W. Jean Dodds, DVM

Veterinarians are seeing more patients with signs of immune dysfunction and disease. In a troublesome number of cases, the onset follows a recent vaccination, therapeutic or preventative drug use, infection, toxic exposure, hormonal change/imbalance, or stress event. The evidence implicating vaccines as triggering agents in genetically susceptible dogs is growing. The Miniature Schnauzer is one of the identified breeds at risk.

A multifaceted approach to further the recognition of this potential, along with alternative strategies for containing infectious diseases and reducing the environmental impact of conventional vaccines is clearly needed. As an important first step, the international vaccinology community has recommended starting puppy vaccines around 8-9 weeks of age; fewer doses; increasing the periodicity between adult booster vaccinations from 1 to 3 years, except for rabies vaccine if required by law; monitoring serum antibody levels to assess protection against the clinically important infectious agents in the intervening period; and ceasing to vaccinate animals once they reach geriatric status.

The onset of adverse reactions to conventional vaccinations (or other inciting drugs or agents) can be an immediate hypersensitivity or anaphylactic reaction, or can occur acutely (24-48 hours afterwards), or later on (10-30 days) in a delayed type immune response usually caused by immune-complex formation.

Typical signs of adverse immune reactions include fever, stiffness, sore joints and abdominal tenderness, susceptibility to infections, central and peripheral nervous system disorders or inflammation, collapse with autoagglutinated red blood cells and jaundice, or generalized pinpoint hemorrhages or bruises. Liver enzymes may be markedly elevated, and liver or kidney failure may accompany bone marrow suppression. Furthermore, recent vaccination of genetically susceptible breeds has been associated with transient seizures in puppies and adult dogs, as well as a variety of autoimmune diseases including those affecting the blood [red blood cells (AIIIA) and/or platelets (ITP)], endocrine tissues (autoimmune thyroiditis, Addison's disease), joints (rheumatoid arhritis), skin and mucosa ~emphigus), eyes (pannus, uveitis, VKH, KCS), muscles (eosinophilic myositis, myasthenia gravis), liver (chronic active hepatitis), kidneys (immune-complex glomerulonephritis), bowel (inflammatory bowel disease complex), and multiple tissues (systemic lupus erythematosus). Breeders should be open about such occurrences because the underlying genetic basis of these conditions places other littermates and close relatives at increased risk.

Another serious problem arose recently from a commercial canine parvovirus vaccine that was contaminated by blue tongue virus. When given to pregnant dogs, the contaminated vaccine produced abortion and death, pointing out the ill-advised but all too common practice of vaccinating pregnant animals. Combining viral antigens, especially those of modified-live virus type which multiply in the host, elicits a stronger antigenic challenge to the animal. This is often viewed as desirable because a more potent immunogen should mount a more effective and sustained immune response. However, animals with pre-existing inhalant allergies (atopy) to pollens can develop a worsening of their disease following vaccination. Vaccination can also overwhelm the immunocompromised or even a healthy host that is continually bombarded with other environmental stimuli and has a genetic predisposition that promotes adverse response to viral challenge. This scenario may have a significant effect on the recently weaned young puppy or kitten being placed in a new environment. Furthermore, while the frequency of vaccinations is usually spaced 2-3 weeks apart, some veterinarians have advocated vaccination once a week in stressful situations. This practice makes little sense from a scientific or medical perspective. Overvaccination of young puppies by repeated use of combination vaccines as part of their "puppy shot" series may not cause obvious adverse effects, but their relatively immature immune systems can be temporarily or more permanently harmed. Consequences in later life may be the increased susceptibility to chronic debilitating diseases.

Finally,there are no studies that establish the necessity to give booster vaccinations annually, as routinely practiced today. In fact, little information has been published about the duration of protection after vaccination, although most experts agree that protection is for at least 3 and likely 5 or more years.

Dr Jean Dodds, DVM, is the founder/Presdent of Hemopet. She has served as an AKC Delegate and brings many years of experience to the fancy as a breeder and exhibitor of Pointers.