How Safe is Your Pet from “Just a Rabies Vaccine?” I
Part One: Rabies Vaccine on Trial
“Oh, we’ve learned how vaccinations can make our animals sick. We only give rabies vaccine now. It’s the law.”
Are you endangering your pet, following a law that has no basis in immunology? Are you absolutely sure it’s safe for your pet to get this vaccination every few years, or worse, yearly?
Herein lies a dark and scary birthday tale, a tragedy we’d not wish on our worst enemy, let alone our beloved animals or children.
The “birthday present?”
A near death experience followed by a year of languishing health for a young cat named Tigger.
And then, a second near death experience at the beginning of his second year.
Happy Birthday! Or Not.
When he had just crossed his first birthday, life fell apart for our innocent little gray and brown tabby. It all began with a visit to Dr. WhiteCoat’s clinic, where it was decided that Tigger was “due for rabies vaccination.”
Little did anyone know what would unfold when this vital little guy received “just a rabies vaccine.”
His is a cautionary tale for those of you who feel you must follow a law that fails to reflect immunological understanding about the duration of immunity.
Duration of immunity: that “how long does immunity last?” in a vaccinated animal question.
It’d be wise of you to know this and side with the experts.
Odds are, your vet doesn’t understand this point or chooses to ignore it.
The Victim: Tigger, A Barely Two-Year-Old Cat
We have a very ill two year old kitty who is severely anemic and may not make it through the end of the week. His PCV was five yesterday.”
With that introduction, Tigger became a new patient of mine some years ago.
I was the third veterinarian to try to save his life.
He had spent the prior year (!) in an anemic, underweight, weakened state before nearly dying when Laurie left me that scary email message.
It was only after taking his full case that I learned it was his second brush with death.
From the same rabies vaccine.
On Trial for Animalslaughter
Let’s go now to the courtroom, where a heated trial is taking place over Tigger’s fate and the sentencing of his perpetrator.
“All Rise. The Honorable Judge Justice Forall presiding.”
Just the Facts, Ma’am
The court calls to the stand Laurie L, owner of the victim, on behalf of the prosecuting attorney.
Prosecuting Attorney: “What exactly happened to your cat Tigger on or about his first birthday, Ms. L?”
LL: “Well, we took Tigger to be boarded at the vet clinic while we were away for a few days.
Attorney: “So, you brought him to Dr. WhiteCoat’s office then?”
LL: “Yes, and while he was there, they gave him a rabies vaccine. It was likely not his first, as he’d been adopted from a shelter, and we all know how many vaccinations shelters give.”
Prosecuting Attorney: “Ouch! So true. Ahem, I mean, I see. And would you describe what happened next, please?”
LL: “Well, within hours of this one rabies shot, Tigger was found to be severely anemic on his blood test. His PCV came in at 8%! He was sent to the Emergency Clinic for a transfusion and I was afraid we were losing him.”
Prosecuting Attorney: “How very odd. Had he been sick before going in to boarding?”
LL: “No. He’d been perfectly healthy up to that point, and was a joy to behold, racing around our house, playing with toys and befriending anyone who came to see my husband and I. Now he was limp and lifeless and fighting for his life in the ER.”
Expert Witness and The Smoking Gun
Prosecuting Attorney: “Thank you for your testimony, Ms. L.
If it pleases the court, I’d now like to interview the current veterinarian on Tigger’s case, Dr. Will Falconer. Dr. Falconer, in reviewing the facts of this case of your newly acquired patient, please tell the court your findings.”
WFDVM: “I was called to this case as the third veterinarian in the past two years of Tigger’s life, your honor. What follows are the facts I could piece together from various sources, including extensive records from his previous vet, Dr. WhiteCoat.
It seems the victim, one Tigger by name, led a perfectly normal, playful first year of life, as one would expect from a well fed youngster of the feline persuasion. Ms. LL told me, as she stated to the court, that this all changed after he received his rabies vaccine at approximately his first birthday.
I’ve been provided with some documents pertaining to his case, and will present these findings now.”
Prosecuting Attorney: “Please continue, Dr. Falconer, and tell the court what transpired after this fateful day around Tigger’s first birthday.”
WFDVM: “Here are the facts of the case, your honor:
1. Almost immediately after his rabies vaccination, Tigger’s PCV fell so dangerously low that he was rushed to the ER for a blood transfusion.
PCV stands for packed cell volume, meaning the percent of red blood cells in a volume of blood, after it’s spun down (packed) in a centrifuge tube.
The normal PCV for a cat is between 30 and 45%, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual. Tigger’s values were dangerously low on admission to the hospital, at 8.1, about 20% of his expected normal.
Something was clearly wrong, and Tigger was referred to the Central Texas Veterinary Specialty Hospital for further assessment.
2. Here, in Exhibit A, are the results of a bone marrow biopsy taken at the speciality hospital to try to determine why Tigger no longer had sufficient red blood cells to sustain his life.
Here’s the pathologist and his findings:
Dr. James Walberg, DVM, DACVP (Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists) of Stone Ridge, New York, reported the following:
On “good to excellent quality” bone marrow smears, a finding of “erythophagocytosis by neutrophils” was determined.
Prosecuting Attorney: “The gall of the man, using such big words! Please explain that to the court in plain English, Dr. Falconer.”
WFDVM: “I’d be happy to. Red blood cells are also known as erythrocytes, and phagocytosis simply means the condition (-osis) of eating (phag-) cells (cyto-). Neutrophils are a kind of white blood cell, normally designed to eat foreigners, like invading bacteria or viruses.
So, in essence, Tigger’s white blood cells were in a very confused state, feeding on his own red blood cells, which are necessary to life. One cannot live without red blood cells to carry oxygen to all the organs and tissues of the body.”
Prosecuting Attorney: “Thank you, Dr. Falconer. Do you have enough evidence here to point to the cause of this poor cat’s downfall?”
