Dot Sweeney's Correspondence [2003]
sent to her by others

A warning about this page.

It is very long.

It contains information which may be upsetting.

It contains information which may be unpleasant.

Following are pieces of correspondence which Dot received from other breeders and concerned folk, sharing their own experiences and knowledge. Some information has been removed for privacy reasons, by Dot Sweeney.

Email #1

I work as a Vet Tech and was emailed the letter about your problem with the vaccine. The main reason that you had a problem with the vaccine is because it is an annual shot set for dogs over 1 year not new puppies. It is too much for their system at a young age...that is why they receive a different shot set.

Email #2

What a nightmare. I had a pup fall very ill last year after a vacc and have since been questioning the need for them. Especially booster shots - after all - do we get annual boosters???

Email #3

I am a breeder and also a vet nurse, I personally choose to vaccinate my pups with C3 at 6 weeks,and have never had a problem, then if pups new owners want to use C4 that is their choice at 12 & 16 wks.

Email #4

Hi Dot, sorry to hear about your babies, I have heard the same thing from a friend yesterday up at Toowoomba,she's not on the net so I will tell her about it if you can give me a address for her to write to you,or phone number, as she lost a puppy.

Email #5

Re Vaccinations - I had a perfectly healthy xxxxxxxx litter vaccinated 7 months ago. Litter of 8, next day after Vaccination 2 were a bit "off" very sluggish and just not their normal selves. Rang Vet he said they will be fine as long as they are eating, not diarrhoea, vomiting etc. Next day one started to perk back up a little, but other one continued to go down hill. Back to the Vet we went immediately. At no point would the Vet concede that their had been a reaction to the Vaccination - I was convinced otherwise. Anyway to cut a long story short, pup had Blood Tests (she was anaemic) she was dehydrating (as diarrhoea had set in). No vomiting still. They reckon she was born anaemic which I disagreed with as she had good colour at time of Vaccination when they vet checked her. Anyway after countless drugs, IV Drip for 5 days and finally as a last straw a blood transfusion - we pulled her through. It was touch and go. Some $$$$$$$ later I ended up with a perfectly happy puppy.

Email #6

I might drag out the vaccine card from when my pup got sick and check the brand. Raging temp for 3 days - had to be wrapped in cool packs constantly, did not eat,did not move, fluids by dropper only, and I still had to sub-cut saline inject her for dehydration. Thankfully she pulled through OK - but it certainly got me questioning things.

Email #7

Hello Dot,

I have had several near disasters with Protech - not even the 'new' version - each time occurring about 10 - 12 days after vaccination. Each (now 3 cases - 3 different litters) time the pup has become distressed (along with

myself), disorientated and lost all coordination however a quick antihistamine shot corrected the problem. Now I steer clear of that drug completely. I rang fellow breeders and found out they too had experienced similar problems. I went further and posted a letter on the xxxxxx Dog Forum and received back a host of similar horror stories. I will be very interested in getting your final tally of problems to pass onto my Vet - perhaps it's something we should all take to our Vets. When I first suggested to my Vet that Protech could be the problem I was looked at as if I had descended from Mars......

Email #8

Heavens Dot. This is terrible. Last litter I had got coccidiosis after the vaccinations approx 5 months ago. It was a nightmare to eradicate and there didn't seem to be a problem except the vaccination.

Email #9

Hi Dot, our feelings for you re your puppies suffering, & your own devastation,it brings tears to ones eyes knowing these can be avoided, & are the answer to so many health problems presented throughout the pets life as well,we have been presented with continual vacc side affects, with patients coming to our clinic, with their animals , for many yrs now, unfortunately it is not new, but now it is becoming very prevalent, & our pets are being subjected to so many carrier drugs within those Vacc as well, which you are not told about,this is one of the reasons why many are against vet vacc, & choose not to vaccinate or prefer to use Homeopathic vacc that do not compromise the immune system . You are right in that the pets immune systems cannot handle these drugs, thankfully a few vets are realizing the Vacc do a lot of damage, an immunology testing would give answers, prior to subjecting these little kids with all those Viruses into their bodies, including the carrier drugs,too much for anyone to cope with let alone a little 6wk pup.

