Raleigh, Archie, Gus

[scoora]

Thank you so much Sharlene.

[Harley PoMMom]

Hi Vicki,

You and Raleigh will be in my thoughts and prayers, hoping for a successful surgery and uneventful recovery.

Love and hugs, Lori

[Budsters Mom]

Praying for your sweet Boy.

[labblab]

Me, too!!!!!

Marianne

[scoora]

Lori, Kathy, Marianne,
Thank you. I appreciate it very much.
Raleigh has had some problems with that eye recently. I hope nothing will keep him from having the surgery. I feel so bad for him.
His hearing is very bad also. I hope and pray he will be able to at least see with the one eye.
I didn't realize his right eye is as bad as it is. So bad they won't do surgery on it.

[Budsters Mom]

Hi Vicki,

I tried to send you a private message regarding vaccinations. I read your response on Tina's thread about your concerns about the rabies vaccination. Your message box is full. I was unable to send that message. This is the message I received........

scoora has exceeded their stored private messages quota and cannot accept further messages until they clear some space

If you want to hear what I have to say, please clear some space in your message box. Thanks,

Kathy

[labblab]

Hi Vicki,

Like Kathy, I also saw your question about rabies titer testing and wanted to pass along this info. It is possible to test rabies titers, but as far as I know, no state will yet accept these test results in place of the legal requirement to vaccinate at specified regular intervals. Dr. Richard Schultz, noted immunological expert at Univ. of Wisconsin, has headed a research study aimed at investigating the true duration of immunity created by modern-day rabies vaccine by testing titers ("The Rabies Challenge"). The goal is to see whether immunity extends long enough to increase the spacing between legally mandated boosters. The research has not yet been completed, but some preliminary results are available. Disappointingly, thus far, conventional titer testing has not provided evidence for immunity lasting significantly longer than the three year booster interval now required in many states for dogs after the initial vaccination sequence has been completed at one year. However, the researchers believe that an alternative way of testing immunological response may establish that immunity does truly last longer than that. As far as I know, however, the study remains ongoing and the alternative testing protocol has not yet been validated by actually challenging the study dogs with rabies virus. Here is a link to the study's most current status report:

http://www.rabieschallengefund.org/l...immunity-study

For any dog who already has had a bad response to a rabies vaccination or who has health issues that make vaccination especially dangerous, you can always see whether your state will legally accept a medical waiver in place of proof of vaccination. If so, you can ask your vet to please sign a waiver. The downside, however, is that this means your dog would need to be guarantined for an extended time period if he ever bites anybody. And in most states, a dog without proof of active vaccination must be put down or totally isolated for lengthy periods if exposed to a rabid animal. So there are a few risks associated with the waiver, as well. Given the timing of Archie's seizure problems -- right after his previous rabies shot -- I do understand why you are especially worried. However, this first one-year booster for him is needed to complete his initial vaccination protection sequence. So I do think it's a good idea to discuss your concerns and options with your vet.

Marianne

[molly muffin]

Hi Vicki,

Did Raleigh have his eye surgery today? How did it go?

Thinking of you
Sharlene and molly muffin

[Budsters Mom]

Popping in to check on Raleigh.

[scoora]

Kathy, Sorry about the PM box being full. The messages are about Scoop and I have a hard time deleting them. I know I should but it's hard.

Marianne, Thanks for that info on rabies titers. I'm glad there is testing going on. It won't help my Archie but it will be good for future problems with dogs.
From what I've read there are a lot of issues with animals when they get vaccinations. I am so torn up about what to do about Archie's booster in Oct. He doesn't need any more problems and what if it causes him to have more seizures? I just don't know if his immune system can take it but I also don't want any problems if he bites someone. Different books that I have read that are written by holistic vets say that vaccinations are to be given to healthy dogs. The one vet in the practice where we go definitely knows how I feel about the vaccinations, rabies and the distemper combo.
Since he had that seizure after his first rabies shot (which was only 2 weeks after his distemper) I think his vet will sign a waiver. I read that it has to be done every year. I'm pretty sure our state will accept a waiver. The drug company says the vaccination doesn't cause problems like Archie's but all the books I read the holistic vets say they do cause those problems and more.

This whole thing sucks. What if I get Archie his booster shots and he has more problems or even dies from them. How do I live with myself?
I haven't found the help I've been looking for to help boost his immune system. I wish Dr. Simpson(holistic vet) would have accepted him as a patient. I just don't know what to do! It has me so frazzled.