The Perpetrator: One Rabies Vaccine
WFDVM: “I do, yes. Your honor, if it pleases the court, I think there’s one very clear perpetrator in this case. This cuddly, fun loving youngster named Tigger was most certainly the victim of immune system confusion brought about by a single intervention that was both unnecessary and dangerous:
Dr. WhiteCoat’s rabies vaccination at one year of age.”
The judge, rapping his gavel, calls for order, as the courtroom noisily explodes amid loud cat calls from conventional vets in attendance, women fainting in the aisles, and anguished weeping from the family of the victim, now realizing their worst nightmare: they had, unknowingly by “following the law” nearly killed their beloved Tigger.
Judge: “Please go on, Dr. Falconer, and explain the nature of the crime committed.
And be warned: any further outbursts on the part of dissenting veterinarians will result in their expulsion from this court!”
The Crime: Causing A Year of Anemia and Nearly Death. Twice on the Death Part.
WFDVM: “Thank you, your honor. The crime, as I see it, is one of iatrogenic immune dysregulation.
Prosecuting Attorney: “Damn, man, now you’re using those big words! I-at-trow what?”
WFDVM: “I’m sorry. That’s just another fancy word to confuse the public, sir. Iatrogenic means simply, ‘the doctor’s procedure caused the illness.’ The evidence for this is as follows.
- Almost immediately after a single rabies vaccination, our normal vigorous and healthy young cat became dangerously anemic. Lab tests indicate Tigger was losing his red blood cells to autoimmune attack.
- Tigger lived his second year of life with chronic anemia, never fully regaining his heath as his white blood cells continued to attack his own red blood cells.
- At the time I took his case, he had relapsed into severe anemia, this time with the aforementioned PCV value of 5. He was also underweight by 15%. Tigger presented on two powerful drugs, prescribed to suppress his immune system: prednisone and Atopica.
Prosecuting Attorney: “Wait. Suppress his immune system?? You mean that system that lives in every being that protects them from foreign intruders like viruses, bacteria and parasites? Our best friend’s best friend?”
WFDVM: “Yes. That very perfectly designed immune system Tigger and all of us are born with.”
Prosecuting Attorney: “But why suppress it? That sounds downright dangerous!”
WFDVM: There is only one reason, sir: His immune system was trying to kill the victim!
Prosecuting Attorney: “Why, that’s outlandish! Where in the name of normalcy is an immune system going to attack its own body?
Pardon me, your honor, I also own pets, and I’m just surprised that such a serious illness could occur after a single rabies vaccine. And that the cure was thought to be shutting down his immune system! I’ll refrain from such outbursts in the future.
The prosecution rests.”
Judge: “The defense may now cross examine the expert witness.”
The Defense’s Argument: It’s The Law
Defense Attorney: “Thank you, your honor. Dr. Falconer, you do understand that this cat was vaccinated against rabies according to the law, do you not?
WFDVM: I do.
Defense Attorney: “Why then do you call call this rabies vaccine ‘unnecessary and dangerous?’ Laws must be followed, certainly, do you agree?”
WFDVM: “I do not categorically agree, no sir. When laws have the potential to harm innocent animals (and people) and have no basis in scientific understanding, I think it’s our duty as citizens to question them and avoid them as much as possible.
You see, veterinary immunologists, like their human counterparts, have known for decades that immunity to virus vaccines lasts a very long time; in most cases, for a lifetime. This is called duration of immunity.
This is the very reason that you and I don’t receive postcards telling us to come in for a “booster” to our smallpox vaccination, which we received at a young age. Human physicians know that immunity was firmly established then and likely stays with us to the grave.
Rabies, like smallpox, is caused by a virus, so Tigger’s early vaccination against rabies, given at or around four months of age, would have been sufficient to establish immunity of a very long duration.
Defense Attorney: “That certainly makes sense to me, er I MEAN, I think this is dangerous thinking, Dr. Falconer. Next you’d have us all driving through red lights!
Prosecuting Attorney: “Objection, your honor. Supposition.”
Judge: “Sustained. Let’s not be silly, sir. This argument is quite well thought out and one that bears further consideration. Dr. Falconer is not wildly suggesting ignoring all laws.”
Defense Attorney: “So, Dr. Falconer, is there any other evidence you wish to provide to support your argument of this vaccination being ‘unnecessary’ then?”
WFDVM: “Yes, in fact, the other indisputable understanding that the science of immunology has established is that there is no benefit from further vaccinating an already vaccinated animal (or human, for that matter). It’s well known that the efficacy of such a revaccination is lacking.
The reason is simple. The established immunity from the early vaccinations will actually prevent that later vaccine from stimulating the adult’s immune system.
The idea of a “booster” effect is largely rejected by immunologists, once an animal reaches adulthood.
Tigger very likely had had a rabies vaccine, as have most all dogs and cats over the age of four months, and, as such, his immunity, in the form of antibodies to rabies virus, would simply inactivate any further rabies virus that’s injected into him.
And remember immunology’s findings: that immunity is highly likely life long.”
Defense Attorney: “That’s amazing. And yet we have laws that make such an unnecessary procedure mandatory.
But what about your allegation that this law is also dangerous? Surely, a single rabies shot can’t be all that dangerous, can it?
Danger: When A Grey/Brown Tabby Turns Yellow
WFDVM: “Tigger’s condition after his one rabies vaccine is proof positive it was a highly risky undertaking, sir. He not only became dangerously anemic and could have died from this, but when he presented to me, he was also yellow with jaundice.”
Defense Attorney: “Now wait. Didn’t you tell the court earlier he was a grey and brown tabby, Dr. Falconer? How could he turn yellow??”
“Psst: I’ve got yellow ears, but I’m not Tigger.” “That’s okay, you’re illustrating a symptom. Here, have some halibut.”
WFDVM: When the breakdown of red blood cells is severe enough, as it was in Tigger’s autoimmune disease, the release of hemoglobin from the dying cells results in high levels of bilirubin.
This turns the skin and whites of the eyes yellow. It’s called jaundice.
Tigger’s illness was in this severe category, and at PCV 5, his ears and gums and whites of his eyes were all yellow.
