Duration of Immunity and Rabies Vaccination
Understand This Well and Avoid This Disease
This heartbreaking story comes from a Vital Animal Pack member:
My lab mix, 12 yesterday, developed laryngeal paralysis and the resulting hind quarter weakness and lameness over the last 2 years… I believe the rabies vaccines may be a contributing factor… my county requires yearly vacs although Texas A&M recommends every 3 years (which more aligns with the period the vaccine is supposed to be “good” for).” [Ed: emphasis mine.]
…because we travelled I felt at least the rabies had to be kept current…The last was in 2012..and sadly he is not mobile to travel and is now dragging his hind end.”
His Rear End No Longer Works
The forty dollar word for this heartbreak is degenerative myelopathy, or DM for short. It’s commonly found in large breed dogs, most notably German Shepherds, but also Corgis, Boxers, Huskies, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Golden Retrievers and Labs among many others.
In a nutshell, this is a disease of nerve degeneration. When it starts, the affected dog may be subtly dragging his rear paws when he’s moving forward. If you listen closely, you can hear nails dragging as his feet are brought forward for each next step. You can often see wear on the tops of nails if you look closely.
A quick test you can do to assess this is a test of proprioception: does your animal know his foot is upside down? Here’s how to do this at home:
- Stand your dog up on all fours.
- Fold one hind foot and set it down. In effect, he’d be standing on the top instead of the bottom of his paw now.
- Let go and watch his response.
Normal dogs know immediately the foot doesn’t belong like this, and they’ll right it quickly, standing normally in a flash.
A dog with a “proprioceptive deficit” doesn’t get the signal of things being amiss, and stands on the top of his foot for some time.
(Other diseases can cause this deficit, so be sure to see your veterinarian to confirm a diagnosis.)
The disease is progressive, and over several months, goes from foot dragging to wobbly rear ends (the “drunken sailor” walk, or ataxia) to finally, paraplegia, meaning the rear legs no longer work, while the forelegs are fine.
Incontinence in stool and/or urine sets in around this time, and most affected dogs at this point are euthanized.
The dogs with this disease are normal from the waist up, and become completely weak and flaccid from the waist down. There is no known cure, though acupuncture and nutritional supplementation helps slow the inevitable in some cases. I’m not sure I’ve ever helped a case with my best efforts in homeopathy.
Why Rabies Vaccination Involvement?
Here’s the chain of logic tying rabies vaccination to this dog’s disease.
- This is yet another example of autoimmune disease, where the damage is done by one’s own immune system. In this case, the Lab’s immune system attacking his own spinal cord.
Degenerative Myelopathy is an autoimmune disease whereby the patient’s own immune system attacks their central nervous system. This immune attack leads to loss of myelin (insulation around nerve fibers) and axons (nerve fibers).
While it begins and is most severe within the thoracolumbar (middle back) spinal cord, DM also affects other areas of the central nervous system… The cause of this autoimmune disease is not known… Conventional medicine has little to offer patients with DM.1 –R.M. Clemmons, DVM, PhD
Q: How does the immune system get so confused that it would attack its own nerves?
A: The #1 reason for immune confusion is vaccination. Any vaccination.
- Rabies virus affects the nervous system. That’s how it spreads, in fact. The virus shuts down normal bite inhibition in the brain, the rabid animal bites another, and the virus in his saliva moves on to infect a new “carrier.”
The nervous system. Paralysis means the nervous system has been compromised, right?
No communication from the rear legs means your dog doesn’t feel where his feet are placed. He staggers and walks unevenly.
Compromised nerve impulses to the rear legs means his intention from the brain to walk is poorly put into effect back in his legs. The muscles have no impulses to work, so weakness and finally paralysis sets in.
In Hering’s Guiding Symptoms of Our Materia Medica under the remedy lyssin (made from rabid dog saliva) is this report of symptoms from a rabid dog:
Loss of power in limbs; gait unsteady, at times some stiffness of hind legs.”
We see variations of this in our chronically rabies vaccinated dogs, don’t we?
In mild form, we might call it hip dysplasia, in a more advanced version, we name it degenerative myelopathy, DM.
In DM, the nerve communications from bladder and rectum can get weak, too. The dog can’t feel when he’s full. The nerve impulses that keep the bladder sphincter toned and closed aren’t getting through, so it relaxes, as does his anus, and waste leaks out.
A Classic Rabies Symptom
In this Lab’s case, there’s also larynx paralysis, so vocalization and breathing and swallowing are affected. Still a nerve problem.
And one of the main places rabid people and animals show symptoms of the natural disease is the throat: they choke and can’t swallow without difficulty.
Just the thought of drinking can cause painful, suffocating throat spasms, hence rabies’ older name: hydrophobia.
