VACCINATIONS ARE KILLING YOUR DOG! OR ARE THEY?
ARE ANNUAL VACCINATIONS KILLING YOUR DOG?! Probably not….
Following another week of fairly hysterical posts in the doggy social media our Holistic Vet Vicky Payne presents a more balanced view of the risks and benefits of vaccinating your dog…
YOU ONLY NEED TO JAB EVERY 3YEARS, ANNUAL VACCINATION IS A RIP OFF, AND DEADLY! Not the whole truth…
There is evidence that for many dogs the Distemper, parvo and hepatitis part will last for at least three years IF the dog receives at least two puppy… vaccinations and a booster a year later. Some drug companies have proven over 95% efficacy in laboratory dogs at 3years and are licensed for such use. They can’t get a licence for further duration if only 90 or 80% are protected BUT you could check your own dogs’ level of cover by blood titre testing after the three years (and annually thereafter). A bench side kit has recently become available which should reduce the cost of DHP titre testing to around £30. Parvovirus remains a common illness in unvaccinated dogs, especially puppies and can kill. Distemper is much less common but a handful of cases occur each year, especially if the dog has had contact with Irish dogs where the disease is more common. The incidence of hepatitis caused by adenovirus is hard to gauge as most dogs with liver problems won’t be specifically tested due to costs.
LEPTOSPIROSIS; A CORE DISEASE IN THE UK
Leptospirosis is not found in some areas of the world but is found widely in the UK and Europe. This vaccine differs from the others in that laboratory testing shows a short duration of immunity, as such all vaccines are licensed to be repeated after 1year and a double re-start course will be required if it’s been more than 18months since vaccination. Titre testing is not available to show protection from leptospirosis. There are around 250 confirmed cases of leptospirosis in dogs in the UK each year. Many more are suspected but a diagnosis is not confirmed due to the cost to the owner of testing. In addition leptospirosis could be implicated in many chronic liver and kidney cases, infertility and sudden death. Leptospirosis is particularly concerning as it is a zoonotic disease which can have carriers meaning a healthy looking dog could be shedding the bacteria into the environment and then it could cause illness in humans. Human illness ranges from ‘flu like symptoms to liver and kidney problems and death. Lepto is common in the environment in the UK as it is spread via the urine of rodents, wildlife and farm animals either directly or via contaminated food or water. (One company has just launched a new lepto vac which will cover 85% of the current important strains as opposed to the 35% in most vaccines. Lepto strains have changed over time, possibly due to vaccination of dogs and farm animals) and 10years of work has gone into this new vaccine. It will require all dogs to have two boosters for lepto, but it is the company with the safest jabs!)
REACTIONS
As far as reactions go all vaccines are not the same. The brand used at our associated practices (Companion care Eastbourne and Goudhurst Vets) has a better safety profile due to differences in manufacture than some other brands but all are very safe. You will hear a lot about horrific reactions and deaths but that’s because they are horrific for that owner….there are no ‘my dog had his jabs and was fine’ Facebook groups because we don’t tend to talk about stuff that goes as planned! But these types of reactions are extremely rare, and certainly rarer than disease in unvaccinated dogs. Common reactions include transient pain or swelling at the injection site (which is common to all injections not just vaccines) and being off colour for 24hours. A common misconception is that lots of dogs get other illnesses shortly after vaccination but this was not found to be true in the POOCH survey. http://
Not all unvaccinated dogs get ill, but they become more at risk the fewer dogs are vaccinated. If most dogs are vaccinated the disease is unlikely to spread to unvaccinated dogs but the more unvaccinated dogs there are the quicker it will spread. They call it herd immunity. In addition the more we vaccinate dogs the less risk there is of them re-vaccinating naturally so the more reliant they are on the vaccines.
The longer term stuff; cancers, autoimmune problems…well, I think vaccines have a role BUT so do wormers, flea treatments, a variety of medications, processed pet food, pollution, inbreeding…you get the picture! I am not aware of any good quality study showing a causal link between dog vaccinations and any long term canine health concern. There are however several studies showing that genetic problems and inbreeding may be altering dogs’ likelihood of developing immune problems.
For us at Four Seasons Holistic Veterinary Care the only ‘alternative’ to following an annual Lepto/ tri annual DHP strategy is to titre test. Homeopathic nosodes have been shown not to provide protection and in fact are not recommended by some of the leading homeopathic vets in this country or by the two human homeopathic bodies.
