safety. Small and short-haired dogs should wear sweaters when taken for walks during cold winter weather. Any sign that a dog is very cold -- such as shivering -- should signal the owner to bring the dog indoors immediately.

Ice-Melting Chemicals and Salt

Ice-melting chemicals and salt placed across sidewalks and roads can cause severe burning to your dog's footpads. Whenever possible, avoid walking your dog through these substances, and wash off his footpads when you return home. There are also products available such as Musher's Secret which can be applied to your dog's footpads prior to going outside, that may help reduce the pain that is often caused by road salt and chemicals.

Poisonous Plants

Dogs (and cats) can become extremely ill or even die from eating poisonous plants. Keep all unknown types of plants and any plants suspected of being poisonous out of reach of your pet, and/or spray with Bitter Apple (for plants). [See below for a partial list of poisonous plants.]

Plastic Food Wrap

Plastic food wrap can cause choking or intestinal obstruction. Some dogs will eat the plastic wrapping when there are food remnants left coating its surface.

Tinsel and Other Christmas Tree Ornaments

When ingested by a dog (or cat), tinsel may cause obstruction of the intestines, and the tinsel's sharp edges can even cut the intestines. Symptoms may include: decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, listlessless and weight loss. Treatment usually requires surgery.

---

Poisonous Plants -- Partial ListAcocanthera -- Fruit and Flowers
Amanita Mushroom
Amaryllis -- bulbs
Amsinckia -- Tarweed (foliage, seeds)
Anemone
Angel Trumpet Tree -- flowers and leaves
Apple Seeds
Apricot Pits & Seed Kernal
Atropa Belladona
Airplane Plant
Avocado Leaves
Azalea
Balsam pear (seeds, outer rind of fruit)
Baneberry
Beach Pea
Betel Nut Palm
Belladonna
Bird Of Paradise -- Seeds
Bittersweet -- Berries
Black-Eyed Susan
Black Locust
Bladder Pod
Bloodroot
Bottlebrush -- Flowers
Boxwood Bleeding Heart
Boxwood Tree
Bluebonnet
Buckthorn -- Fruit, Bark
Buttercup -- Sap, Bulbs
Caladium
Calla Lily
Cardinal Flower
Carolina Jessamine
Cassava -- Roots
Castor Bean -- Leaves, Bean
Chalice vine / Trumpet vine
Cherry Tree -- Everything Except Fruit
Cherry Laurel
Chinaberry Tree -- Berries
Christmas Berry -- Berries
Christmast Cactus -- Sap
Christmas Candle
Christmas Rose
Christmas Tree -- Needles, Tree Water
Common Prive
Columbine
Coral plant
Corn Cockle
Crocus (Autumn) -- Bulbs
Crocus -- Bulbs
Croton
Cyclamen
Daffodil
Daphne -- Berries
Datura / Jimsonweed
Deadly Amanita
Deadly Nightshade
Death Camas
Death Cap Mushroom
Deiffenbachia / Dumb Cane
Destroying Angel / Death Cap
Diffenbachia
Dragon Tree
Dutchman's Breeches
Dogwood -- Fruit
Eggplant -- Foliage
Elderberry -- Foliage
Elephant's Ear / Taro -- Foliage
English Holly Berries
English Ivy
Equisetum
Euphorbia / Spurges
False Hellebore
False Henbane
Fiddleneck / Senecio
Fly Agaric / Amanita
Four O'Clock
Foxglove
Gelsemium
Ghostweed / Snow On The Mountain
Golden chain / Laburnum
Holly Berries (English and American)
Horsechestnut
Horsetail Reed / Equisetum Hyacinth -- Bulbs
Hydrangea -- Flower Buds
Iris -- Bulb
Ivy
Jack-In-The-Pulpit /Indian Turnip
Jasmine
Jasmine Star
Jatropha -- Seeds, Sap
Java bean -- Uncooked Bean
Jerusalem Cherry -- Berries
Jessamine -- Berries
Jimsonweed
Johnson Grass
Juniper -- Needles, Stems and Berries
Laburnum
Lambkill / Sheep laurel
Lantana
Larkpsur
Laurel
Lobelia
Locoweed
Lords and Ladies / Cuckoopint
Lily of the Valley -- All parts of the plant, as well as vase water
Machineel
Mayapple -- All parts, except fruit
Mescal Bean
Milk Vetch
Milkweeds -- Foliage
Mistletoe Berries
Moccasin Flower
Mock orange -- Fruit
Monkshood
Morning glory
Mother-In-Law's Tongue
Mountain Laurel
Mushrooms (many wild forms)
Narcissus -- Bulbs
Narcissus Jonquilla
Natal Cherry
Nicotine Bush
Nightshades
Oak -- Acorns, Leaves
Oleander (very poisonous)
Peach -- Pit
Pear Seeds
Pennyroyal -- Foliage & Flowers
Peony
Periwinkle
Philodendron
Pikeweed
Pine Needles
Poison Hemlock
Poison Ivy
Poison Oak
Poison Sumac
Pokeweed
Pokewood / Poke cherry -- Roots, Fruit
Poppy
Potato plant -- New shoots and Eyes
Privet Shrub
Rattlebox
Rhododendron
Rhubarb Plants
Rosary Peas -- Pods, Seeds, Flowers
Russian Thistle
Sago Palm
Salmonberry
Scarlet Pimpernel
Senecio / Fiddleneck
Skunk Cabbage
Snapdragon
Snowdrop
Spanish Bayonet
Spider Plant
Star Of Bethlehem
Sudan Grass
Sundew
Tansy -- Foliage, Flowers
Tarweed
Thornapple
Tiger Lily
Toad flax -- Foliage
Tobacco Leaves
Tomato Plant -- All parts, except for fruit
Touch-Me-Not
Toyon Berry -- Berries
Trillium -- Foliage
Trumpet Vine
Tulips
Venus Flytrap
Verbena
Virginia Creeper -- Sap
Tobacco Plants
Water Hemlock
Wildflower
Wild Parsnip -- Roots, Foliage
Wisteria
Yellow Jessamine
Yellow Star Thistle
Yew (American, English and Japanese)