His urine was golden yellow, too, as a result of all the excess bilirubin being eliminated.
Defense Attorney: God, that sounds really dangerous. I mean, , no further questions, your honor.”
Treatment Response Aids Diagnosis
Prosecuting Attorney: “Dr. Falconer, I believe something about your treatment of this case supports the argument of the rabies vaccination causing this illness whereby Tigger attacked his own red blood cells. Is that correct?”
WFDVM: “It is. As a veterinary homeopath, my job is to find the remedy most similar to the suffering of my patient. In other words, a substance that can create symptoms when taken in excess by a healthy individual can cure a sick patient with similar symptoms when taken in safe dilutions called remedies.
Walk with me as I unfold my thought process and reveal what happened after Tigger’s treatment.
Tigger’s History and Symptoms Unlock the Needed Remedy
Tigger’s is a very interesting case of vaccinosis, and while I had a hunch that this was true, his response to a well known vaccinosis remedy further verified that thought.
I was working on the assumption that, because of the timing (within hours of vaccination, Tigger fell dangerously ill as a result of immune system disease), his illness had to be caused by his rabies vaccine.
What system is the vaccine aimed at stimulating?
The immune system, of course. Everyone would agree here.
But, might the stimulation run amok?
We homeopaths see it happen regularly, and know that injecting viruses with a needle defies all the innate intelligence the animal possesses to develop an orderly, measured immune response.
It’s a wonder we don’t see immune disease every single time an animal or person is vaccinated. But perhaps we’re not looking hard enough.
Skin Symptoms: A Major Clue
Tigger had an odd symptom that caught my eye. In addition to being horribly anemic, the top of his head had a bared area that was oozing and red.
Here’s a picture:
I didn’t ask for this. It appeared after my rabies vaccine.
He was also a very thirsty cat, even before the dreaded prednisolone was begun, and he had an odd craving:
Tigger wanted to lick his litter and concrete and was crazy about mouthing plastic.
So, here’s my patient’s case:
- Vaccination.
- Illness with skin eruption.
- Thirst.
- Pica (craving for indigestibles).
Response to a Vaccinosis Remedy: Brilliant.
All of this lead me to a well known vaccinosis remedy, sulphur. Tigger received a single dose of sulphur 30C on June 25, 2014.
Though he was also sent home with a second remedy called phosphorus, he did so brilliantly after this one dose of sulphur that it was never needed.
I think we should let Ms. L tell the court what she saw at home, your honor.”
Judge: So be it, call your witness, Mr. Attorney.
Prosecuting Attorney: “Ms. L, would you return to the stand please and tell the court what transpired after this teeny tiny dose of the homeopathic remedy called sulphur was given to Tigger?”
LL: “Well, it was actually quite amazing, truth be known. The evening of the dose, Tigger had lots of stool come out, fully 12 inches worth! And did it stink! The next day, more followed.
Then, his yellow skin fading to normal, he began his old habits of jumping to countertops, purring more, and wagging his tail again. He went from a dull affect, staring straight ahead to engaging with my husband and I! The light came back to his eyes! He was alert once more!
Over the next week, he gained some of his lost weight back, his head eruption quieted down, and lymph nodes that were swollen under his jaw and in front of his shoulders started to shrink back towards normal. We were both amazed and thrilled.
Tigger was coming back to being a vital animal, like we hadn’t seen him for a year!”
WFDVM: “Your honor, and members of the court, this remarkable response, to a single dose of a well known vaccinosis remedy, clearly points to causation in Tigger’s illness: it was the vaccination, his “one rabies shot” that initiated his downhill slide into life threatening illness. This is the only logical explanation.”
Tying it All Up
Prosecuting Attorney: “Your honor, if it pleases the court, I’d like to summarize what our key witness has brought before us, as to the cause of this animal’s suffering.
Judge, hiding his hankerchief quickly after mopping his eyes: “Carry on, man.”
Prosecuting Attorney: “These are the salient points brought up by this trial today, your honor:
-
- Tigger, a young male tabby cat, was healthy, vital and playful up until the day he received his rabies vaccination, in March 2013.
- Almost immediately after said vaccination, Tigger plunged into a dangerous autoimmune disease, Immune-mediated Hemolytic Anemia or IMHA.
- Vaccinations have been implicated as one cause of IMHA.
- The patient had so few red blood cells on the night of his vaccination that he was transported to the ER and given a blood transfusion to save his life.
- He recovered, but not fully, and spent the next 11 months in subpar health that included continued anemia, weight loss, and lethargy.
- This year, in February, he had a relapse of anemia, and by May 2014, at the time Ms. L contacted Dr. Falconer, his PCV was 5% (normal being 30-45%).
- Dr. Falconer, suspecting vaccinosis as the cause, gave a well known vaccinosis remedy in a single dose (sulphur 30C) on June 25, 2014, and Tigger’s recovery proceeded apace. No transfusion was necessary.
- As of this trial’s write up, July 20, 2014, Tigger continues to thrive. In Ms. L’s own words on July 18th:
I have not given him any other remedies and he is doing great. He is running around the house like a wild man and has been chasing our other cat around. This it characteristic of him feeling well.”
Given the preceding facts of this case, presented here by the veterinarian of record who has most recently treated Tigger, we can draw no other conclusion, your honor, but this:
The “one rabies shot” Tigger received nearly cost him his life, twice, with a year of poor health between the two incidents.
We, The (Thinking) People
“With the facts of immunology as a basis, especially the long lasting immunity that results from viral vaccination, and the potential for serious illness this case illustrates, I think any rational person can make a clear conclusion:
We, as a people fond of animals, and seeking to protect them from harm, need to pursue legislation on a national level that overturns the requirement for repeated rabies vaccinations throughout an animal’s life.
This law, on the books in every state and many provinces in No. America, and in many countries throughout the world, has no basis in scientific understanding.
Until we replace this law with something more sensible, it is up to each animal loving citizen to question, for themselves and their animals’ wellbeing, the necessity of following this law if they have a previously rabies vaccinated animal.”
