C5 Injection & Cancer

[borderstaff]

I was just wonder peoples opinion on the C5 injection I have heard so information that some how the injection in linked to the in crease of cancer in our dogs

I have a 11 year old and she had cancer 6 months ago now she had an op and it was removed and now her injection is due and i wondering if i should give it to her. She doesn’t go to dog school anymore but our other dogs do.

i was thinking if she is 11 she might have had enough.

[shekhina]

It seems to be different on the mainland, but here in Tasmania the usual is a C3, unless you're boarding them. Also, I will not be vaccinating mine every year. Once they are 3 years old I will leave the vaccination to every 2nd or 3rd year. I don't know that you would even need to vaccinate an 11 year old, I guess it depends. But mine wont be being done every year that's for sure.

I've not heard about the increase in cancer rates, but then I don't give a C5. Hope others here can give you more information than I can.

[morgan]

Any dog that has had cancer has a damaged immune system.

Vaccinations damage the immune system.

Wouldn't even consider it! But then I would never vaccinate a healthy dog of that age either...

[curlyking]

Personally, I never give a C5 only C3 and I certianly would not 1. vaccinate an 11 year old or 2. a dog that had cancer as the immune system is already compromised and to vaccinate will do so further. Vaccinations should only ever be given to healthy dogs not ones whose system is already under stress.

[Dogsfevr]

I agree wouldnt give c5 but i wouldnt vacc a dog of that age with a prior history of cancer.

I dont think its worth the risk of what could happen

[Guest Dianne]

I certainly would not inoculate any dog with C5 sorry JMHO..but at your dog's age and past condition definitely NO. Don't put any more stress on the system

Cheers and hugs to your oldie

Dianne

[KitKat]

Well...if it's anything...my older boy is 9 and starting to 'slip' a little...so i've made the decision to no longer vaccinate him. But up until this point he's had them each and ever year. And i feel comfortable with the decision

[Ceilidh]

I definately would'nt vaccinate him. My old boy, nearly 14, hasn't been vaccinated for quite a few years now.

[borderstaff]

THANK YOU ALL so much my decision has now been confirmed I will NOT be vac her anymore.

Well I think she will be happy with that decision as well.

[White Shepherd mom]

good on you kkisiel, I was about to agree with everyone else about not vaccinating but you've already made that decision!

I hope all goes well with your girl and she gives you many more years of love.

ETA : I would still suggest you take her for a check-up every 6-12 months though.

Edited September 21, 2005 by White Shepherd mom

[poodlefan]

My advice would be to discuss your concerns with your vet - many vets these days are prepared to discuss the pros and cons on vaccinating but you need to make an informed decision which has considered the risks.

Vaccinations do impact on the immune system. You need to weigh the risk of vaccinations against the risk that your dog, with a compromised immune system will be more susceptible to contagious dog diseases than others.

If your vet is of the 'vaccinate or else' brigade, find another vet. At the very least a titre to give you some indication of your dog's current immunity to potentially life threatening diseases seems warranted.

[Shandy]

Any dog that has had cancer has a damaged immune system.

Vaccinations damage the immune system.

Wouldn't even consider it! But then I would never vaccinate a healthy dog of that age either...

YOU HIT THE NAIL BANG ON THE HEAD MORGAN.

Vaccinations are ONLY necessary to be administered to pups and a booster the following year. In the US the vaccination protocol has changed from yearly to every 3-4 years and because they acknowledge that there are repercussions to a dog's health whenever it is vaccinated, alot of pet owners would much rather pay more and carry out a titer test which is basically a blood test that checks to see whether the animal still has sufficient antibodies to protect it against these infectious diseases and most have found that usually up to 5 years later the dog is still in NO NEED of revaccination. Vaccinating every year is a MAJOR NO NO as it really plays with the immune system and causes auto immune disorders, most vets can (but I don't know that they'd want to ), admit that autoimmune disease can be triggered by vaccines amongst other things. Some autoimmune problems can constitute skin diseases such as an allergic dermatitis which follows a secondary bacterial infection, etc. etc. I could go on and on but I'm sure you get the drift by now.