Email #10

Dear Dot Sweeney

My name is xxxxxxxxxxx, I am a licensed Breeder of xxxxxxxxxx who has also experienced problems with the new vaccination. So far I have lost an entire litter of pups and then in the second litter where this new vaccination was used I lost another two pups and rest fell very ill cause of it. Since this I now no longer let my vet use this vaccination on any of my dogs.

Email #11

Dot,

I read your letter regarding the vaccination of your puppies and the problems you have had. Would you say the symptoms are parvo like? I have had similar experiences.

Email #12

Mum and I breed xxxxxxxxxxxx under the xxxxxxxxxx prefix in xxxxxxxxxx. A litter of 5 puppies that prior to the 6 week vaccination were very outgoing and healthy. 24 hours after the vaccination all 5 puppies went very quiet and shy. They also became quite depressed with slightly loose motions. It took them a whole week to get back to normal. We mentioned it to our Vet and he said it was probably a reaction the vaccination.

Email #13

Hi, I will not use Protech not only myself but 2 other breeders of xxxxxxxxxxx I know lost pups after vaccination. Symptoms of gastro, the anaphatactic shock,dehydration weakness disorientation and death. This reaction has been over the last 18 months at least. My vet denied a link and would not use xxxxxxxx that I requested so I changed vets.

Email #14

Hi

I have just read your letter on the new vaccine. I breed xxxxxxxxxx and I live in xxxxxxxxxxx. We almost lost 17 puppies because of this vaccine 18 months ago. I have never before come across anything like it, and have had no problems since. It had to be the vaccine as there were 2 litters born 2 weeks apart. The first litter was vaccinated and within 4 hours they were sick. The other litter was as healthy as could be until they were vaccinated. We saved both litters, thankfully. If you need any more info from me just ask.

Email #15

I'm Linda from xxxxxxxxxxxx. I had a litter of xxxxxxxx pups who I brought to the vet the day after Christmas (Thursday) for their 2nd shots. My vet told me these were some of the best looking healthiest pups he has seen in a long time. A few days later....Sunday morning....I was sitting on the den floor playing with them when one of the pups let out a whelp and ran across the room then collapsed on her side with her legs paddling like she was having a seizure. I ran to her immediately and picked her up to check her mouth for foreign objects. She was stiff and her eyes were fixed ...she looked like she was almost dead. I yelled to my family....my son started CPR on her and my husband and son rushed out the door to bring the pup to the emergency clinic. By the time they got 2 blocks away from our home the pup was hemorrhaging from its mouth and was dead. I brought the pup to the vet for a necropsy. It showed pulmonary hemorrhage but everything else was negative....no signs of clots or organ damage. The next day (Monday) another pup died the same way. I brought this pup to the state lab for a necropsy which again was positive for pulmonary hemorrhage but everything else was negative including all viral studies. A vet lung specialist examined the pup's lungs and could not come up with an explanation. I am convinced it was the vaccine that did it. The rest of the litter had problems with unexplained fever spikes up to 105.7 but since we treated them all with xxxxxxxxxx they have all recovered. The pups are now 4 months old and doing well. I will not vaccinate them again. I have had blood titers drawn on them and they enough immunity from the first 2 shots. My vet has been reluctant to say it was the vaccine but since the time element is right and everything else is negative there is no other logical explanation why 2 healthy pups would drop dead in such a horrific way. I have contacted the pharmaceutical company and am waiting for their response.

