by Stephanie Barden, DVM


You may have found in today’s world “vaccine” is a bit of a buzzword. In the age of social media, consumption of information is at an all time high, but what if that information is not based on factual evidence? As veterinarians we talk about vaccines on a daily basis and we’d like to provide information from a source you can trust. I know what you may be thinking…I thought you guys were a holistic clinic? We like to use the term integrative care, because we know there is an important place for both conventional western medicine and traditional eastern therapies to benefit the overall health of our pets.

Let’s start with the basics: Why do we recommend vaccines?

Other than contracting a virus or illness directly, vaccines are the only way we can help our pets’ immune systems create antibodies to potential dangerous pathogens.

So why not just let our pets experience natural illness instead of using a bioengineered product?

Well, vaccine formulations are meant to provide a viral or bacterial pathogen in a safe form that will not create symptoms of illness that would otherwise be present with natural contraction of disease. In this way we can build antibodies against diseases to protect our pets without having them experience illness. Nobody wants to see their fur baby sick!

Does this mean my pet won’t contract the illness at all because they are vaccinated?

The short answer- no. Vaccines do not prevent contracting a disease. HOWEVER, they do help prevent our pets from experiencing more severe symptoms of illness and it shortens the time frame of sick symptoms because they already have antibodies ready to fight off illness from previous vaccination!

Now, let’s apply this information to a real world example:

Parvovirus is a viral disease that attacks the cells in the intestinal tract and can prevent dogs from being able to digest or absorb nutrients. Parvovirus can live in the soil for UP TO 7 YEARS! Now that’s a virus that is hard to get rid of and can exist in environments your pup is exposed to without even knowing it.

Parvovirus can be extremely fatal in puppies. As a veterinarian I have treated countless puppies for parvovirus, and the fact of the matter is; most of those puppies were not fully vaccinated. Yes, i did say most and not *all*, but during treatment the puppies who had prior vaccination had a higher likelihood of successful treatment. Some of the hardest days in my career have been losing a puppy from a disease that could have been prevented with appropriate vaccination.

Okay, but what about side effects of vaccines?

Vaccines may cause soreness at the injection site or your pet to feel more tired within a 24 hour period after receiving a vaccine.

Serious side effects are rare. Vaccine reactions typically occur within the first 2 hours after receiving a vaccination and can cause facial swelling, vomiting, or in severe cases collapse. If your pet has had a vaccine reaction precautions can be taken such as giving one injectable vaccine at a time on separate days or providing an antihistamine prior to vaccination.

When should a pet not receive a vaccine?

On the day of any vaccine appointment, your veterinarian will perform an exam and check your pet’s temperature. A vaccine should not be administered if there is evidence of illness or fever.

If your pet has an autoimmune disease your veterinarian may recommend your pet not be vaccinated due to the risk of stimulating an already compromised immune system.

Here are some frequently asked questions from our clients:

  • How come a chihuahua receives the same vaccine dose as a Great Dane? Unlike medications, vaccines are not dosed by weight! Just because one dog is bigger than another, does not mean their immune system is bigger and better. The immune system is the same size despite a difference in weight or breed. What makes a strong immune system is vaccines to build up antibodies!
  • Why does my puppy/kitten need a series of vaccines? Very young pets are highly susceptible to infectious diseases since their immune systems are immature. When they are receiving milk from their mom, the milk has antibodies. However, these antibodies do not last long once they no longer receive milk. It is important to complete the full series of vaccines to ensure the previous maternal antibodies do not interfere with stimulation of the immune system.
  • Why do some vaccines need boosters? In certain diseases the first vaccine will prepare their immune system to recognize a virus or bacteria. The following booster vaccines help to further stimulate the immune system to produce greater antibodies.

Vaccines performed appropriately are a large part of preventative care for your pet. If you ever have a question about your pet’s health care we are here to help!