I am certain the constant shots, as well as their junky food killed my Labs...aged them prematurely and may have been behind the cancer.

I've been reading many different science/vet articles and many experts are (using logic) challenging the Pharmaceuticals (who else! all about big $$$$!) and the Vets who use shots as a way to get your pet in. WE (even as children) don't have shots annually!

Interesting read:

leerburg.com/vaccinosis.htm

I think this is something we might all start challenging our vets about.

"Vaccinosis" is real and Vets are very aware of it...

This trainer ( Frawley) , raises Champion police/military dogs and refuses to vaccinate any of his,  OR release them to owners who do.

I remember on this site there were a few concerned rattie owners...esp concerning Vaccines and liver damage...?

I personally agree with Dr Dodds recommendations linked here. http://www.weim.net/emberweims/Vaccine.html

I don't know who's "junky food" is being referred to - but I think everybody at some point has fed their dogs less than desirable food because of ignorance. I did it. Then I had a dog die from cancer, and I did extensive research and found out how junky some foods really are. Now I feed only what I consider the best, and only foods that are recommended by Whole Dog Journal - a publication that relies solely on subscriptions and not commercials or sales by any outside influences.

Sue,

I have to share somewhat of a similar story. When we first took Fred to some JRT races  we got him vacinated with Bortella for Kennel cough, Thank God, we had to stop on the way back from a trip to Baltimore to pull and transport a dog who had kennel cough. If Fred wouldn't have been vaccinated I don't know if he would have gotten it or not but I am glad I didn't have to find out. I am with you, I vaccinate.  JMO

I think it's just over vaccinating your pets that can be dangerous. Rabies is a must, especially for my dog, Sue, because we live in the Northeast and rabies is quite common. Also...it's the law. But there are some vaccines out there that are practically useless and are not that affective, and there are those that protect against diseases that aren't really all that deadly. Some vaccines, like the one for Parvo, is believed to last through the dog's lifetime, and doesn't need to be administered every year unlike how some vets recommend (they're currently studing this, though...some people argue that the shot only protects your dog for a little over 7 years)
I guess it's up to the individual, and were he/she lives.

On the vaccines...we had an incident on the island of a rabid coon attacking a woman's Golden while walking one eve..the dog's Rabies vacs were outdated because he was 12  and she felt they were injurous.....the COUNTY took her dog and had him euthanized because his Rabies were outdated (nightmare!)....so...what do you do!?!

On Bordatello (sp?) ...kennel cough is a COLD, and usually not dangerous unless small sick pups or ill...AND there are many strains of it and the innoculation is for only a few strains as well as not effective for a few weeks....like, before a show you are supposed to get that innoculation..HUH?

It doesn't take effect for 2-3 weeks.

it's a SCAM..by the Pharm Corps. To scare you into paying BIG BUCKS every year.

Have the test to see if your pet has immunities...if yes, no shots.

I told my vet that with Yogi...and lo and behold...SHE agreed!!!!

Sue, while I do see where you are coming from I have to politely disagree. It is a risk/benefit kind of thing. Do I think all dogs should get puppy and 1 year boosters? Yes. After that I do NOT believe we should be vaccinating annually. It is overkill and just taxes their immune system too much. I think at the most we should be doing 3 year vaccinations on healthy dogs. Rabies, well that is dofferent and mandated by law. Unless you have a horribly immune compromised dog, I would go with that one. ANY immune compromised dog in my mind should not be vaccinated after the 1 year boosters. The immune systems are activated by vaccines, they then produce antibodies against a disease. These are something that is not going to get any better or stronger just because we do it over and over. Lepto is particulary harsh to these little dogs, and in all honesty, because of the limited strains covered, Sandy most likely would have still contracted it even if she was vaccinated. I could go on for hours on this subject! lol I agree with Ski though on Dr. Jean Dodds and her protocol.

That is very sad about the Golden.   I believe though,  the vaccination should be given,  and that you must follow your local laws reguarding the rabies vax, unless you can get a waiver and know that the dog will never be exposed to rabies.  I've mentioned before that I had to call 5 or 6 vets before I found one that offered the 3 year rabies vaccine.  I also have to insist during every visit that I don't want any other vaccinations.

Kris Christine is working very hard to get rabies vax laws changed around the country, and is conducting tests that hope to determine the duration of immunity of the rabies vaccine.  Her site,  http://www.rabieschallengefund.org/     explains their goal of extending the interval between rabies vaccines to 5, and eventually, 7 years.

As far as the bordetella vaccine,  I think most vets recommend the nasal type that takes effect in about 48 hours.  I don't ever get it because my dogs are never boarded.