Category Archives: Vaccines

Evidence Update: Dodds Study on Vaccine Dose in Small Breed Dogs

I have been able to get a look at the published paper for the study I recently discussed by Dr. Jean Dodds investigating  giving lower doses of vaccine to small breed dogs. There is nothing in the published report that … Continue reading

Posted in Vaccines | 25 Comments

What’s the Right “Dose” of a Vaccine for Small-Breed Dogs?

There’s a common misconception out there about vaccines that small animals should have lower “doses” of a vaccine than larger animals. This is a natural assumption stemming, most likely, from our familiarity with how medicines are dosed. However, while there … Continue reading

Posted in Vaccines | 30 Comments

Vaccination Protects Children from Allergies Later in Life

One of the innumerable complaints made about vaccination is that it “stresses the immune system,” and that this can lead to immune-system diseases, including allergies. Dr. Crislip at Science-based Medicine has already dealt with the notion of immune system overload, … Continue reading

Posted in Vaccines | 8 Comments

Antibody Titer Testing as a Guide for Vaccination in Dogs and Cats

I have been involved in a number of discussions lately regarding the concept of testing antibody titers in lieu of vaccinating, and I thought it might be useful to summarize some of the issues involved in this complex topic. I … Continue reading

Posted in Vaccines | 44 Comments

Rabies Vaccines & Aggression in Dogs-Pure Pseudoscientific Fear Mongering

One of the most bizarre manifestations of pseudoscientific and anti-scientific thinking, particularly popular among homeopaths, is the insistence that the most effective preventative healthcare intervention in history, vaccination, is actually a dangerous and destructive poison foisted on the unsuspecting public … Continue reading

Posted in Vaccines | 32 Comments

Thimerosal–Should I worry about mercury in vaccines for my dog or cat?

Many health concerns among pet owners reflect concerns regarding human health that have been extrapolated to the health of our pets. It is natural to assume, or at least suspect, that factors which influence human health also influence the health … Continue reading

Posted in Vaccines | 49 Comments

Routine Vaccinations for Dogs & Cats: Trying to Make Evidence-based Decisions

Introduction As part of my effort to practice medicine based solidly in scientific evidence, I regularly review my own practices and recommendations and make adjustments as seems indicated by new evidence. The quantity and quality of scientific research in veterinary … Continue reading

Posted in Vaccines | 69 Comments

Pox Parties for Dogs: Brought to You by Veterinary Homeopaths

When I first heard of Pox Parties, I found it amazing, and frightening, that people actually fear vaccines so much that they will deliberately expose their children to infectious disease to avoid them. Such parents take their children to play … Continue reading

Posted in Homeopathy, Vaccines | 37 Comments

“One and Done” Approach to Rabies Vaccination is Misguided and Dangerous

Recently, I wrote about claims made by a veterinary homeopath that booster vaccination was unnecessary because single, initial vaccination provides lifelong immunity for our pets. There is ample evidence that this is frequently untrue, but today I ran across an … Continue reading

Posted in Vaccines | 29 Comments

Study finds maternal use of CAM decreases compliance with recommended childhood vaccinations

One of the concerns I have about complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is that it tends to come packaged with a philosophy or point of view which is hostile to scientific medicine. Even if specific CAM interventions are themselves harmless … Continue reading

Posted in General, Vaccines | 2 Comments