http://www.geocities.com/silverhawkaussies/poison.html

Chocolate: baking chocolate is the worst, needing only 0.1 ounce per pound of body weight to kill a dog. Cocoa and milk chocolate should also be avoided. White chocolate is the least toxic, requiring 200 ounces per pound of body weight to cause death. It's the theobromine in chocolate that kills, found in chocolate liquor, coffee and tea.

Bones: Most types of bones will splinter, and these splinters may become lodged in the dog's throat. The best bone for a dog is the beef shin bone. Avoid chicken and pork bones.

Cassava root

Rhubarb

Onions: especially in large quantities. Onions are even more dangerous to cats.

Other things that might make an appearance in you kitchen that your dog shouldn't eat are:
Apple Seeds
Apricot Pits
Peach Pits
Pear Seeds
Avocado Leaves
Eggplant leaves
All parts tomato plant except the fruit
Uncooked Java beans
Acorns

I hope I don't have to tell you this, but:
Aluminum Foil can cut a dog's intestines, causing internal bleeding.
Plastic food wrap can cause choking or intestinal obstruction.

Tobacco, Marijuana, and Aspirin are also bad for your dog.

Alcohol isn't poisonous, but dogs will get drunk much more quickly than a human.

Caffeine: I haven't had much luck trying to find out how poisonous caffeine is to dogs, but I wouldn't advise giving them tea, coffee, jolt, etc.

Rich, fatty foods can cause pancreatitis.

Dogs are lactose intolerant. Dairy products can cause excessive gas and diarrhea.

Rawhides, cow hooves, and pigs' ears are hard to digest, and may cause vomiting or diarrhea if eaten too quickly. Cow hooves are hard enough that they can break a dog's tooth, and sharp splinters can become lodged in the intestinal tract.

Finally, watch out for Bloat (gastric dilatation and volvulus syndrome or GDV), a condition that comes from eating too much too fast, especially in times of stress or just after exercise. Changes in diet and gas producing foods may also contribute to this condition. Most often occurring in large dogs, the symptoms are; a distended abdomen, abdominal discomfort, severe weakness and shock. This condition can be life threatening, and needs to be treated by a veterinarian as quickly as possible.

http://www.inch.com/~dogs/safetytips.html
http://www.comportone.com/cpo/animal/articles/chocolate.htm (goes into more detail on chocolate).

Poison and Medical Emergency Hotlines

National Animal Poison Control Center
(800)548-2423 [Cost: $30. per case. Credit cards only.]
(900)680-0000 [Cost: $20 for the first 5 minutes,
then $2.95 per minute thereafter.
No charge for follow-up calls regarding same case.]

24 hr. Poison Hotline
(ASPCA/National Animal Poison Control Center)
Call: (800)548-2423 or (888)426-4435)
($30 per case -- via credit card); or
1-900-680-0000 ($20 for the first 5 mins.,
$2.95 for each additional minute.)