So…in conclusion, if you are concerned about vaccines, talk to your vet. If they aren’t on a three year DHP/annual Lepto vaccine or do not offer titre testing ask them why not! Or book an appointment to talk to us! Most vets are now embracing the idea of an Annual Health Check at which they can discuss all manner of health issues and decide which vaccination strategy to use rather than just sticking jabs in regardless of need.
If your dogs have health concerns or history that make you concerned over vaccination just ask! Far from being evil the best drug companies are very helpful and often have data, which though not strong enough to be published or to make a data sheet claim, can help you and your vet make the best decision for your dog.
DENTAL DILEMMA
NATURAL DENTAL CARE FOR DOGS
In recent years many owners have realised that by giving their dogs bones to chew they can reduce the amount of plaque and tartar that build up without resorting to tooth brushing.
Chewing on bones also satisfies the dogs natural urge to chew meaning less damage to furniture and shoes and less begging behaviour compared to dogs that quickly gulp down a bowl of kibble.
For dogs that get upset stomachs on bones we have suggested plastic chew toys such as Nylabones or Stag bars made from deer antler and loved by many dogs.
DENTAL CHEW DANGER
HowEver all is not well… some high profile Veterinary Dentists have written in the Veterinary Press about the large number of dogs they are seeing with broken teeth from chewing on bones, stag bars and hard plastic toys and they are calling on owners to only use dental chews or to brush teeth.
SAFE NATURAL DENTAL CARE FOR DOGS
At Four Seasons we see more benefits to using bones for your dog than risks BUT you must take care to choose the right type and size of bone or antler chew for your dog.
We only recommend raw bones, never cooked bones which are harder leading to a higher risk of splintering or tooth fractures. We do not recommend the weight bearing bones (legs bones) as these are of a similar density to teeth, again increasing the risk of fractures. We do recommend necks, spines, ribs, shoulders and pelvic bones as well as chicken and rabbit carcass. These bones have a thin outer cortex which can easily be chomped through by your dog.
If using stag bars or dental toys choose ones of an appropriate size for your dog. Don’t choose over large ones hoping they will last longer.
Always supervise your dog when chewing on bones, toys or stag bars.
Tooth fracture will always remain a risk, but we see more broken teeth from car accidents and chewing or catching stones than from bones and more dental disease caused by thick layers of plaque and tartar then broken teeth!
Chew safe!
DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
HOLISTIC DIAGNOSTICS
The Holistic approach to Veterinary Care takes a very broad view of the animal including it’s diet lifestyle and habits before making a diagnosis or recommending a treatment plan. Holistic consultations are usually slightly longer than conventional ones to allow time to gather all the relevant information from the owner and the pet. But even a great and thorough history make not give us all the answers we need and sometimes owners are taken aback that we may recommend conventional diagnostic tests before making a decision.
BLOOD TESTS, X-RAYS, SKIN SCRAPES…
When consulting at Companion Care Eastbourne or Goudhurst Vets we may be able to do blood testing or skin work ups on the day of your consultation. When home visiting or for radiographs we will recommend you visit your Primary Care Practice.
WHY DOES A HOLISTIC VET NEED DIAGNOSTIC TESTS?
All Vets face the problem that their patients can’t describe their symptoms so we have to rely on what we and owners can observe. In many orthopaedic pain management cases it isn’t essential to know what is the underlying cause of the pain and we can treat the muscle using acupuncture and select herbs to suit the animals needs. But if we suspect a disease which can be better treated surgically (for example a luxating patella (knee-cap) or cruciate ligament injury) or when manipulation could make a problem worse (for example a spinal problem) we need to gather more information.
When treating a skin problem most of them end up looking the same after the dog or cat has had a good old scratch; we will get no-where giving herbs for allergic skin disease if the dog has mange and will struggle to control skin infection if there is an underlying disease such as hypothyroidism or cushings.
Holistic Vets don’t have crystal balls to allow us to diagnose problems though sometimes our wider focus lets us pick up things a conventional vet may not consider but sometimes we’re still going to have to fall back on conventional diagnostic tests.
FEELING HOT, HOT, HOT
IT’S FINALLY SUMMER!
After a long winter and slow spring it seems summer has arrived in the UK, if only for a few days so time for a few small pointers on helping your pets cope!
TOO HOT FOR WALKIES?
Although getting out and about is essential for your dogs mental and physical wellbeing don’t overdo it in the sun! Take extra care if your dog has health problems, is overweight, has a heavy coat or a short nose.