And, vocalization changes. Rabid animals make strange sounds, likely due to their own laryngeal paralysis. Here’s the Merck Veterinary Manual:
The most reliable signs, regardless of species, are acute behavioral changes and unexplained progressive paralysis. Behavioral changes may include sudden anorexia, signs of apprehension or nervousness, irritability, and hyperexcitability (including priapism). The animal may seek solitude. Ataxia, altered phonation, and changes in temperament are apparent.”
- Paralysis.
- Ataxia (wobbly walk).
- Altered phonation (the making of sounds).
Sound familiar?
That’s what this Lab has.
How Long Are These Vaccines “Good For,” Again?
So, our reader is right to suspect rabies vaccines as the cause of his old Lab’s paralysis in both the throat and the rear end. But, the most important piece of the puzzle is his notion that these vaccinations are only “good for” a limited amount of time.
After which, they run out of gas, perhaps? Their reservoir runs dry and needs refilling? They stop working their magic?
This is where you need to be smarter than the average animal owner. We’re talking about duration of immunity here.
You get your young adult dog a rabies shot. If all is working properly, his immune system responds and he establishes an immunity to rabies.
Let’s set aside the nonsensical laws for a moment and just review what veterinary immunologists are saying about duration of immunity to viral vaccines.
Here they are, quoted from the very mainstream veterinary textbook, Current Veterinary Therapy.2
Almost without exception there is no immunologic requirement for annual revaccination. Immunity to viruses persists for years or for the life of the animal… Furthermore, revaccination with most viral vaccines fails to stimulate an anamnestic (secondary) response…”
In plain English, these scientists are saying virus immunity is likely years to life long, and further vaccinations are unlikely to increase that immunity.
Our current understanding is being furthered by the Rabies Challenge Fund, whose goal is to determine rabies vaccination duration of immunity.
UPDATE (January 2018) from Dr. Ronald Schultz, chief researcher on the Rabies Challenge Fund:
Results to date of The Rabies Challenge Fund research study showed protection from live rabies virus challenge five years after the dogs received 2 doses of rabies virus vaccine. Other data are still being collected and analyzed for the 6.5 and 7-year post-vaccination periods.”3
Odds are high this duration of immunity will be minimally five to seven years, and probably even longer. If you’d like to support that privately funded research, visit the link above and give them some money.
Hey: Let’s Be Careful Out There
So, be well informed. Duration of immunity to vaccines is a long term thing, and if Dr. WhiteCoat doesn’t know this, you can tell him.
You’d do well to OWN this understanding, along with that of harm that can come from “just a rabies shot.”
Have you fulfilled the intent of the rabies “law” by getting a couple of rabies vaccinations early on, say at 16 – 20 weeks old for your pet?
That’s likely far safer than fulfilling the letter of the rabies “law,” whether it says you must vaccinate annually or every three years.
As this is often the loudest question that comes in…
I understand this duration of immunity for vaccinations, but there’s this law about rabies. What do I do about that??”
…I’m going to ask those of you who’ve found a way to avoid a senseless law to please tell us in the comments how you’ve managed it. You shall of course remain nameless if you so choose.
I’ve got another valuable resource for you: my no-cost Rabies Short Course. Check it out.
Our English Chocolate Labrador was born in 2008. Within his first year of life and getting all the vaccines the vet pushed on us, including many additional ones that boarding required, he started having all the symptoms listed in this article related to laryngeal paralysis and the resulting hind quarter weakness and lameness. We had years of overheating, choking/coughing, back end weakness, collapsing after short stints of walking/running, etc. In 2017, we switched to an all raw diet which greatly improved his energy and cleared up all his hot spots but the back end lameness and choking/coughing continued. His last vaccine was May of 2019 and it was the three-year Rabies. He quickly deteriorated after this last vaccine and I kept asking our vet and chiropractor why he was getting worse and worse with back leg lameness. His last year of life he was losing his bowel function — he would be lying down and poop would just poor out of him, then shortly after that he would try to make it to the door to pee but could not hold it. He looked so upset with himself. The last few weeks of life, he completely lost all use of his back legs and sadly we had to euthanize him in September 2023. We did have him tested for DM in September 2022 and the test came back as “Normal”. If this was caused by vaccines, would the DM test show as “Positive” for DM? I swear this is what he had as he had all the symptoms. All his other bloodwork was normal in September 2022. You mention in the article that other diseases can cause these symptoms. What else could it be? I am convinced this is what our precious Joshua David had even though his DM test was “Normal”.
What a sad story, Christina. I’ve seen the seniors all too often go through versions of this, prompting my article Stop Vaccinating Your Seniors.
I’m with you on the DM diagnosis, but have no idea about what’s being tested for.