Email #16

Dot, A friend forwarded to me your letter. I raise xxxxxxx and lost half a litter after receding their second dose of Duramune last summer. The vet tested and they were positive for parvo but as I said had their 2nd shot some 5 days previously. My vet was shocked that this happened. It cost me hundreds of dollars and weeks of heartache trying to save them with IV s and antibiotics every 2 hours around the clock. Of course when we would think the worst was over 1 or even 2 more pups would get sick. We ended up with 5 of seven pups getting it and losing 2 of them. When I contacted Fort Dodge about this, they said that they didn't guarantee the vaccines until 7-10 days after the 3rd dose!!!! they also said that if vet didn't administer vaccinations they would not guarantee them but my vet had done all of the vaccinations so they could not use that. The vet at Fort Dodge contacted my vet and was supposed to call me back but never did. My vet recommended that I change to xxxxxxxx instead so that is what I have done. I will not use any of Fort Dodge products on any of my dogs ever again. I have since found out that if I had an DNA test done on the virus and found that it was not a wild strain that I could have held them responsible but Fort Dodge seemed to be avoiding me through the whole thing and did not tell me any of this. I don't know if this is what is happening now but it would not surprise me at all. We kept our pups away from everything that could have caused it so I truly believe it was caused from the vaccine as my vet said he had never had that happen before my pups especially with them having been right on time with all care and very healthy, inside pups before they got sick. Just thought I would pass this on as I do not want anyone else to go through what my dogs and I have gone through

Email #17

Recently we vaccinated our 7 week old xxxxxxxxx puppies. Within a few hours of them having their injections and over the 5 or so days following these vaccinations we had some very sick puppies. They were vomiting out of control , uncontrollable diarrhea, lethargic, dehydrated, not eating - not that they could possibly keep anything down anyway. They had to have injections to stop them throwing up, fluids and were generally sick little people.

Email #18

Fort Dodge are a bunch of wanks. When we had our very healthy xxxxxxx babies vaccinated at 6 weeks of age, the next morning they were sick. They DID get parvo. The vet said if they were already harbouring the virus they would all die by giving them the vaccinations. Well after many thousands of dollars later they all survived except one. We rang "dodgy brothers" and complained about their vaccines. We said something must be happening with the needles as the pups were all very healthy prior to needles. They gave us some bullshit story about the length of time was to quick. So I told them that the last time this happened they told me the length of time was to long. So it makes no difference to them they have the answer no matter what.

Email #19

I had my last litter vaccinated with it. One of the puppies came down with puppy strangles and the other got pustules around the eye and both had to go on intravenous antibiotics. I have never had this problem in 25 years so it was a bit of a shock.

Email #20

Hello Dot

I thought I would write and tell you that we too this year have lost healthy puppies after they have been vaccinated. We have probably lost about six in all last year, and it wasn't until the last two that I thought to ask the vet about it, she did say some dogs have adverse reactions. In our case it was always only little puppies, but it was very distressing, I absolutely hate it when any puppy dies, but of course the little ones were all sold too, which made it very embarrassing from our point of view. Our vet suggested we perhaps change to a different vaccine, one that is not a live vaccine, if that means anything to you - she has told us now that the vaccine we are using does not have as good a success rate as the other ones that most of us were using but, at least the puppies are all still alive! So we decided to change our brand of vaccine, for the six week old puppies, so we are using xxxxxxxx now. So far all is well, our vet tell us that another local breeder has done the same and it seems to be working for them too.

Email #21

Hi Dot,

You are just now going down the very same path that I traveled. Questioning the safeness of vaccines. I began questioning vaccines and the role they play in the illnesses and disease of our fur-babies after I had lost 2 litters of puppies immediately after having been vaccinated, all from parvo.

Email #22

It isn't just THAT vaccine. I've had shot reactions in four consecutive xxxxxxxxx litters, also using xxxxxxxx and xxxxxxxx brand vaccines.

Email #23

You might find this intersting. My Bouvier bitch had an immediate reaction to the xxxxxxxx booster thought I had lost her. We pumped her full of benydrile,and she pulled out of it. I have heard of pups getting sick a week or two after the vaccines were given.

