QUESTION:
What questions should I be asking my vet about vaccinations?
ANSWER:
The three most obvious questions you should be asking your vet are:
1. Why are "annual boosters" are given to our Labradors when vaccinations for humans last for our lifetime?
2. Why aren’t the doses of vaccines adjusted for the size, weight, age or breed of dog? (Why does a Labrador get the same amount as a Great Dane and a West Highland Terrier?)
3. How can I protect my Labrador without the danger and expense of annual vaccinations?
The answer to the first question is that most clinics rely heavily on annual vaccinations for their profit (the people of Texas alone spend over $360 million on unnecessary and potentially harmful vaccines every year!).
The answer to the second question is that it too complicated for drug companies and veterinarians to manage the variety of dogs and size of doses; they want you in, a series of quick, standard jabs for all dogs and your credit card at the door.
The answer to the third question is to have titer tests for your Labrador, particularly for CPV (Canine Parvovirus) and CDV (Canine Distemper Virus). These two titers alone will give you an accurate indication of whether you need annual vaccinations – and in 95% of cases you won’t – saving you thousands of dollars of your Labrador’s lifetime!
To find out more about the questions to ask your vet to safely protect your Labrador – and to find out about the safe-to-use titer testing method, please see see pages 50-60 of Labrador Health For Life!
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