And I long ago stopped being hung up on diagnostic labels, as they are a tool of conventional medicine so that everyone under a label gets the same treatment. In homeopathy, we rather treat HOW the individual is showing his sickness, so 3 dogs with hind end paralysis might well need 3 different approaches.
From laryngeal paralysis to rear end paralysis, this is classic for how the disease of rabies travels. Not in every case, but when we see it, and there’s a history of rabies vaccination, we see it as rabies vaccinosis, plain and simple.
I’m so glad I found this community! I’m seeking advice or insight for my 6 year old husky. She received her last rabies in 2020 when I had to fly with her (before I was conscious of the dangers of over immunization) and I currently would like to fly with her again from California to Washington. Unfortunately they require “up to date rabies”. Is there any way I can get around this and still fly with her? My dog is above the law in this case and I will not jeopardize her health for an unnecessary rabies vaccine. Is there a vet who can help with this paperwork so we can fly together? She is a very healthy dog, raw diet, plenty of exercise, no dog parks or boarding facilities for her, and no off leash in the wilderness either. What can I do? I’m so sad about this 💔 I appreciate any insight
Lindsey, please define “they” in your comment. If it’s just the airlines, this post may help.
The easiest way we found around rabies shots is, we took the last certificate and my husband is good on the computer. He made a duplicate and reset the vaccination date to the current year. It still has the vets signature. If there was any good thing to come out of Covid, it was that no one was going in to work. Many agencies lost workers and no county official has ever sent me anything, saying my dog needed shots. If they did, I would say the dog had died. I will never get these shots again. I do, however, have my vet titer 2 times a year. That way he is checked for rabies and heartworm. All because of you Dr. Will. Thank you!
Hi, My horse almost died from the rabies vaccine. However, my vet is still recommending he needs yearly vaccine for rabies. I cannot fathom giving him another. I live in Baja, and two horses recently died from rabies. They were unvaccinated. So it is scary to me. Do you have any research or suggestions? Thank you.
Stand up for your horse. No one else can. The frightening stories of animals dying of rabies are often just that, “stories.” These made-up tales are merely propaganda used shamelessly and repeatedly by drug companies get YOU, the consumer, to buy into another shot. Why do these drug companies lie? Because it WORKS. Don’t let them deceive you.
Please stand up for your horse. No one else can. The frightening stories of animals dying of rabies are often just that, “stories.” These made-up tales are merely propaganda used shamelessly and repeatedly by drug companies get YOU, the consumer, to buy into another shot. Why do these drug companies lie? Because it WORKS. Don’t let them deceive you.
The bottom line issue I am facing is the fact that whether you have a titer result showing immunity or you have an exemption certificate from your vet for whatever health condition… the officials in the state won’t care if/when your dog bites someone for any reason and you can’t prove the Rabies vac is “up to date” in their minds. So, unless I’m mistaken about this… your dog is taken and becomes history.
I’m extremely upset about this as I’m needing to make this decision very soon.
So do I follow the law and possibly cause all sorts of health issues for her so I can keep her and avoid traumatically losing her if an unfortunate bite occurs or do I not, and always have that concern?
Sometimes dog bites happen unexpectedly, especially if you’ve rescued one that fought for every bit of nourishment, comfort, and safety she ever got, and some breeds are hard wired to herd which could make them prone to instinctively nip. Not saying that’s an acceptable behavior that shouldn’t be worked out, just saying these are situations that can up the probability for disaster, and we have both set of challenges against us in our dog making this really difficult.
I guess what I’m saying is I get why people are bring crafty about this to protect their pets but we leave them vulnerable to execution should there be a bite. This is tough stuff!
Hey Kate,
The rabies experts (State and National vets and regulatory officials) publish a Compendium on Animal Rabies Control every few years. You can access that free in your Vital Animal Pack area, and see where I’ve highlighted the sections on what happens if your animal bites someone or is bitten by a suspected rabid animal.
Euthanasia is NOT the only answer, as you’ll see.
If you haven’t joined the pack yet, you’ll see how below (scroll down). If you have and have forgotten how to access your library, you simply login here: https://sso.teachable.com/secure/202122/users/sign_in
You use your same email address to login and if you’ve forgotten your pw, you’ll see a way to make a new one.
