In fact, the results of her
Canine Health Survey reveal that many dogs
contract the very disease for which they were
supposedly immunized. In fact, at least 50% of
dogs in the CHC Survey who were diagnosed with a
disease for which we commonly vaccinate became
ill within three months of being vaccinated for
that disease.
Consider how the body's
exposure to vaccine differs from the usual
exposure to disease.
1. Vaccines are usually
given in combination; disease exposures do not
commonly occur in multiples.
How many dogs
have you ever heard of coming down with parvo,
distemper, kennel cough, leptospirosis, and
corona at the same time? Yet, when we inject our
dogs with a multi-valent vaccine, we expect them
to cope with an influx of varied disease-causing
agents at once. This is a major assault and
insult to the immune system. The immune system
is overwhelmed with the effort to produce so
many different anti-bodies at the same time,
often leaving it too worn-out to respond to
other disease-causing agents that it would
normally repel in normal
circumstances.
2. Vaccines are given several
times over a short period of time; disease
exposures are not usually so
concentrated.
The same arguments holds for
this point, as well. How many dogs face so many
diseases on a monthly basis over several months?
Yet, multi-valent vaccines challenge our dogs
this frequently when we give them so
often.
3. Vaccines are injected into
the body, bypassing the body's natural defenses;
disease organisms must overcome these defenses
before they can cause disease.
In general,
when exposed to a disease-causing agent, the
optimal response involves the whole body,
beginning with its first line of defense, the
skin and mucus membranes. In addition, various
bodily secretions are designed to erode or
destroy bacteria as they move through the upper
respiratory system or the gastro-intestinal
tract. Specific blood cells destroy and/or
ingest harmful organisms that enter the
bloodstream. The body reacts to disease agents
in several ways. Often it develops a fever, in
an attempt to make the environment unconducive
to bacteria or viruses. Coughing and sneezing
are the body's attempt to expel them from the
respiratory system, as vomiting and diarrhea
cleanse the gastrointestinal tract. In contrast,
vaccines are injected into the body and are
absorbed directly into the bloodstream without
the body having received any warning whatsoever
that they are on their way.
4. Vaccines stimulate the
formation of specific antibodies; disease
exposure stimulates the whole body to react to a
foreign substance, a broader and more natural
response.
Vaccines target specific diseases.
As such, the antibodies produced are specific to
that particular bacterial strain. Many diseases
are caused by multiple strains of a bacteria,
however, and it is impossible to vaccinate
against every strain of viruses or bacteria.
Leptospirosis, for example, is a range of some
150 different bacterins. In addition, modified
live virus vaccines can shed in the environment
(through an animal's feces or urine) and mutate,
posing the threat of disease and creating a
further dilemma for the vaccine
makers.
5. Vaccines are administered to
puppies at an age when their immune systems are
not yet fully developed and when they still have
maternal antibody protection.
Maternal antibodies are
specifically designed to protect puppies from
disease until their own immune systems are
mature enough to mount a full-scale defense
against invaders. To compensate for this,
vaccine manufacturers have developed vaccines
that are strong enough to over-ride maternal
anti-bodies. Why? Why vaccinate a puppy who
already should have adequate maternal anti-body
protection. Unless, of course, the dam's own
immune system has been compromised by
vaccinations she received herself!
In
closing, if the immune system is not healthy,
then vaccinations are the last thing you want to
consider, for they will only further stress an
already weakened system.
If, however, your dog has a
strong immune system, it can handle the average
assault. Vaccine won't change that. The body,
whether human or canine, was designed to resist
disease. Poor nutrition and vaccines actually
undermine these built-in defenses.
A healthy immune system
requires optimal nutrition, which is why I, and
others, advocate a canine diet that consists
primarily of raw meaty bones. A well-nourished
body is better equipped to handle encounters
with most disease-causing agents.
This is the foundation of a
holistic approach to canine health and
well-being.
Copyright 1998 Barbara
Cicognani. All rights reserved. The author
grants permission to reprint this article,
provided such reprint is for information
purposes only and is not conveyed for any
commercial consideration and further that credit
is given to the author, Barbara
Cicognani.