Judge: “Thank you for that summary and closing argument, sir. This court will adjourn and the jury will deliberate before a verdict is reached in this case. The public is invited to continue this discussion where ever this appears in print.
This is clearly a much needed discussion in the public realm. We cannot afford to blindly go forth, following a law that is both out of touch with scientific facts and risky to the health of so many innocent animals.”
And with that, the gavel fell and the trial was recessed.
Have you had experiences with illness coming after “just one rabies vaccine?” Have you found ways to avoid this unnecessary and dangerous law? Let us know in the comments below. Part Two is here.
I don’t believe in viruses and I don’t think bacteria cause disease. Therefore, I certainly don’t believe in following a ridiculous law. I had to take my 10 year old cat in to be spayed finally and the receptionist told me she had to have her rabies. I said no and said she never goes outside and she’s very healthy. After some arguing and my stating I will just go elsewhere, the vet relented and said as she is already ten years old and an indoor kitty, he would let it go. I was ready to fight to the death over it, ha ha! Kitty is still incredibly healthy and never been sick a day in her life.
I will be glad when owners feel confident to tell their Dr Whitecoat that their animal has already been vaccinated, so they do not need another shot. Thank you! Then, they just leave Dr Whitecoats office.
Thank you for publishing about the danger of vaccines. I am a trained “old time” Classical Homeopath. I groomed dogs and cats for over 40 years and watched my beloved pet clients fall apart after vaccines. I started educating my clients about the dangers. I made some headway but once a client is in the vet office they loose power and courage to stand up. My saddest case was when a wonderful sweet kitty went for her exam and against my warnings the owner let the vet give the annual rabies shot. The cat came home and went wild, climbed the walls, ran around, the owner was bit several times. They took the cat back to the vet, and what did the vet do — OMG the vet gave the cat another rabies vaccine!!! What kind of thinking do we have here?? The cat had to be euthanized. I grieve as much as the owner, I loved all my clients. We need to find a way to educate pet owners. Thank you for listening.
This is truly stunning, Joan. I have no words, though “gross negligence” “ignorance” and “willful malfeasance” all come to mind.
I hate vaccines! I live for the day when everyone realizes that health does not come from a shot.
I hear you, and would take it a step further: I long for the day when people look back and say, “How in the world did we ever think vaccination was a good idea?!”
Absolutely!
what can we as owners keep from having our animals snatched away by animal control agents? If someone rats you out and they show up at your door demanding the animal, what possible leg do I have to stand on? This would be the Rabies vaxx scenario from hell
No one gets to “demand your animal” for anything, Ken. Relax. Worst case, you put up some no trespassing signs, but even that’s a step into paranoia I think. No snatching. Just live your life.
YOU are ultimately responsible for your animal’s health, certainly animal control should not be given that power in anyone’s mind.
I sold a Standard Poodle puppy to a family of whom gave her “ just one rabies vaccine “. at 5 months of age. Her human mom said she wasn’t right from that day forward and the dog knew it she said.
Fast forward to 10 months of age… she died from liver failure. Since the day she got her rabies shot she had diarrhea that couldn’t be cured with anything tried. She walked with her head cocked oddly to the side. She went from a bouncy healthy puppy to a weak quiet pup from the day of the vaccine.
The vet concluded that she had a liver shunt WITHOUT doing any testing. Puppy’s mom and I both know it was the rabies vaccine.
My Parson Russell Terrier , Murphy. Had 1 rabies vaccine after 1 year of age.(given a homeopathic remedy after) It was the only vaccine he’s ever had. Within a day after receiving the vaccine, he started with full blown allergy symptoms, itching, digestive, some aggression. He will itch or bite himself to bleeding within moments. He’s 12.5 yrs old now, his rabies titer still shows protection after all those years. We get short periods of time here and there when he gets some relief, but for the most part he’s terribly itchy. Have tried many supplements, homeopathics, diet changes, even conventional meds….Breaks my heart.
Wow, Cheri, just that one shot and a life of suffering. Truly a sad story. If you haven’t already, you’ll want to get on balanced raw food (and watch for my Vital Animal Podcast interview with Thomas Sandberg, animal naturopath, who’s seen raw food cure about 85% of the allergic dogs in his vast experience with thousands of dogs). You will also hear on that episode how longevity increases substantially, making 12 years look like barely middle age.
The other is to hire a dedicated homeopathic vet, as this is chronic disease, and trying “homeopathics” is decidedly different than hiring a professional trained to cure the chronic cases like Murphy’s. I walk you through how to choose wisely among my colleagues on this page.
All the best. I think there’s definitely hope for Murphy.
I’ve been doing a lot of praying and asking for help from our “helpers” I feel I’ve been led to your site and that what I will learn through your articles and some changes that I’m making to his diet will be our answer. He has definitely taught me many lessons. I work for Holistic Vet. doing natural therapies and intake appointments. I have been able to help so many animals with what I’ve learned from our journey. It is frustrating that he’s still struggling. I want him to have comfort and peace for the rest of his years. I think reaching out to a homeopathic vet will be a great addition to his care. Thank you , so much for all that you’re doing to educate pet people. You are truly an inspiration. Blessings
My (now) 3 year old indoor kitty, Ollie, was vaccinated, as I adopted him from the shelter when he was 7 months old. I brought him for his physical and repeat vaccinations last year, after which he was sick for a few days. I am anti-vaccine for both myself and him. The problem is that I am hoping to have two residences to split our time that would be in two different states 2000 miles apart (where family resides), and Ollie and I will need to fly to and from once a year. How can we do this if his shots aren’t ‘current’, since it is mandatory in order for me to take him on a plane? He is my emotional support animal but I doubt that will pardon us and allow us to travel anyway. I can’t even find an alternative medicine vet in my area here in Albuquerque. I feel so defeated. I would never give him up. It appears I can’t go forward with my plan to be closer to family.
