I
realize the subject of pet vaccinations is not a sexy one. But it's
an important one – important enough to do a series of posts this
week that I hope you'll read, even if you think they'll bore you to death.
Some
pets have been vaccinated to death because 1) their owners thought
they already knew everything they needed to know and 2) they followed
the vet's orders to get their pets vaccinated, no questions asked.
As
one who dutifully followed a vet's orders all the way to the
collapse and subsequent death of my cat, let me tell you that blindly
following a vet's orders on any subject can be one of the biggest
mistakes of your life. This goes double for the topic of vaccinations. Fortunately some pro-animal voices are making it easier
on you to learn what you need to know about vaccination and overvaccination for Fido and Fluffy. Read on.
One
of the leading and most informed voices in the field is right here in
Texas – Dr. Bob Rogers of Spring, Texas, who has been waging this
battle for many years. Here is a veterinarian who truly CARES about
animals; in fact, that's the acronym for his web site
critteradvocacy.org – Critter Advocacy Responsibility Ethics
Science.
I
can't possibly do Dr. Bob's site justice by attempting to convey everything
that's on it, except to say that it is bursting with valuable,
informative, fascinating, disturbing, and absolutely essential background, facts, and research about vaccines and vaccine-related disorders. I urge you
to read as much of it as you possibly can and pass it on to everyone
you know who has a pet. I have linked to it for years from my main site, vetabusenetwork.com and always will.
Dr.
Bob has impeccably researched and studied this topic, fought
diligently against the Texas veterinary board and elsewhere regarding vaccination
protocols, and tried to educate vets who inexplicably still defend
the present use of vaccinations in spite of everything they now
know, the research that exists, and what they have seen in their own
offices
I
had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Bob when we both testified to the Sunset
Commission in Austin, Texas, in 2004 on separate issues – me on the travesty of
“justice” that was committed in the exoneration of the vet who
killed my Suki; and Dr. Bob in his never ending struggle to make the
veterinary world more aware of the serious risks associated with
unnecessary vaccinations. From that moment on and from other dealings
with him and his passion for helping to make the animal world safe
from questionable veterinary practices, I have had nothing but the
utmost respect for him. He is a tireless fighter in this very important
cause. And thankfully he's not alone -- an increasing number of educated and proactive veterinarians and consumers are taking up this cause as well. (Look for "Check Out" on the right hand column of this blog for other knowledgeable and informed web sites on the subject.)
I'm
happy to say that Dr. Bob has had some success, in Texas and
elsewhere, regarding this battle, but much more needs to be done to
educate an ignorant and trusting public. If you read nothing else on
his site, please for the sake of your animals read and print out Dr.
Bob's recommendations on the following guidelines for both cats and
dogs:
And be sure to read his Conclusions, chock full of research, statistics, and eye-opening information every pet owner needs to know.
Although I've not personally been a victim of this particular horror (that I know of, anyway, which doesn't give me much comfort), it all comes under the category of -- as my friend and fellow advocate Greg Munson says every chance he gets -- never blindly trust your vet. Read, research, and do your homework on anything and everything that goes on in a vet's office.
Like
almost everything else associated with veterinary care, it's what you
don't know that can kill your pet.
Tomorrow:
Corpus Christi woman fights to bring awareness to VAS - vaccine associated
sarcoma
