Hi Val,
following our conversation on facebook regarding the practice of annual vaccinations, here is the information for TAGLines.
Annual vaccinations are not only COMPLETELY unnecessary but against the guidelines of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association and they can be positively dangerous. Over vaccination is the biggest cause of animal ill health in our pets causing allergies and cancer to name just two of the major ones. The research is out there to prove that dogs and cats, like humans, only need initial vaccinations to give them immunity for life, I wish pet owners would wake up and smell the coffee and challenge advice that has the potential to do great harm to their pets.
The guidelines of WSAVA while they do not concur with immunity for life say that dogs and cats should not receive booster vaccinations more often than every THREE years after the first booster.
"All dogs and cats should receive a first booster within 12 months after completion of the puppy/kitten course (this will ensure adequate vaccine-induced immunity for cats/dogs that may not have adequately responded to the primary course). Following this first booster subsequent revaccinations are given at intervals or 3 years OR LONGER, unless special conditions apply.
http://www.wsava.org/sites/default/files/VaccinationGuidelines2010.pdf
There is also the option to blood test after the initial puppy course to see if they have responded to the primary course, which is the option I will choose with my own puppy. A cheap test has been produced, it is sold by a company called Vaccicheck, and it is available in France. I tried to persuade my own vet to stock it but she said she would have to buy 10 tests and no-one else would want it. While they are pushing annual vaccinations - of course no-one will want it but as far as I am concerned the health of my dog comes first so I will pay for a traditional blood titre test.
The only one bit of good news is that now in France they have changed the rabies re-vaccination schedule to every 3 years instead of annually at long last - they are only 6 years behind the rest of the world. Hopefully soon, the research that has been done in the US proving that the rabies vaccine last at least 7 years will be adopted. They have almost reached 15 years with this research by challenge, so hopefully soon the guidelines will be changed to say one rabies vaccine protects for life.
One further point on these guideline changes for everyone's information. The vaccine given has NOT changed, it is the same in every country in the world - it has always given this protection - so don't let a vet convince you that they have made the vaccine better which is why it lasts longer.
Anne (the mad dog lady from Castanet)
Val says this conversation followed on from Danielle the Inspector for the Brigitte Bardot Animal foundation saying she did not give a toss about vaccinations, which made me want to know more.This is something I am hearing from dog experts more and more. If you take your pet back to the UK you will still need to meet the requirements.
Malc says: The guidelines and advice offered in the document make specific reference to admissions of cats and dogs to "shelters and boarding catteries" insisting that on entry cats should have "core" vaccinations and where appropriate non-core protection as well. It is the risks posed to other animals in the shelter/cattery which informs some of the debate here.
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