My 4 year old cat, Balboa had his 2nd rabies shot and nearly died within days of receiving his “booster”. My husband stumbled upon this article and I immediately ordered surfer and phosphorus for him. I gave him the dose in this article and within days, he was drinking. Balboa had a fear of drinking water. I had to give him 50 ccs of water via syringe multiple times a day and gave him unflavored electorate fluid so he wouldn’t get dehydrated more than he already was. I couldn’t afford to take him to the vet for IV fluid and was NOT about to take him back to the vet that nearly killed him with no regard to his failing health. Within a week of doing this and the sulfur then phosphorus he was nearly back to his old self. We were calling him a zombie cat. He did nearly everything he was doing prior to the shot with the exception of fetching his little mice but we could live with that since he was alive and thriving again.
Now fast forward to nearly 2 years since the shot, he is starting to display some of the same ‘fears’ he did after the shot such as he loved going outside on his harness to play in the back yard, then after the shot and we got him well enough, no fever and eating and drinking and such, he was afraid to go outside. I dug further into your articles and found one that talked about giving a dose of the homeopathic Jimsonweed weed, sorry I can’t think of the homeopathic name of it. I also ordered that and it worked for a little while but now he’s starting to do the same behaviors.
Please Dr. Folconer, can you please give me some insight on my little boy?
Hey Chastity,
I wish it were that simple. If you look up fear in the homeopathy books, you’ll find over 100 remedies. What you need to get your cat cured is a hired professional, meaning a homeopathic vet who’s curing chronic disease like this on a regular basis. Nothing DIY about it, especially when it’s mental/emotional like this. Head over to my Resources page, scroll down to the AVH list and its accompanying video on how to choose a good one.
Hello!! LOVE your newsletter! I’ve fed raw/do titers since 1999 for my Standard Schnauzers and cats. I’m trying to join your “pack” and it (site) won’t let me finish! Keeps saying my email is already in use and to log in, which I can’t do! VERY frustrating!
Thank you and I hope I can join soon!
Sincerely,
Sue Arnold
I emailed you personally, Sue, on how to login properly. Anyone else having issues like Sue, please write us at support@VitalAnimal.com
I had two Pomeranians and one died about three weeks after having his Rabies Vaccine. We had to Euthanize him. He was roaming slowly from room to room aimlessly, He would just stop and stare at a wall.
I could see something had damaged his brain or Neurological system.
Later he would cry out in pain and try to talk to me in a strange voice. We rushed him to the Animal Hospital where we decided to put him to sleep. The Vet said his whole Neurological System was gone. He couldn’t even stand by now.
Now, three years later I have to have my other Pom Vaccinated this week. I’m scared to do it. Is there anything I can give him to counter the affect of the rabies Vaccine?
Why are we allowing our Government to take our Right to Choose away from us? All we have to do is Unite and say NO. Stand up to them with overwhelming Numbers.
It all starts with individuals, Monica. Just refuse to vaccinate your Pom, especially if you’ve got a history of past vaccination for rabies. You’ve studied DOI, right?
“Due”? Says who? Who’s paying the bills and who’s having to live with the outcomes of over-vaccination?
Do you know of any attorneys who protect animal owners who don’t want to vaccinate? It’s sad, but it feels like it’s come to needing an attorney to keep an unvaccinated pet from being stolen/killed/rehomed by law enforcement. Having an attorney won’t stop a surprise visit from an agency with a warrant to search and confiscate unvaccinated animals but it MIGHT get you your pet back sooner and get you out of some of the high boarding fees these authorities charge after confiscating pets.
Animal rights supporters don’t realize that by enacting more and more “animal rights” laws, they give authorities dominion over our animals. These laws give authorities the right to confiscate, vaccinate, and often kill well-cared-for pets. Laws that give the government the right to decide what’s good for our pets are always going to bite good pet owners in the butt. PETA would like to see that nobody has the right to own an anmal for any reason, but most people have no idea of their agenda and they don’t think twice about donating to this cause. If PETA supports any law, I am immediately suspicious. Most people are overworked and tired so they don’t have energy to research organizations or even look over the actual wording of laws. Even if they had the time, the laws are deliberately written in a confusing language. Thank God for the internet. Things will change thanks to people like you, dr Falconer (and people like me who do their best to lead the sheeple to you).
I like that pets have some protection so I’m not against animal rights laws. I feel they just aren’t clear enough. There are dangerous people who torture animals and I feel comfort in knowing they can be locked up (where they hopefully will get help dealing with their own traumas) before they start doing the same to people. To us sensible folk, there’s a huge difference between torturing animals and choosing to feed a raw diet (this got a dog rescuer charged with animal abuse) and abstaining from harmaceuticals. Still, we have to be very careful of what rights we hand over to authorities. Until the law changes to allow choice on pet vaccination, I feel I have to comply with the rabies vaccine mandates in the cities I visit. If there’s even a small chance that animal control could confiscate a dog (in my case, a service dog) because it isn’t in compliance, they’d immediately vaccinate the dog against 4 or 5 diseases in addition to rabies. While I fear the consequences of even a single rabies vaccine (the worst offender of all dog vaccines, I think), the risk of severe immuno-trauma (or death) from multiple jabs in one day is a bigger fear. Bear in mind, city shelters generally don’t have staff to watch animals for vaccine reactions.
When lost animals are turned into shelters, the animals are vaccinated on intake regardless of if they have a microchip or other identification that offers the authorities a complete health history to include warnings of vaccine reactions, cancer, diabetes, etc. The exception is rabies vaccine. If a pet is wearing a current license, the authorities might abstain from offering a rabies vax. Thank God pets with known severe reactions can get exemptions and be licensed. Wearing a license may be the only thing to save them from getting a rabies vaccine and it *might* get animal control to look up their records to find the exemption which in turn *might* cause them to abstain from other vaccinations. Since I’ve worked with animal control, I know they make mistakes, but the internet and voices demanding accountabilty are making things better and better.