[Shandy]

GOOD ON YOU POODLEFAN - how refreshing to see that some people are open-minded enough to do their own research rather than carry on life like a flock of sheep to the slaughter; I only read your post after I posted mine as it's right after yours and it really felt like a breath of fresh air

[tramissa]

Is there anything other than kennels that require a dog to be vaccinated (i.e., I think the agility club down the road requires a vaccination certificate?) and if so, is this generally C5 or will C3 do?

[rosie]

also, will kennels and clubs accept a titre test?

[borderstaff]

yeah the vet said to take her for 6 month check ups and she has recently been and they said she was really healthy and i will continue to take her every 6 months.

i did ask my vet weather or not to vac her and he suggested that i could give her i lower injection c3 or somethinkg like that then i said i dont want to give her any and he said that taking her age and what she has gone though i probaby dont need to at all anymore. So that makes me happy i was a little worried he would tell me off but he was really good about it.

does anyone know when the dog clubs are going to starts accepting that the dog does not need one every year. Cause i want to take my other 2 dogs but i dont want them vac!!!

[Hazz]

I get my girl vacc (C5) regulary and haven't heard about it's association with cancer.

What type of vaccination do others give to their dogs ?.

I like the thought of my girl being fully protected as she is often with other dogs I don't know personally when training and so forth but it's frightening to hear some of this info, what do others do ?

[Kirra_Bomber_Zeus]

I get my girl vacc (C5) regulary and haven't heard about it's association with cancer.

What type of vaccination do others give to their dogs ?.

I like the thought of my girl being fully protected as she is often with other dogs I don't know personally when training and so forth but it's frightening to hear some of this info, what do others do ?

Hi Hazz

there's quite a bit of info around now about the true 'immune duration' of vaccines.

Basically, its like this - when dogs are vaccinated (at around 16 weeks old) they become immune to the disease. Thats it. You can not become 'more' immune and you can not 'boost' immunity. Hence the fact that we do not have a measles vaccination every year.

there was never any scientific evidence that vaccines needed to be given every year - apparantly at the time they thought it was 'convenient' for the owner and the vet.

a vaccination every 3 years is being suggested now - but in all honesty, there has been studies showing vaccines last 7-10 years and probably for the life of your dog.

Im not sure how old your dog is, but if its already had a couple of vaccinations, you shouldnt need to vaccinate them anymore.

You can get titre tests done - but in all honesty, I dont think these are all that helpful anyway. The thing with titre tests is that they test if there are any 'antibodies' in the system. If the titre test comes back showing no or little antibodies, that doesnt actually mean your dog needs to be re-vaccinated anyway. Antibodies lie dormant in the body until they are required to fight a disease, so just because they dont show up, doesnt mean they are not there ready to fight if they need to.

Unfortunately it seems most of the training clubs are waaaaay behind with their info. Im having a lovely fight with one of them at the moment.

Talking about that - can anyone shed light on this statement they gave me when I asked if I could bring my dog who can not and will not be vaccinated, but that I would happily sign a waiver if they were worried that I would come back on them if she got sick. The statement I got was:

Sorry but it is a requirement of our club that your dog/s be vaccinated as you also put the other dogs at ricks. Bit like the our flu vaccine, only covers you for certain stains of flu, not all types.

I cant say Ive heard a bigger heap of crap in my life personally, but hey, maybe someone else can interpret it for me! I mean are they saying that all the other dogs there are not 'immune' (and therefore not vaccinated) against certain 'strains' of disease so me bringing my unvaccinated dog there could put them at risk??? Ummm, does this make sense at all to anyone??????? If they arent protected anyway, isnt it more likely that they would pick up this 'disease' from somewhere else and all give it to each other??? Doesnt that mean that both my dog and all the other dogs are not immune to the same diseases anyway?? And if they are vaccinated against the other diseases then arent they protected anyway?

Jen