 

ASPCA POISON CONTROL LIST

Animal Poison Control

A Poison Safe Home

Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pet

• Alcoholic beverages
• Avocado
• Chocolate (all forms)
• Coffee (all forms)
  
• Fatty foods
• Macadamia nuts
• Moldy or spoiled foods
• Onions, onion powder
• Raisins and grapes
• Salt
• Yeast dough
• Garlic click here to read article
• Products sweetened with xylitol

Warm Weather Hazards

• Animal toxins—toads, insects, spiders, snakes and scorpions
• Blue-green algae in ponds
• Citronella candles
• Cocoa mulch
• Compost piles Fertilizers
• Flea products
• Outdoor plants and plant bulbs
• Swimming-pool treatment supplies
• Fly baits containing methomyl
• Slug and snail baits containing metaldehyde

Medication

Common examples of human medications that can be potentially lethal to pets, even in small doses, include:

• Pain killers
• Cold medicines
• Anti-cancer drugs
• Antidepressants
• Vitamins
• Diet Pills

Cold Weather Hazards

• Antifreeze
• Liquid potpourri
• Ice melting products
• Rat and mouse bait

Common Household Hazards

• Fabric softener sheets
• Mothballs
• Post-1982 pennies (due to high concentration of zinc)

Holiday Hazards

• Christmas tree water (may contain fertilizers and bacteria, which, if ingested, can upset the stomach.
• Electrical cords
• Ribbons or tinsel (can become lodged in the intestines and cause intestinal obstruction—most often occurs with kittens!)
• Batteries
• Glass ornaments

Non-toxic Substances for Dogs and Cats

The following substances are considered to be non-toxic, although they may cause mild gastrointestinal upset in some animals:

• Water-based paints
• Toilet bowl water
• Silica gel
• Poinsettia
• Cat litter
• Glue traps
• Glow jewelry

                                                                                      HOLISTIC FOODS                                                                                  

THE DOG FOOD CORNER INFORMATION SITE

 The Whole Dog Website

                                                      SWEETNERS ARE DEADLY FOR YOUR PETS                                                                    

XYLITOL ARTIFICIAL SWEETNERS DEADLY TO PETS

                                                                  PET SUPPLIES AND GENERAL INFORMATION                                                     

Smith and Fosters Pet Education Center

                                                                         OVER MEDICATING YOUR PET?                                                                     

 Information on over medicating your pet click here

 JEAN DODDS MEDICATION SCHEDULE LIST

 Dr. Jean Dodd's vaccination protocal link

 

Pets don't need shots every year
Excerpted from
The Houston Chronicle
 

April 22, 2002, 12:32AM
Pets don't need shots every year

Experts say annual vaccines waste money, can be risky

By LEIGH HOPPER
Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle Medical Writer

Debra Grierson leaves the veterinarian's office clutching Maddie and Beignet, her Yorkshire terriers, and a credit card receipt for nearly $400.

That's the cost for the tiny dogs' annual exams, including heartworm checks, dental checks and a barrage of shots.

"They're just like our children," said the Houston homemaker. "We would do anything, whatever they needed."

What many pet owners don't know, researchers say, is that most yearly vaccines for dogs and cats are a waste of money -- and potentially deadly. Shots for the most important pet diseases last three to seven years, or longer, and annual shots put pets at greater risk of vaccine-related problems.

The Texas Department of Health is holding public hearings to consider changing the yearly rabies shot requirement to once every three years. Thirty-three other states already have adopted a triennial rabies schedule. Texas A&M University's and most other veterinary schools now teach that most shots should be given every three years.

"Veterinarians are charging customers $36 million a year for vaccinations that are not necessary," said Bob Rogers, a vet in Spring who adopted a reduced vaccine schedule. "Not only are these vaccines unnecessary, they're causing harm to pets."

Just as humans don't need a measles shot every year, neither do dogs or cats need annual injections for illnesses such as parvo, distemper or kennel cough. Even rabies shots are effective for at least three years.

The news has been slow to reach consumers, partly because few veterinarians outside academic settings are embracing the concept. Vaccine makers haven't done the studies needed to change vaccine labels. Vets, who charge $30 to $60 for yearly shots, are loath to defy vaccine label instructions and lose an important source of revenue. In addition, they worry their patients won't fare as well without yearly exams.

"I know some vets feel threatened because they think, `People won't come back to my office if I don't have the vaccine as a carrot,' " said Alice Wolf, a professor of small-animal medicine at Texas A&M and an advocate of reduced vaccinations. "A yearly exam is very important."

The movement to extend vaccine intervals is gaining ground because of growing evidence that vaccines themselves can trigger a fatal cancer in cats and a deadly blood disorder in dogs.

Rogers conducts public seminars on the subject with evangelical zeal but thus far has been unsuccessful in persuading the Texas Veterinary Medical Association to adopt a formal policy.

"I'm asking the Texas attorney general's office if this is theft by deception," said Rogers, whose Critter Fixer practice won an ethics award from the Better Business Bureau in 2000. "They just keep coming out with more vaccines that are unnecessary and don't work. Professors give seminars, and nobody comes and nobody changes."