Shelters vaccinate on intake because they like to charge for the vaccines along with (generally) overpriced boarding. I encourage anyone who finds a pet NOT to take it to animal control, but to notify animal control and to put a flyer in the animal control’s found pet log. In addition, they can use social media and classified ads to reach out to members of the ommunity for the sake of finding the pet’s owner and/or a place for the animal to be fostered while a dliligent attempt at finding the owner is made.
Thank you Dr Falconer for all you do. I wanted to ask about passive immunity and how it might affect rabies vaccines. In San Diego, CA (one of the places we visit often and might move to) they changed rabies law so puppies have to be vaxed at 3 mos instead of 4. Isn’t there a risk it won’t take if the pup still has rabies antibodies from it’s mom? Additionally, I’m under the impression that if a completely unvaccinated dog bit someone, the authorities (in most places?) would decapitate it to inspect the brain for negri bodies. Is this not true?
The official vax age for rabies, from the experts, is 4 months. Don’t know why municipalities feel they know better.
If you’re a Pack member, you can download the Compendium on Rabies, which I’ve highlighted for you. Unvac’d dogs have the option of 10 day quarantine. That’s assuming Animal Control follows expert advice, which may be a stretch for some. Good to print it out and keep it on file, so you’re the smartest voice in the discussion around a dog bite.
p.s. If you’re ALREADY a Vital Animal Pack member, just login here: https://my.vitalanimal.com
We discovered we adore the Shihtzu breed, after my daughter rescued two of them from a public road in horrible condition. We sadly put one up for adoption with a local rescue, as we didn’t know how we would care for 5 dogs (since, we found 5 are no more difficult than 4, which we have now). They were a bonded pair and there is not a day goes by I don’t think of that little one we let go. The rescue owner was supposed to ensure after the week trial was up for the adopter that it was working out for us as well, but she just offered him to the adopter. Now we are looking to find another laidback male shitzu, but the ‘rescue nazis’ make it very difficult with their adoption forms. We have super healthy, happy dogs who get acv with e.o.’s for a bath rinse which has kept them completely flea/tic free, and a holistic HWF solution from Amber Tech. for heart worm protection. And we don’t do additional vaccines since their originals. One rescue operator told us she wouldn’t even let people foster who don’t use heart worm meds for their own dogs. I don’t know of one rescue in the Tx area that uses natural methods. We feed organic food, veggies, fruits, meats; they are well spoiled and happy. Why do the rescues have to be such bullies?
Big egos? A way I’ve worked around this: I’ve written a letter of explanation for my clients that paints the picture that they are aware that there are better, safer ways than repeated vaccination and pesticides for HW prevention. If you have any relationship to a holistic vet, you could ask for the same. They just need a reframe, and a DVM on a letter can help them get their minds right.
I value your opinions and the factual data I get from posts like this, but your long-winded writing style sure does tax my patience. Would you consider a brief synopsis at the top of these articles for those of us who don’t have all day to wade through your rambling prose? Thanks.
Wow, I’m reading all of this and just getting more and more upset. My son had Infantile Spasms (seizures) begin a couple days after he received his DTP vaccine in 1991, he was 6 months old! At the time, no internet, I had to get a letter from our pediatrician to use the Medical School Library to research. Very LONG story short, his seizures stopped with the first injection of ACTH (he received one shot every day for 4 months)! On his last EEG, Valentines Day 1992, I read while waiting in the neurologists office, that in Europe they had stopped using the live virus pertusis vaccine years ago because it caused infantile spasms! I asked the neurologist and he said we will never know if it was the cause or not that he might have been genetically predisposed. For years I would not let him get any other vaccines. Nor his younger sister. He had no seizures for 6 years and no medications. He suffered separation anxiety terribly and had many fears (going through a car wash, paying at a grocery store) and terrible diaper rash that would come on in minutes, resulting in screaming and almost blisters in less than 15 minutes. Epson Salt baths and soaks was the only relief. THEN kindergarten, they wouldn’t let him in without an MMR vaccine…. our then pediatrician (a different on in a different state) called the school district to try to get him exempt…. they wouldn’t do it… he got the vaccine a few days later he had a grand mal seizure and stopped breathing, my husband had to give him mouth to mouth until the EMS arrived! Everyone said I was being ridiculous (seems continually over these past 28 years) to think it was because of the vaccines! There has never been a doubt in my mind. So much so that I joined a Rastifanian Church in order to keep my daughter from having vaccines. (the only way they would let her into school – wish I had known that before to keep my son from getting vaccined!) Anyway my dear son is now almost 28 and is still taking 3 different seizure meds and suffers from cognitive decline (probably from Tegretol – seizure med) and will probably never live on his own!
Wow, I’ve recognized so many similarities in reading the “animal” stories …. bless you all.
Oh, Pam, I am so glad you’ve shared your amazing story here. It continues to amaze me and confound me how the “medicine machine” fails to respect the mother’s wisdom and instincts. You knew it was the vaccines as the only variable that triggered the catastrophe, and you were blown off. Dr. Andy Wakefield rightly calls this out, and how doctors are routinely ignoring your inner wisdom that’s allowed our species to survive for millennia in favor of a paternal “science knows best” attitude.
The animals lead the way in calling out vaccines concerns, but my colleagues are either woefully ignorant or refusing to look at the high, high correlation of events between vaccines and chronic disease onset.
I adopted a 9 year old retired working dog (Belgian Malinois) from oversees (Kuwait). She has never stepped foot on U.S. soil until Feb 2018. From what I’ve looked over in her medical records (which by the way, they don’t do a proper job in recording vaccines or anything medically significant as “Veterinarians”). I’ve counted at least 5 rabies vaccines done while “working”. Anything prior to being bought by the contract company is unknown. Then unfortunately, U.S. law requires that any dog coming into the U.S. needs to be vaccinated regardless of the prior history. So not only did this dog get vaccines in January (oversees), she got a bunch of vaccines in February and again in March when she arrived in the U.S. Keep in mind, while oversees, she was already showing signs of neurologic issues (all 4 limbs uncoordinated, constant GI issues, atrophy of the temporal muscles, atrophy of muscles of hind limbs) but they wanted to continue working her. After many months of pleading, they agreed to retire her. The Veterinarian that received her in the U.S. has done many things to her, to include a muscle biopsy (which was inconclulsive). After seeing at least 3 Veterinarians, they think she has DM (Degenerative Myeopathy) and/or previous trauma while working that caused severe nerve damage. Long story short, I am now her caretaker and have changed her diet to homecooked meals, she gets acupuncture treatments. We have had to stop chiropractic treatments and rehab (water treadmill and exercises) due to the fact that she gets real weak post treatments. She is on Metacam for her severe arthritic hips and knees. But I am trying to wean her off with Essential oils and CBD.