All the best,
WF
I have 6 dogs. 2 are rescues, a Great Dane and a Pit Bull (both puppy mill rescues). 2 Labradoodles and 2 Yorkies. 4 of them had multiple skin/allergy issues, so I had them tested. 3 are allergic to beef as a primary allergy and one to pork. In addition, multiple environmental and grain allergies, to a lesser extent. When getting rabies shots, 2 had neurologic issues, and were “high” like on LSD. erratic and would stare off into space/non responsive. One had a similar response from Interceptor Plus and had to go to emergency care where they kept her overnight to flush the system. That is 3 dogs out of 6. Not a good percentage. I am holistically based, and will never give them any vaccines or medications again from a standard vet. I found a holistic vet who worked with us on curing stage 4 heartworms when we got the Pit, without the Vet shots. She is very healthy now (she had everything parasite and skin disease you can imagine). We do live in the country, so rabies are always a threat. But, we have trained our dogs very well and they do not chase deer or other animals. We have an invisible fence on 14 of 20 acres for them too. Bats are not an issue here. Our dogs all stay inside at night. I do give all of my dogs “Bug-Off” garlic chews for animals. It is by weight. The Yorkies love them, and the others open their mouth and let me insert them one at a time to swallow, with the promise of cheese, each morning. This keep the fleas ticks and flying insects off of them. We have had no issues and the only ticks I have found on their fur were all dead. This may not be the answer for everyone, but this is what works for us.
Oh by the way, I have 2 country vets and both do not hassle us about Rabies vaccinations. Prior to them, the city vet gave one of our Yorkies a vaccination without our knowledge during a weigh in/checkup, saying it was the law. I was ticked off and never went back.
Our 7.5 year old Golden Retriever’s last rabies vaccine was at age 4, before I knew the dangers of the rabies vaccine. I received a license renewal form from the city. To be approved and re-licensed, I needed to show proof of her spay and her last rabies vaccine. (Her last rabies vaccine had legally “expired” the previous month, so I sent nothing regarding the rabies vaccine. I simply mailed the proof of spay with the $6 check.) I received a phone call from the city explaining that they could not renew her license until they had proof of a recent rabies vaccine. I explained how I had had her titers taken and they showed that she was immune to rabies. They acted surprised and said I was the first person to explain that. I asked if that’s all that would occur… that I couldn’t license her. They said, “Yes.” That was the end of the call. A month or so later, I received an email requesting proof of a current rabies vaccine. I never responded. That’s the end of the story… so far.
FYI to those thinking the purchase of a vial of rabies vaccine and tag will deter your vet, think again. I did that. I live in PA and FL and have a vet in both states. I figured that telling them that it was administered in the other state would suffice. Well, it did not and they wouldn’t leave me alone until I produced a certificate signed by a licensed vet that my dog had been vaccinated. Obviously, I don’t have one and am wondering how to handle this going forward. Choosing a new vet will produce the same results.
My dog has had his puppy shots and rabies booster twice. He is 8 years old and healthy so far. Like the others here, I don’t wish to push the envelope on this.
Find another vet that does not force you to do this. I have one in Florida and one in Canada that do not require shots to see your dog. They are out there.
I’m in New Mexico and my dog has not been vaccinated for anything for about 7 years now. My wonderful veterinarian and I are on the same page. Yes, they do exist! However, on one occasion he was out of town and I needed a vet for an emergency. They refused to allow my dog into the clinic unless they could vaccinate him upon arrival! They said it was the “law.” 🙄
My husband had a husky many years ago. The dog never went for vaccinations. I don’t know if he had any as a puppy. He ate garbage food like Gravy Train, Gaine’s Burgers, and lots of table food. He lived to be 16.5. I believe it was because of lack of vaccinations.
I got a puppy and had the initial puppy shots due. Since then I have become much more savvy due to Dr. Will and vets like him. Here is something you can do to help your dogs, even if they have been vaccinated at any time. Adored Beast makes a product called Anti-Vaccinosis. It will remove the harmful properties from vaccine from your animal, while retaining the good benefits. It is not for pregnant or lactating animals. I have used it safely on my dog. His 1 year rabies/shots come due in April. I will NOT be giving any shots, only tittering. Thanks to someone else on here, I was able to get the printout form for a Rabies Certificate. I will be ordering some vials from Valley Vet and discarding them, but keeping the labels and the certificate and rabies tag. I will also use a homeopathic vet if my regular vet fights me in any way. I am a certified veterinary assistant, so I know well the risks of transferring rabies, but until the laws are changed, I will find a way to go around them. I also signed the legislation to change the rabies laws with all of my legislators. It comes under review this year. I would encourage everyone to write to their legislators and ask they review the laws and at the very least, vaccinate by weight. Every dog now is given the same amount whether they be a St. Bernard or a Chihuahua. Thank you Dr. Will for helping all animal lovers and animals!
How do you get a print out form for Rabies and doesn’t a vet need to sign off on it? Thank you
After receiving Nexgard tick med., my dog ended up with autoimmune disease. We almost lost her and it was a long struggle to get her health back. I have been trying to research and learn all I can to keep her healthy, one being her rabies vaccine was due recently, and I refused it. I had to sign a paper stating I was responsible for my dog, she must be kept leashed. If anything were to happen,, she could be taken from me and quarantined. I have found a number of articles, saying the rabies vaccine does last longer than we are told,, but because of state laws, pets must be vaccinated again and again. It just doesnt make any sense to subject a pet to unneeded vaccines.