Email #24

As a trainer, I have seen a few & heard of a lot more dogs that went crazy after vaccinations, & of course there always the odd litter lost too. I steer away from all drugs when it comes to my dogs & family, if they get something, it's only if its absolutely necessary.

Good Luck.

Email #25

Hi Dot,

You don't know me, my name is xxxxxxxxxxxxx. A friend of mine sent me your e-mail re your puppies. First of all I would like to say how sorry I am to hear of your loss, you don't expect to lose puppies with something that should be protecting them. I work at xxxxxxxxx Veterinary Clinic and thought the Vets at my work would like to read your e-mail, so I took it to work to today and gave it to the Vet on duty. She reassured me that they don't use PROTECH at all as they feel it is to strong for puppies of such a young age. Just thought you may be interested in this

Good luck with the rest of your pups.

Email #26

Sweetie,

Been there, done that. What you are up against here is ethics V big bucks. There's a lot that is buried and blacked out in the name of money. I'm only sorry that the losers are defenseless puppies who rely on us for their well being, and my heart goes out to you. Please God that your digging makes a difference for the future. Just go very carefully please, multinationals have mega bucks to grease wheels and turn the seeing and hearing into deaf mutes.

Email #27

I had a terrible problem with my boy Zack, we got him at 11 months and of course as we were home number 7 did not know what he was or was not covered for so we gave him a booster, big mistake, by 12 hours later he developed another head just like encephalitic ( spelling?), so the following year they tried another vaccine and a narrower needle, all done very gently with no fuss, same reaction. We were devastated as it took the best part of a week to subside. Poor wee laddie just took to his bed and cried I was heartbroken and just loved and cuddled him and applied hot and cold to his poor neck. The Vet was convinced it was just bad handling on the Vets part and got yet another vaccine the following year and let me do the shot, bad mistake, another week of my poor baby suffering.

Email #28

I am living in terror with my litter done last Thursday. They have runny poops and one has become withdrawn. This started Saturday. Different stuff to what you had done but is it that different?

Email #29

Go Dot

When my pup had the bad reaction last year, the vet clinic said "no way would it be caused by the vaccination". Of course he would say that. What else would you tell a client who spends $500 a year vaccing the permanent adults alone, and 1/2 that per average litter, ( so another $1,000 this year) and that's if they all leave home before round 2.

Email #30

I looked up this vaccine and discovered it is manufactured by Ft Dodge Labs in Australia. I have had major reactions ( shock, and death ) from using Ft Dodge Labs vaccinations not just this one. Can you give me more info?

Email #31

Hi dot I hope your pups are on the mend have they lost the use of their hind legs at all. I have also had problems (twice) with pups after vac and I am sure that was the problem . All the best.

Email #32

Dear Dot, for many years now there have been major problems with vaccinations that are produced by the drug companies. 13 years ago, I almost lost my, now eldest, Samoyed - twice - first with the initial vaccination and then with the booster I have to say that drug companies really don't know and don't care if they are killing puppies either as they are still pulling the money in, regardless - and that's the bottom line in all of this - the almighty dollar.

Email #33

Hi Dot,

My Name is xxxxxxxxx and I breed Rottweilers. I feel for your loss personally as I too had the same thing happen to me at my puppies first vaccination at 6 weeks. Mine was slightly different in that a very beautiful bitch puppy had an anphaltic seizure whilst wheeling the litter out of the vets 10 mins after being vaccinated with Protech Duramune C4. I also would not wish it on my worst enemy for any breeder to go through that and upon posting my case on xxxxxxxxxx I found that many other breeders went through the same thing. The internal bleeding was horrific as this vaccine causes the heart to actually burst and blood has no where to go except out through nostrils, lungs fill very quickly. I had 5 vets trying to save my baby whilst I was hysterical watching and ended up begging them to let her go as she would have had horrific brain damage and that was no quality of life for a puppy to live. The rest of the litter got sick that afternoon and my vet kindly took them home to his house and they spent the night on drugs such as cortisone and antihistamines, which then counteracted the vaccination, and left my babies uncovered, but alive. I too got an absolute no unexplainable answer from the drug company and the rep was very nasty and related my case to one in 10,000, which after all of the emails that I received seems to not be true. Another Rottweiler breeder in xxxxxxxxxx lost 3 puppies with the same delayed reaction as yours and their vet did not report it. Should you wish to contact me please phone me on XXXXXXXX