Walk when it’s cooler, choose shady woodland or a breezy beach or swap walks for brain teasing back garden games such as bobbing for toys and treats in a large bucket or paddling pool!
COOL TREATS
Both dogs and cats love playing with food stuffed Kong toys all year round but in the warm weather make them a Kong ice-pop. Use any ingredient they would normally eat or make up some salt free chicken stock then freeze and serve.
CHILL OUT TIME
Make sure your small pets have plenty of shade too and remember to apply pet-safe suncream to any pets with pink areas of skin. Just like humans they can get sunburn and skin cancer!
THE PROOF IS OUT THERE…
DO HERBAL MEDICINES WORK?
Once upon a time our Vet Vicky was discussing the various treatments available to support an arthritic dog, including acupuncture and herbal medicine as well as nutraceuticals and conventional anti-inflammatories. The owner stayed quiet then when Vicky had finished said,
“I don’t believe in herbal medicine. It doesn’t do anything does it.”
In reply Vicky said, “Well, you are free to choose whichever treatments you prefer for your dog but herbal medicines contain many active chemical compounds so it’s not fair to say they don’t do anything. What would you say if I offered you a nice cup of herbal tea….foxglove tea?”
“I wouldn’t drink that!” said the client, “It would kill me! Oh, I see what you mean.”
SO HOW DO HERBAL MEDICINES WORK?
Plants contain a wide range of chemical compounds which interact with the human or animal body. Sometimes these chemicals are used by the plant to protect itself from being eaten, or to attract pollinating insects. These chemicals are often related to those used in conventional medicine and many conventional medicines were originally derived from plants.
HOW DO WE KNOW WHAT THE HERBS CONTAIN AND WHAT THEY DO?
The companies which develop and produce new drugs often look at medicinal plants when looking for the next wonder drug. This has been going on for a long time! Acetylsalicilic acid (Aspirin) is a modified synthetic version of the salicilates found in Meadowsweet and Willow bark.
Drug companies look for herbs with traditional uses for the illness they are interested in then conduct trials to see if the whole herb actually does have the desired effect before trying to isolate the chemicals which bring about the effect. This means herbalists have a large amount of scientific as well as historical data on the herbs they use.
SO WHY DO WE STILL NEED HERBAL MEDICINES?
Isolating and modifying a plant chemical may make it more potent (like the aspirin) but can also increase the side effects compared to the original chemical or the whole herb. Take Meadowsweet; this herb is traditionally used to treat stomach ulcers but Aspirin can cause them! The difference is that the Aspirin is more potent and does not contain the tannins and mucilage which work with the salicylates in Meadowsweet to heal ulcers.
We like to think of herbs as complex medicines for complex disorders of complex beings!
WORKING TOGETHER
WE CALL IT COMPLEMENTARY VETERINARY MEDICINE…
People often contact us wanting an alternatives to convetional drugs and diagnostic techniques for their pets but in most cases our way of treating pets works best in combination with conventional diagnostics,surgery and medicines.
WORKING TOGETHER
A couple of weeks ago we recieved a call about a young cat who had been hit by a car, breaking his pelvis. He had undergone surgery to stabilise his fractures and was healing well….except that he couldn’t urinate by himself. This is a common problem for cats which have been hit by cars and if normal bladder function can’t be restored the only option is euthanasia, always sad but even more so when a cat has pulled through from it’s initial injuries.
The referring vet team were rather attached to this patient and had done everything they could including fitting a tube to allow his owners to drain the bladder. This was only ever a short term fix and when the tube blocked and had to be removed the clock was ticking. The cat was also on drugs usually used for human patients…anything to try and get him peeing again.
Acupuncture can be useful in stimulating nerve function after accidents so we visited four times in two weeks. The treatment was more painful than usual as the cat was still recovering from surgery but he was very tolerant. We also showed the owner how she could use her TENS machine to try and stimulate the nerves and muscles between visits. Everyone was working together for this little cat…but would it be enough?
THE MINOR MIRACLE
A week after starting acupuncture and 4 weeks after his accident…our lucky patient managed a small wee by himself and has continued ever since. He is still recovering from his major injuries and four surgeries but….things are looking up!
A win for truly integrated veterinary medicine.
HERBAL FOLKLORE
HERBAL FOLKLORE
When Vicky was studying herbal medicine she came across some interesting historical uses and memorable stories about herbs. Here she shares a few of her favourites.
MOUSE TRAPS!