Vaccine history (known):
Rabies (Sep 2010), (Sep 2011), (Nov 2016), (Nov 2017), (Jan 2018), (Feb 2018)
DHLPPC (undocumented oversees but most likely done multiple times as well), (Feb 2018)
Bordetella (Apr 2018)
Influenza CIV (Apr 2018)
Influenza H3N2 (Apr 2018)
*All the vaccines done in 2018 were done by a Veterinarian in the U.S. even though the dog was not in a “healthy” state.
Oh, Jennifer, what a case of veterinary/regulatory abuse! If she doesn’t implode in this next year and be unable to rise on her own and walk, I’ll be very surprised.
The USDA (I think that’s who regulates imports of animals) needs to learn from the Hawaiian experience. Titers before and after coming, minimal vaccines, maybe a very short quarantine if any suspicions arising from country of origin) and most dogs could avoid situations like this.
I sincerely wish you the best with her, but know you’re up against a wall of damage now.
I called a dr from your list in ft Myers fl and she gave me the names of some homeopathic dog foods so I bought one yesterday called Earthborn and the wet also some treats! I am keeping my fingers crossed and praying daily for Blue! I am also gonna buy some of the T Factor but not sure as to buy just that or T Factor plus Tri Factor?! Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you much
God Bless You And Yours
Kathie Lockhart
katelynnltoo@gmail.com
Kathie, you can get TF Canine Complete as your base and, if things are really serious (cancer, autoimmune disease, etc.) add in the TF Plus Tri-Factor.
Doses are in your Vital Animal Pack area, now living here, in my free ebook, Insider Immune Protocols.
Dr. Falconer,
You stated that if vitamin C had the same effects in vivo an in vitro that we would not have HIV, herpes, etc.
Respectfully, that is not quite true. It’s been known for nearly 100 years now how successful vitamin C is for essentially all toxins, virus infections, etc. This includes things such as polio, MS, smallpox, TB, rattlesnake bites, rabies, and so forth. The key is in the dose. Dr. Klenner used very high doses (high is a relative term) for success. And he had successes repeatedly. Vitamin C successfully treats things like Ebola, Scarlet Fever, Typhoid, tetanus, etc. Quite simply, it is, as Dr. Tom Levy says, “Curing the Incurable”. I have used high dose vitamin C in far too many situations to list, from various animals to people, old and young. The results have been nothing short of amazing and mind boggling. But, again, the dose is key. The above post where you stated this (paraphrased) is quite old so maybe your views have changed. At any rate, people need to be aware the value of Vitamin C in treating, essentially, everything. It is safe. There has never been a dose shown to be harmful. Dr. Klenner, Dr. Cathcart, Dr. Levy, Dr. Saul, the list is long of doctors and others that see the benefit. Of course Dr. Klenner practice many, many decades ago. As with all basically simple, safe, and natural treatments, the information is a best suppressed and at worse completely discredited or even made illegal. As a side note, I have also used high dose C, (sodium ascorbate and Liposomal C), to successfully treat chemical toxicity and autism like symptoms in a young child. It never ceases to amaze me. Even goats who make massive amounts of Vitamin C when under stress benefit from additional C is some situations. Another area where C is saving lives is in the treatment of sepsis. Too bad so many doctors and hospitals refuse to accept it’s use because it’s not a drug and profitable.
Dr. Falconer,
You stated that if vitamin C had the same effects in vivo an in vitro that we would not have HIV, herpes, etc.
Respectfully, that is not quite true. It’s been known for nearly 100 years now how successful vitamin C is for essentially all toxins, virus infections, etc. This includes things such as polio, MS, smallpox, TB, rattlesnake bites, rabies, and so forth. The key is in the dose. Dr. Klenner used very high doses (high is a relative term) for success. And he had successes repeatedly. Vitamin C successfully treats things like Ebola, Scarlet Fever, Typhoid, tetanus, etc. Quite simply, it is, as Dr. Tom Levy says, “Curing the Incurable”. I have used high dose vitamin C in far too many situations to list, from various animals to people, old and young. The results have been nothing short of amazing and mind boggling. But, again, the dose is key. The above post where you stated this (paraphrased) is quite old so maybe your views have changed. At any rate, people need to be aware the value of Vitamin C in treating, essentially, everything. It is safe. There has never been a dose shown to be harmful. Dr. Klenner, Dr. Cathcart, Dr. Levy, Dr. Saul, the list is long of doctors and others that see the benefit. Of course Dr. Klenner practice many, many decades ago. As with all basically simple, safe, and natural treatments, the information is a best suppressed and at worse completely discredited or even made illegal. As a side note, I have also used high dose C, (sodium ascorbate and Liposomal C), to successfully treat chemical toxicity and autism like symptoms in a young child. It never ceases to amaze me. Even goats who make massive amounts of Vitamin C when under stress benefit from additional C is some situations.
