CBC MARKETPLACE: HEALTH » PET VACCINATIONS
Is it necessary to vaccinate your pet?
Broadcast: January 11, 2000 | Producer: Sharon Hanson; Researcher: Cindy Bahadur

"The best medicine is no medicine," says Margie Scherk

A kitten is getting her first vaccination. She squirms a bit as the veterinarian inserts the needle in her leg.

It's a bit unpleasant for the kitten, sure, but she'll end up getting fewer vaccinations in her lifetime than many other cats, because her veterinarian doesn't think she needs them.

"The best medicine is no medicine," says Margie Scherk, "and I think we need to treat vaccines just as if they are medicine and only administer to those who are needing them."

Scherk runs her own veterinary clinic for cats in Vancouver. She doesn't believe in annual vaccinations.

Scherk doesn't believe in annual vaccinations

"We have no reason to think a cat's immune system is different than a human's immune system. And we don't get vaccinated every year."

It's a debate that's gaining momentum.

Dogs and cats get vaccinations to protect them against a number of diseases, such as rabies and distemper.

Traditionally, vaccines have been given annually, but some veterinarians like Scherk think that's unnecessary.

The debate over pet vaccination is gaining momentum

Scherk studied the issue as a member of the American Association of Feline Practitioners.

The work was prompted by a study showing an increase in cancerous tumours in cats that had been vaccinated annually for rabies.

"That was the thing that really shocked the veterinary community," Scherk says.

"When we were trying to, above all, do no harm and protect our companions, in fact, in so doing some of these creatures were getting tumours that we inadvertently had contributed to by giving them these vaccines."

The Association of Feline Practitioners recommends that most vaccinations be given every three years

At the same time, work by another researcher showed that vaccines were effective for more than a year.

The feline distemper vaccine, for instance, lasted more than seven years.

"I think there's enough evidence now to show that if the immunity is still there, why give it again?" says Scherk.

The Association of Feline Practitioners now recommends that most vaccinations be given every three years.

And a number of veterinary schools in the United States have also changed their guidelines to every three years for cats and dogs.

But the Canadian veterinary community has been hesitant to follow suit.

Stephen Kruth

Vaccinating pets is big business. There are 8 million cats and dogs in Canada. And their owners spend about $80 million a year vaccinating them.

Some critics say it's the potential loss of that income that motivates some veterinarians to continue giving vaccinations every year.

But according to Stephen Kruth, "I think for any veterinarian the most important thing to do is to keep your animals healthy. And the most important aspect of that is vaccination."

Kruth is head of the clinical studies department at the University of Guelph School of Veterinary Medicine. It's the biggest vet school in the country and it runs its own veterinary clinic.

Kruth acknowledges that some vaccines can be given every three years, but he worries about lumping all vaccines together

"The reason we vaccinated yearly is because no one really knew how long those vaccines lasted for and we knew the diseases they were protecting against were deadly diseases," says Kruth. "It seemed like a rational thing to do at the time."

Kruth acknowledges that some vaccines can be given every three years, but he worries about lumping all vaccines together. He says some still need to be given annually.

Kruth says the key is to do a risk assessment on each pet and vaccinate accordingly.

"You have a hunting dog and that dog is out and exposed to lots of different diseases and it travels widely," he says, "and that animal is at risk for a lot, much different group of disorders than a 13-year-old chihuahua that lives on the 13th floor of a high-rise in downtown Toronto."

Most people want to do whatever is best for their pet. And for most of the dog owners we spoke to, that means being cautious until they see more evidence.

"I prefer to get it done every year if it's going to be an extra precaution"

"I prefer to get it done every year if it's going to be an extra precaution," says one dog owner Marketplace talked to in a Toronto park.

"We skipped a year in discussion with my vet," says another, "but now we're back to annual because we decided until I'm really confident about what the research is saying… I'm going to keep with one year."

Another owner: "In general they get a little sick every time they're vaccinated, just like kids do. So the lower the frequency the better off we'd all be…. except the vets and the sellers of the medication."

So if you're wondering what to do about vaccinating your pet, you need to pay attention to this:

According to the newest research, most vaccinations don't need to be given every year, but there are a couple you need to pay special attention to.

For cats, it's still recommended that they get a feline leukemia shot every year.

And for dogs, they may need to be vaccinated against kennel cough as often as every six months if they're at risk.

Postscript:

Crossing the border into the U.S. or elsewhere may mean you'll have to have your pet vaccinated annually. Customs officials say you may be required to prove your pet has been inoculated within the past calendar year; if it hasn't, it's possible your cat or dog won't be allowed to cross the border.

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