When rabies shots became common for pets in the 1950s, no one questioned the value of annual vaccination. Distemper, which kills 50 percent of victims, could be warded off with a shot. Parvovirus, which kills swiftly and gruesomely by causing a toxic proliferation of bacteria in the digestive system, was vanquished with a vaccine. Over the years, more and more shots were added to the schedule, preventing costly and potentially deadly disease in furry family members.

Then animal doctors began noticing something ominous: rare instances of cancer in normal, healthy cats and an unusual immune reaction in dogs. The shots apparently caused feline fibrosarcoma, a grotesque tumor at the site of the shot, which is fatal if not discovered early and cut out completely. Dogs developed a vaccine-related disease in which the dog's body rejects its own blood.

"That really caused people to ask the question, `If we can cause that kind of harm with a vaccine ... are we vaccinating too much?' " said Ronald Schultz, a veterinary immunologist at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine. "As you get more and more (vaccines), the possibility that a vaccine is going to cause an adverse event increases quite a bit."

Less frequent vaccines could reduce that risk, Schultz reasoned. Having observed that humans got lifetime immunity from most of their childhood vaccines, Schultz applied the same logic to dogs. He vaccinated them for rabies, parvo, kennel cough and distemper and then exposed them to the disease-causing organisms after three, five and seven years. The animals remained healthy, validating his hunch.

He continued his experiment by measuring antibody levels in the dogs' blood nine and 15 years after vaccination. He found the levels sufficient to prevent disease.

Fredric Scott, professor emeritus at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, obtained similar results comparing 15 vaccinated cats with 17 nonvaccinated cats. He found the cats' immunity lasted 7.5 years after vaccination. In 1998, the American Association of Feline Practitioners published guidelines based on Scott's work, recommending vaccines every three years.

"The feeling of the AAFP is, cats that receive the vaccines every three years are as protected from those infections as they would be if they were vaccinated every year," said James Richards, director of the Feline Health Center at Cornell. "I'm one of many people who believe the evidence is really compelling."

Texas A&M's Wolf said the three-year recommendation "is probably just as arbitrary as anything else," and nothing more than a "happy medium" between vaccine makers' recommendations and the findings by Schultz and Scott aimed at reducing vaccine-related problems.

But many vets are uncomfortable making a drastic change in practice without data from large-scale studies to back them up. There is no animal equivalent of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which monitors outbreaks of vaccine-preventable disease in people, thus keeping tabs on a vaccine's effectiveness.

Federal authorities require vaccine makers to show only that a vaccine is effective for a reasonable amount of time, usually one year. Richards notes that studies to get a feline vaccine licensed in the first place are typically quite small, involving 25 to 30 cats at most.

There is no federal requirement to show a vaccine's maximum duration of effectiveness. Arne Zislin, a veterinarian with Fort Dodge Animal Health, the largest animal vaccine maker in the world, said such studies would be expensive and possibly inhumane, requiring hundreds of animals, some of them kept in isolation for up to five years.

"I don't think anyone with consideration for animals would really want to go through that process," said Zislin, another vet who believes current data are insufficient to support an extended schedule.

Diane Wilkie, veterinarian at Rice Village Animal Hospital, said she tells pet owners that vaccines appear to last longer than a year, but her office hasn't officially changed its protocol yet. She said 20 percent to 30 percent of her cat patients are on the extended schedule.

"It's kind of a hard situation. The manufacturers still recommend a year, but they're the manufacturers," Wilkie said. "It's hard to change a whole professional mentality -- although I do think it will change."

In Houston, yearly pet examinations typically cost $50 to $135, with shots making up one-third to half of the expense. A dental check, heartworm test, fecal check and overall physical are usually included in the price. Without the shots, vets could expect to lose a chunk of that fee.

But an increasing number of vets are emphasizing other services, such as surgery. Wolf said savings on vaccines might prompt pet owners to get their pets' teeth cleaned instead. An in-house test to check antibody levels is in development.

"I definitely think there's a profit issue in there; don't get me wrong," Wilkie said. "(But) people are willing to spend money on their pets for diseases. Although vaccines are part of the profit, they aren't that big a part. We just did a $700 knee surgery."
 

 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
Recommendations for dogs
 

Parvovirus, adenovirus, parainfluenza, distemper: Following initial puppy shots, provide booster one year later, and every three years thereafter.
Rabies: At 16 weeks of age, thereafter as required by law.
Bordatella: Use prior to boarding; may be repeated up to six times a year.
Coronavirus: Not recommended in private homes. Prior to boarding, may be given to dogs 8 weeks or older, and repeated every six months.
Lyme: Not recommended.
Giardia: Not recommended.
Sources: Ronald Schultz, University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine; Fredric Scott, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine; Colorado State University; University of California-Davis Center for Companion Animal Health.

Excerpted from
The Houston Chronicle

 

Any information posted here or on our links must be used with desecration. Sandemac offers theses links for information purposes only, the end results is the responsibility of the pet owner.