A quote I recently shared with my Rabies: Knowledge is Power students might be of interest to you, Vlb:
(And, if ever there was a law that was unjust and built upon zero science and a whole lot of greed, that’s the rabies law, rubber stamped into existence from state to state to county to city, with no one minding the store on what immunologists have known for decades or what it’s doing to the animals who fall under its sway.)
I 100% agree!
I’m not sure of what I’m more shocked about, the fact that animals get seriously hurt because of vaccines, or the fact that their owners lie about their pets being vaccinated and put people at serious risk for the disease.
For all of you who lie to your vets about being current on your pets vaccine: you do realize that you could find yourselves being charged with murder in the rare event of your pet infecting a vet or technician with the virus, right? Just because you “think” your dogs or cats won’t ever get into contact with a rabid animal doesn’t mean that it won’t. What if your pet escapes one day? How can you be sure s/he didn’t get exposed? What if your dog is in his/her fenced in backyard one day and a rabid bat falls out of the tree or literally out of the sky into your backyard? More than likely your dog will go check it out or perhaps even eat it. If he gets bit in the process, guess what: your dog just got exposed to rabies. You just don’t know it yet. Two months later he starts showing symptoms, you take him to the vet, lie about him being current on the vaccine. He bites one of the technicians. Ten days later your dog is dead. And two month after that, the technician dies of rabies. If the authorities can trace the case back to you, guess what: you’re going to jail for the rest of your life!!
I understand that sometimes animals, just like humans, can have bad reactions to vaccines or even die from it, but these cases are far and few between. If, let’s say, more than 25% of all vaccinated pets would end up with severe reactions or even die after vaccination, I could understand rebelling against this vaccination out of fear that your pet would be one of the 25% percent. However, injury or death caused by vaccines is in the single digits.
Also, by law, if your dog or cat escapes your house/yard and bites or scratches someone and you cannot provide proof of your pet being vaccinated against rabies, they will immediately euthanize the animal and send its head off for testing to find out if the bitten/scratched person will need to be treated for rabies. If you can provide proper documentation, your dog will have to be quarantined for 10 days. If it doesn’t show signs of rabies in these 10 days. He can go back home.
So I understand both sides: one side is terrified of hurting their pets through vaccines, the other side is terrified of a disease that kills within 10 days of onset of clinical signs.
I just think I’d rather take the small chance of my dog having a bad reaction to a rabies vaccine than risking her getting into contact with a rabid animal and dying a horrible death. Unfortunately, they do not offer post exposure treatment to animals as they do for humans.
Hey Ramona, I see in your missive a whole lot of misunderstanding about the disease of rabies and about duration of immunity (the central point of the article). If you feel best getting repeated shots for rabies throughout your animal’s life, so be it. Just don’t criticize people who have learned more than you and act in a different manner. Your fears won’t be shared by others here, who’ve learned enough to dispel them.
Thank you for your response to her! I was horrified by her total lack of knowledge! I will live off the grid before I give my girl another rabies or other vaccination.
I also want to thank you for your response. This attitude is typical in my state (New Mexico) and I have dodged many bullets for my dog here due to the lack of knowledge and ignorance.
I have had 1 dog die at 6 yrs old after his first ever rabies shot (for emigration), my next dog almost died due to vaccines. My parents Golden got DM from shots and had to be euthanized. My GSD/Lab got DM as well and died shortly before being euthanized.
The 6 yr old that died had no shots after the breeder at 9 wks old but still had antibodies at 5 yrs old.
Dogs are no longer automatically euthanized after a bite. I know of several people with dogs never vaccinated for rabies but still had antibodies to rabies. I tested my dog before his first rabies shot at 6 yrs old for curiosity sake as we live in a forest, but the second vial of blood was not useable and the lab only tested the parvo, distemper, adenovirus antibodies unfortunately. If you go to the right vet you do not have to lie to them, they know the dangers and do not require shots to treat your animal.
No offense but your fear-laden beliefs cause agony and pain for vulnerable pets and their caretakers. There’s a question as to whether Rabies even exists. And no shots can ever do anything but harm—animals and humans. You’ve fallen prey to the propaganda that Big Pharma and their lackeys, the media, put out because people like you buy into their nonsense. All to please their shareholders with big profits.
Wake up, do some research and cease spreading fear-based BS to responsible and caring pet parents who have experienced first-hand, the angst and grief having live bacteria, viruses, aborted fetal cells, toxic chemicals, and other assorted garbage injected into their beloved fur babies and watching their trusting babies waste away before their eyes.