Devils Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) is known as the grapple plant due to it’s unusually shaped seed cases. Some sources say these have been traditionally been used as mousetraps, though with no explanation of exactly how!
VELCRO
Velcro was invented after a scientist noticed how the seeds of Burdock (Arctium lappa) stuck to his dogs coat!
MARSHMALLOWS
Although not used in making the modern day sweets the root of the Marshmallow (Althea officinalis) was once an essential ingredient.
DYES
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) makes the yellow dye for Buddhist robes. Indigo (Baptista tinctora) makes a blue dye.
PETER RABBIT…
Finally for today, did you ever wonder why Peter Rabbit fell asleep in the vegetable garden? Well, it may have been the wild lettuce! Lactuca virosa, a relative of garden lettuce is renowned for inducing sleep.
WHAT WE LEARNED AT CHELSEA
VICKY OUR VET HAS BEEN TO CHELSEA…
So what was your Holistic Vet doing at the Chelsea Flower Show? Well, as you can imagine a vet who works with herbs also likes gardening and took a day off to visit arguably the World’s most famous flower show.
Vicky was really impressed to see many of the gardens using wild flowers and culinary and medicinal herbs with one of the Artisan gardens having a natural apothecary theme. But on the whole the gardens didn’t look like a place to relax with your pets and few had any lawn for playing or grazing.
SO WHAT’S IN IT FOR OUR PETS?
Chelsea show gardens aren’t very pet friendly on the whole but Vicky did pick up a catalogue from a company who make seed mixes specifically for pets! Not only the pets you may think of such as rabbits and guinea pigs but also fresh food for hamsters, cats, dogs, cage and aviary birds and tortoises as well as wildlife mixes.
GARDENS FOR PETS
Vicky thinks you can have a beautiful garden AND a pet friendly garden at the same time (she thinks hers ticks both boxes anyway) and that access to a garden can be important to your pets health. Cats can scratch, climb and hunt; dogs can sniff, dig and roll and rabbits and guinea pigs can forage and run. Proud gardeners should make special digging pits and scratching posts to keep the pets off the prize petunias and mesh tunnels can provide safe passage to different runs for the small herbivores. Take care when planning for a pet friendly garden to avoid toxic plants such as foxglove and those irritant to skin such as euphorbia; garden centre labels will usually carry warnings. Avoid cocoa shell mulches which can be toxic if eaten by dogs and use and store garden chemicals safely. Maybe even devote a small patch to growing these innovative seed mixes for your pets!
KITCHEN CUPBOARD CURES
IS IT FOOD OR MEDICINE?
There is a fine line sometimes between culinary and medicinal herbs! In fact many of the ingredients of your favourite Friday night take-away were originally used as much as for their medicinal properties as for their flavour!
Ginger, cinnamon, fennel and cumin all help prevent indigestion by relaxing and warming the stomach and cardamom seeds are used as a cure for upset tummies in Indian herbal medicine. When you think how hard keeping meat fresh would have been in hot countries like India it’s not surprising so many digestive herbs found their way into meals!
WHAT DOES CURRY HAVE TO DO WITH MY PET?
Sometimes we suggest herbs which are easy to obtain from the supermarket and are more effective given in that form than as tinctures or tablets. Our favourite suggestion is adding lightly crushed fennel seeds to the dinners of dogs prone to flatulence! It really works! Give 1/4 -1/2 teaspoon twice a day depending of the size of your dog. If your dog won’t eat the seeds on his dry food steep them in hot water and add the resulting ‘tea’ to his dinner instead!
WHAT OTHER CURES ARE HIDING IN MY KITCHEN CUPBOARD?
Garlic can help with allergies, infections and parasites and is best fed raw and freshly grated. In excess garlic is toxic but 1/2 a clove on 5 days out of 7 is fine for a 20kg dog.
Ginger can enhance digestion and circulation and is especially good for travel and chemotherapy induced nausea. Again fresh grated ginger is best; 1/4 teaspoon twice daily for a 20kg dog.
Parsley is good for bad breath. You can feed as much as a table spoon per meal but be sure to rule out dental problems.
Turmeric is one of our favourites and it is added to many of our herbal prescriptions. Some owners choose to feed it raw and fresh though and it can be found in Asian supermarkets. 1/4 teaspoon twice daily for a 20kg dog but do be careful…it will stain anything it touches!
Although these are common culinary herbs if you are thinking of using them regularly for a health problem in your pet please discuss them with your vet first. Some may interact with conventional drugs or may not be suitable for animals with certain health conditions or due to have surgery.