Thanks so very much I can’t wait to read it later when I get home from work. I’m sure it’s going to be extremely informative. Diane
Hi there and so glad to have found you. Just wondering what your thoughts are on spaying our two 1 year old Shih Tzu mix puppies? They have both had one Heat and from everything that I’ve been researching I feel that it’s not a good idea to spay them health-wise. Thanks so much, Diane
Hi Diane, I’ve got a pretty in-depth page of research for you here: https://vitalanimal.com/neutering/
Such a wonderful article and thank you. At this point I feel that spaying them would not be good for their health and well-being. One of my friends who is a vet of course brought up pyometra and how deadly it can be for unspayed females and I do understand this but what is the actual likelihood of this occurring. I mean I’ve had breast cancer twice but it doesn’t mean that chopping them off would have been a great option for me before the onset. Thank God that wasn’t something that I had to go through but you get what I mean I’m sure. Also wanted to know what you thought about the spay procedure where the ovaries are kept and not the uterus versus the uterus kept and the ovaries taken.
I may have only shared this with my NR students, but try a search on my site (https://vitalanimal.com/blog/ has the search box) for “pyo” and “breast cancer” and you’ll see what I think. Short version: not an issue if you’re doing largely NR lifestyle.
Save the ovaries! Yes.
Hi Dr. Falconer! I’m new and just joined and so glad too! I have a lot of similar stories with my cats and vaccines. I almost lost mine when she was vaccinated to the FVRCP at two-three months old. She got sick that night and I rushed her to ER early that morning and bloodwork showed anemia and decreased white blood cell count. She was feverish, very lethargic and refused to eat. The attending vet said that it was not good. He told us that she probably had panleukopenia. She was in the ER for almost a week on IV fluids and antibiotics. She improved and I brought her home but now at 2 yrs. old I feel that these vaccines are rearing its ugly head in other ways. She has been developing fear of everything. I say this because my other cat who was vaccined way to young (not even 6 weeks old), now has asthma and a lot of fears as well. I refuse to vaccine anymore. No one would spay my cat until I got her rabies vaccine so ultimately I did do that. But none of them get any anymore vaccines.
I get asked at the ER and other vets every time, have they had their rabies and up to date? I’ve had to tell a fib a few times, other times I’ve been able to say yes because they have had their rabies (just “overdue”). You have given me more strength Dr. Falconer, to stand up and tell them like it is. My biggest problem is the “taking them in the back” thing. They refuse to let me go and I know they are back their doing stuff I don’t like. But, not anymore. I’m their mom and we don’t let our children go “in the back” without us, so not our fur babies either.
Dr. Falconer, what should I do for her asthma? I’m really concerned and frightened on how to care for her. She did really well for the last year with the purifiers but we also had less pollen due to a lot of rain. This year she is having more problems and the pollen is just starting. I have air purifiers in every room that run 24/7. I want to give her a homeopathic or something but she is hard to handle (due to her fears). I’m afraid to leave her alone. She coughs and I can hear the congestion. She sounds like a child coughing and it breaks my heart. I want to something natural for their fears and the asthma. Any thoughts? Thank you so much for your work!
Hey Michelle,
First, I want to congratulate you on standing up for your family’s health rights. I’ve long told clients who own previously vaccinated animals to state boldly, when asked, “Yes, she’s current.” That’s not a lie, according to the understanding of vet immunology.
As to dealing with asthma, it’s important to see this for what it is: chronic disease. There may be some things that help ameliorate it (air purifiers, humidifiers, etc.) but you want to CURE it, and that takes professional help. Stop over to my Resources page, scroll down to the AVH list (if you’re in No. America) or the IAVH list (if you’re in Europe, Anzi, etc.) and search for a homeopathic vet with two particulars: 1. Their practice is mostly or only homeopathy, and 2. They’ll work by telephone. It’s unfortunate, but we are simply not enough to go around, so every town or even big city won’t have a dedicated vet homeopath. It matters not. Telephone consulting has helped a great many animals.
Hello Dr. Falconer,
First of all..I want to thank you for your information that has given me so much knowledge. I have a 15yr old Maltese spayed female who is always itching, scratching, and biting her feet until they bleed. She is on Natural Balance Fish & Sweet Potato Limited Ingredient grain free food. I tried Apoquel as a desperate last resort after my vet stated it was safe (and before I did my own research which led me to you)..and it only worked for about 2 weeks. This was after using colloidal oatmeal shampoo..chlorhexidine shampoo (vet prescribed)..baby shampoo..and colloidal silver soap. I am now going to try Transfer Factor Plus..but I have a question for you about how to deal with my vet concerning rabies shots. As you recommend..I no longer want to give my Maltese..nor my 14yr old spayed Siberian Husky female any more of these shots..but since it’s the law here in my state of Mississippi..I am hoping you recommend how to convey this to my vet without getting in trouble legally. I know already my vet is not going to agree with this because I brought this subject up a few years back and my vet fought me on it and stated it is the law and that is that. But now that my dogs are so elderly..I want to keep them around as long as possible and not take any chances. Do I have any legal ground to stand on refusing these shots for my elderly, indoor dogs? I just don’t want to end up being fined or worst if my vet reports me..or whatever they do in cases like this. Thanks so much for any help and advice..it is greatly appreciated.
PS: I have tried searching for a Homeopathic Vet near my small, rural town but there is none.
Hi P.J.
It really depends on you and your relationship with your vet. Neither of your dogs should be vaccinated, and that’s worth fighting for. At their age, they are immune to rabies for the rest of their lives and one is already sick (chronic allergies), so another shot is all risk, no benefit.
If your vet stands on the “This is the law!” perhaps gently telling him you’ve learned that the law is ignoring what immunology has known for years (that immunity to virus vaccines lasts a very long time). And you know from your studies, that your Maltese is too sick to get any vaccines (it’s on every label: Only for Use in Healthy Dogs, Cats, and Ferrets).
You don’t really have a “legal ground” to stand on, but neither does your vet. He’s not a sheriff, he’s a vet. No one is going to arrest him (or you) for allowing your dogs to live out their last years well within the intent of the law (they’re immune to rabies), but not within the letter of the law.
It all starts with your relationship with him, and his willingness to be reasonable. If he’s not willing, you need to fire him and seek someone more up to date and open minded. And homeopathic vets are too few to be even in every good sized city, but don’t let that stop you. I tell you in my Apoquel Alternatives Report (it’s on your Member Home) how to find one who works at a distance.