In the mountains, where no one takes their fur babies to vets ever, because they haven’t been brainwashed and have little funds to do so, have dogs living well into their 20s. Never any disease. When they die, it’s natural-old age.
Wow….Soooo you clearly didn’t read…anything….literally…anything…that is on this website.
Because my almost 5 year old mini Aussie has some skin allergies (which I have since been able to resolve – hallelujah!) my holistic vet gave me a signed form saying that the rabies vaccine could cause severe allergic reactions, even death. I’m not sure how it will hold up if ever needed, but we carry it with us when traveling. She has only had the 1st puppy shots – breeder did it before I could take her home. She also just had and Ovary Sparing Spay and is doing great!!! Gets to keep her hormones, and Hubby doesn’t have to freak out at the sight of blood! hahah. I do keep my deceased dogs rabies tags from years ago to dangle on her collar if I think I may be around anyone that cares. Also, proof of vaccinations were required for dog school but when I brought in article after article written by you and many other wonderful veterinarians about the dangers of over vaccination – the waived it for me!!! And many of the trainers wanted to know more! Be bold, keep speaking out! People love their pets, and many of them just don’t know any different from what they are being told!
My daughter’s puppy bit someone recently. She had taken him for a rabies vaccine (luckily?) but has to quarantine him at home for ten days. In light of this event I would be concerned to not have rabies vaccine for a dog who is enjoying an active social life out in public for walks, going camping, playing at the park, etc.
Is the thimerosal-free rabies vaccine safer? Do the 1-year or 3-year vaccine carry different risks? Can a smaller dose be “effective”? If so, what dose?
All questions I’ll be answering very soon, dog Mom. Start with my free Rabies Short Course and keep an eye on your inbox for more coming. This is one disease you can’t be too smart on!
My large mixed breed has had many of the same symptoms as the dog written about in this article.
They started being noticeable in 2017, and a little more so early in 2018.
When we started using TRS, I gave him some too. It seemed to help the symptoms a little, for a few months. When we added a certain CBD oil to our TRS, I added it to my dog’s, too. That combination helped for about a half-year, then he had a couple of instances where he struggled to get up. We added MSM that day, and it helped tremendously. When a collagen with HA helped my worst hip joint, I added it to the protocol for my dog. So far, he is still doing so well, I’m not worrying about having to put him down. He’s almost 10+1/2, and well over a hundred pounds, and I know that there’s a sad day coming, but it’s not today.
I’m so discouraged about veterinarians being so complicit in the vaccine scams, and causing the same health issues that humans are.
They take normal symptoms of toxicity, call it a virus, and wa-la !, they just happen to have a vaccine for it. They are full of neurotoxins and other contaminants, and should be outlawed.
It sounds like you’re managing a difficult disease very well, Karen! Bravo! What’s good for Mom is often good for baby…
This is probably going to sound dumb but when you have nerve damage from the rabies vaccine as described in this article could you use vitamin B1 Benfothiamine? In humans there is what is called wet beriberi and dry beriber The wet affects the cardiovascular system and the dry imparcts the myelin sheath and nerve endings. obviously the cause of these conditions are not the same. When my dog Desy became really sick I was really burning the midnight oil trying to compare and contrast what I have learned regarding human nutrition and supplementation to dogs, So google became my closest friend. because I didn’t want to give Desy something I couldn’t verify as being used with dogs, It’s like Pandora’s box once you mess up the immune system you have big problems, I live in communist CA so human or animal they are going to shove those vaccines down your throat. No more for me, not my other dog. I love him enough to let him go and ship him out of state. Des is with the angels safe from Vets. Don’t be hoodwinked by fancy smancy titles I’m Holistic nonsense! An old saying if you are going to talk the talk you better walk the walk. Like when does a vet become holistic? After they make your pet sick with shots? I have always said only when you own your actions can you change your life. Desy is gone because I didn’t do the right things like letting her have a rabies shot. A bitter pill to swallow but I will never vaccinate another dog. They can go pound sand!
Hey Deanna, not a dumb question, and B vitamins, being entirely water soluble, are not going to be a problem in pets. Any excess will get urinated out. Will they help rabies vaccine victims? Maybe you’ll be someone who can tell us!
I appreciate your integrity and no BS stance, which is becoming ever more important to consumers of all kinds of health care these days. You’ll have fun with this post, on Fauxlistic vets!
