Not getting over it

[Jumpindogs]

Originally Posted by Katie1

I So Sorry but there Not any test for what your dog died of. They are blaming it on everything from Shots to Heartworm meds So this is something beyond even the breeders.

The link to vaccinations, and possibly drugs, does make sense.

IMHA (like juvenile diabetes in humans) is an immune system gone haywire attacking itself. That can occur when the animal is exposed to a foreign agent (like a drug or a virus) that shares some of the same surface proteins as the animal's own red blood cells (RBCs)...the animal naturally produces antibody to the foreign agent and the antibody then binds to the RBCs causing their rapid destruction. That can also occur when repeated vaccinations assault the immune system sending it into overdrive with no outlet but to attack itself.

It is natural for the immune system to fight, even repeatedly, against inhaled/ingested virus. It is definitely *not* natural for the immune system to be repeatedly inundated with virus (whether killed or modified live) injected into muscle tissue.

IMHA is a tragic disease and can affect any breed. Although there are some breeds that appear pre-disposed. My breed, the Australian Shepherd, is not yet I know several that have succumbed to IMHA.

IMO vaccinations should never be repeated after one high titer result (post vaccination) for both Parvo and Distemper. The high titer result proves, to the limits of our current testing methods, that the dog has produced effective antibody and thus has a normally functioning immune system. Thereafter, even if the titer drops...as it should in a healthy animal whose immune system is conserving energy for only the necessary battles...the immune system's memory cells (B lymphocytes aka cellular immunity) will immediately ramp up antibody production upon exposure to the virus.

Rabies vaccination must be given by state law but there is an esteemed team of researchers working on establishing the duration of immunity for Rabies so we may soon see titers for Rabies as an alternative. I am ever hopeful since Rabies vaccines are responsible for more vaccine-related problems than the other viral vaccines. Except for possibly Feline Leukemia vaccination site cancers in cats.

Vaccinations save many lives. Over-vaccination can kill and certainly pushes some healthy animals into a sickened state.

Sorry for the book. I am an Immunohematologist so I am a bit obsessed and have a solid technical basis for my decades long adamant stance against re-vaccination.