I have a rescue dog that has extreme allergies, both food and environmental. I first eliminated all the foods that her testing revealed. I had already added pre and probiotics and Salmon oil. No relief. I then added Gut Soothe, medicinal mushrooms and CBD, She is not taking any steroid or immune suppressants and is holding her own in peak pollen season. I live in a community that is very strict about licensing, and thus Rabies vaccines. I called the Animal Services department. I was told that as long as my Vet writes a letter saying the vaccine is a health issue for her (which it most certainly is, as all this started about 8 wks after the rescue agency had all of her vaccines given at one time), that she can be exempt from the vaccine.
That’s great, Francia. If the vet you have isn’t on board with your understanding and the AS allowing a waiver, just find another who gets it.
I get my Aussie titered every year, then I lie and say that she is having seizures, but so far they are managable without meds. This gets me an annual exemption. I opt for a licience.
I stopped getting vaccs for my 2 dogs. Told my town I don’t have them any more. I got both of them titered for parvo/distemper and rabies through Dr. John Robb and PROTECTTHEPETS.COM He uses the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Labs. Very reasonable rates through Dr. Robb’s website. My vet drew the blood and centrifuged it for me, no need to keep chilled. My groomer accepts titers. I support Dr. Robb’s efforts to get the rabies laws changed.
If they remind you to re-license, just tell them the dog has passed or you gave it away.
I simply stopped registering my animals the last time I moved. If you’ve already registered or licensed your animals and you wish to stop, just tell them the dog has passed or you gave it away.
For 13yrs I had a Westie who became immune compromised by the puppy vaxx he’d received. Incessant itching, scratching, gnawing at paws, and hair loss as well as digestive issues were the result.
At nearly one year old and all vet options exhausted I was told to put my dog on steroids and to keep doing elimination diets. That’s when I started doing my own research and discovered rawfeeding and homeopathy. That took care of it all!
No more vaxx and only titer testing – which showed “sufficient” (legally) antibodies the rest of his life. Only one time was his “legal minimum” insufficient. I asked my vet to indulge me in a test – he put on gloves and broke a small vial of rabies vaxx on a cotton ball. He held the ball very close to my dog’s nose for a full minute then threw it away. A week later we re-tested his titer and it boosted to well over the minimum!
No vaxx the rest of his life and he traveled to over 8 countries and internationally on planes 10 times!
I would be interested in seeing a response from Doctor Falconer on the results from smelling of rabies vaccine on a “cotton ball”.
Killed virus vaccine = no response. Especially if you’re hoping for a measurable immunity by titer.
My west highland terrier developed Myasthenia Gravis 2 weeks after having a rabies shot. She was 7 years old at the time. She nearly died before she was diagnosed because many vets never even see this in their lifetime of practice. She is in remission now and is excluded from having any shots via a written letter from her neurologist. In my humble opinion there should be closer attention paid to the dogs that are not healthy and receive rabies shots. My friends schnauzer was dying of cancer and the vet gave her a rabies shot weeks before she passes and she had the cancer for 3 years. SHAMEFUL WHAT THEY WILL DO FOR MONEY…
If the rabies vaccine is connected to DM why is it that only the large breeds as you noted get my DM? My German shepherd ended up getting this and I had to have him vaccinated about every three years. I could have gotten away with not having to do this if I didn’t have to show proof of this at the groomers or boarding places. I won’t ever get a dog vaccinated more than once in their life again.
I live in Florida, and I got an exemption for my dog. Fortunately, I have a vet that practices alternative medicine and he agreed with not giving the rabies vaccine gave me the exemption.
Wonder if several of your dogs have been licenced through the City, and to do that they had to get the rabies vaccination…When it comes time to renew, they will send out a reminder to Licence your pet again..How do you avoid more rabies Vaccinations??..I
My springer developed hypothyroidism as a result of over-vaccination. Once we figured it out, we had her titered for Parvo/Distemper and Rabies and she was given an exemption based on the fact that it is illegal to vaccinate an immune challenged animal. Our vet wrote the exemption letter and we still received a license from the city. :-). I have her letter/titer information with me at all times and also in the car.
I have an epileptic vizsla dog likely due to rabies vaccine. Seeing a neurologist at local veterinary university teaching hospital. I have asked 3 of their neurology staff if they still recommend vaccines in dog with epilepsy. They all look at me like I’m crazy and say YES OF COURSE. We have always recommended them, even more so for epileptic dogs. What the heck does that mean? WHY? I asked why would you vaccinate them for anything if they already have a messed up neurologic system. They say there’s no reason not to. And refuse to write an exemption.
Amazing. And these are the ones teaching vet students. Did they never read a vaccine label about it being for “healthy” dogs, cats, and ferrets? Or do they consider epilepsy somehow part of normal health?
SMH.
They apparently do not consider idiopathic epilepsy an unhealthy situation or condition. They have done a spinal tap, brain MRI, loads of lab work, etc… This poor dog is on so many meds that do NOT control the epilepsy but we cannot wean him off of them because apparently (they did NOT tell us this before he started the meds) when reducing them, this induces even more seizures… so instead he has compromised liver function, reduced quality of life, ataxia, sedation, and bloodwork every few months to keep an eye on things… despite liver enzymes rising (and he takes milk thistle and SAMe to counteract this), they say this cannot be helped on the meds he HAS to take. They absolutely deny any possible connection with vaccines.
No more rabies vaccines for my ten year old Aussie! Here’s how I stopped them.
She is very healthy, but in 2016 I told her vet that she was showing symptoms of seizures. When I was offered Rxs, I said I wanted to observe her a while longer and would get them if needed. Armed with the knowledge that the vaccination is not recommended for a canine in poor heath, I was successful getting a letter to disqualify her. Although she does not seize, I have continued to report seizures to her vet and continued to be successful exempting her from the vaccine.
However, I have needed to make adjustments to her(our) life. Instead of hiking with her off leash, which was great fun, she is always leashed when on the trails. When in town and people ask if they can pet her (cause she’s really cute) I tell them she is too shy with strangers for that. Once a toddler broke away from his parent and came running over to us. Although Haily is very friendly to everybody, I got between them.
Also, I titer test her annually and so far, she is protected. I hope she will stay this way from one test to the next because there is a rabid fox in the next town over that hasn’t been caught. It has already bitten two children and one adult. This is a real threat, not to be taken lightly and you need to be well armed with a plan that works. However, the lies I need to tell and the changes I have made have been very much worth it!
I am sharing this information in the hope that it may be of help, but for obvious reasons I need to stay anonymous, so I am trusting that my email address will not be posted anywhere. Thanks!
Oh, this is pure brilliance! And please read this article to learn that, when your titer does run low, it does NOT mean immunity is no longer present. Here’s another I wrote specifically about rabies immunity: a serious eye opener!
Knowing this will further empower you to help your Haily. Bravo, and someone needs to get a rifle to that rabid fox, without further delay (though, if it’s truly rabid, it shouldn’t live beyond 10 days after the first bite incident).
I have a very good holistic vet, my pups do get their puppy shots through 16 weeks and, annual titers after that. I live in a very rural location and, these are wolfdogs so, vaccines can work a bit differently for them anyway. So far all have tested good to go, no more vaccines needed.
I’d rather pay for titering than over vaccinate my canine companions. I don’t board my dogs or, take them to dog parks. I do travel with them occasionally but, except for rabies, we can buy the 5 way and 7 way OTC at the feed store here – I buy them, get the receipt and stickers for the vet record book. My vet gives me the rabies tags at their checkups but, not the vaccine.
I feed a raw, prey model diet with a small portion of quality kibble – just to insure they will eat kibble if they ever need to eat only kibble for a few days. I also have a plant called chocolate mint (contains no chocolate) and rosemary planted in and around the dog run. They roll in and, nibble on both plants – pest control for them.
No fleas, ticks or mosquitoes, not even flies bother them. A little natural preventative and, a strong immune system for the dogs does the trick. A good vet that understands the legal issues tops it off perfectly.
I’m happy to report that I never vaccinated my Icelandic Sheepdog and she is now 11 yrs old. Before I received her, the breeder had done the first round of puppy shots. I did do nosodes (although they are supposed to be irrelevant if already vaccinated). I had her titre tested a couple months ago and her immunity is good.
So the Nosodes alone is or is not sufficient for immunity?
Dr. Will,
Do you believe in any vaccinations at all? How dangerous is feline leukemia? Can a cat fight this off? At what age is a kitten out of the danger zone of viruses etc. My kitten is on a raw diet and so far no vaccines.
I understand I’m responding years later, but I had two beautiful, well-loved cats that I was advised to give the Feline leukemia vaccines (this was decades ago – before I knew better). They both developed feline leukemia after the vaccines and died terrible deaths. I regret listening to that d*** vet.
I live in Colorado in a rural area with 6 dogs. None of the dogs are vaccinated. I asked my Western vet to remove my name from the “reminder” list for vaccines which he did. He did tell me that if any of my dogs contracted leptospirosis he would not treat them because it would put him and his staff at risk. My holistic vet is my go to guy.
Dr. have you seen this? Titering for some diseases made easier and cheaper:
http://vaccicheck.com
At least it mentions vaccines have dangers. Still some of the typical distortions and no rabies test but could be a helpful tool and step in the right direction to at least less vaccinations.
I am amazed that we have this understanding about immunology and prevention of disease but we still don’t have the wisdom to correctly apply the knowledge to a solution that doesn’t cause problems similar in severity to the disease itself. I have hope. If we truly ask and seek for wisdom, we shall receive it.