Email #34

Dear Dot,

I am a vet in xxxxxxxx. , firstly I would not advise the routine vaccination for parainfluenza (kennel cough) at 6-8 weeks. The vaccine has been available for the last 2-3 years and I don't believe there would be any of the old protechs available or in date. The potential problem I have always seen with this vaccine is that it is mass produced in the USA, it is not made locally and it is a different Protech to the old websters vaccination that everyone is used to. I hope this information can be of some benefit to you.

Email #35

Hi Dot

I gave up using vaccines some 5 years ago and turned to homeopathy for similar reasons you are experiencing. Since doing this, I haven't had one problem with any of my pups. I agree with you, its time these companies opened up to what is really happening. Its too big a money spinner for them to be open and clear as to what is really going on. Whilst they won't address the issue openly, you are going to get a tremendous amount of people coming to their own conclusions.

Email #36

Hi Dot

I used to use Protech but now use xxxxxxxxx. I have had no major side effect from P except that the puppies are very sore for at least 12 hours after vacc....with xxxxxxx No reaction what so ever.....I heard 2 years ago that P was being taken off the market due to adverse reactions...& I switched to xxxxxxx then....But it was never taken off the market they have just brought out a new one instead.......I still wont bother using it.....

Email #37

Hi Dot Have follow your emails with interest, I too had three litters all born within days of each other come down with Coccidiosis about 2 days after they had their first needles. Mine too we done at home.

Email #38

Hi Dot

We can sympathize with you. Last September we vaccinated a healthy litter (10) of xxxxxxxx pups with Modified live. Within five days all but one pup were depressed, vomiting, and having runny blood tinted stool. One progressed to a sorry state by 5 days - coral colored stool. We held back the pups from going to their new homes -and continued to care for them with the assistance of our vet. All the pups recovered. One of the lab tests indicated the pup possibly contracted parvo. Fortunately the pups made it through this reaction and were sent off to their new homes. However, we have just experienced a set back. Unfortunately, one of the males went into renal failure at 5 months. The puppy owners dropped this pup off at our door frustrated by the thought of having to put this pup down. The kidneys had a severe corticomedullary imbalance. There were very few well developed papillary necrosis and a poorly "formed" renal papilla with ascending infections throughout the tubules. The lungs were inflamed amounting to severe bronchopneumonia. There was no choice but to have the pup euthanized. The autopsy report indicates the pup had congenital renal disease. I am very skeptical about the latter. I would propose that this pup suffered renal damage as a result of the initial vaccine reaction. Unfortunately the vaccine companies tend to turn a blind eye & deaf ear which leaves me to replace the pup and change our vaccination protocol.

Email #39

The thing that bugs me MOST is when a dog does have a reaction from a vaccination and the vet actually admits that's what it is, instead of saying NO MORE VACS for that particular dog....they give an injection of dexamethazone or tell the clients to give Benadryl before they bring them for their vaccinations next time!!! Some of these dogs go into anaphylactic shock and their airways close and these are the dogs the vet will admit have reactions. The puppies that seizure, the long term damage, injection site tumors and hair loss, etc....are usually blamed on allergies,genetics,or some other bull...

Email #40

Hi

I sympathies with you as years ago I lost 3 litters plus other pups individually through vaccines. I thought it was futile to try and fight drug companies.

Email #41

Dot..... I don't want you to betray any confidences...... I wonder if some of these people would write to Ft Dodge Labs and complain. I lost my bitch because of a shot from FDL so I am VERY biased. Sorry. My last litter was accidentally given a FDL puppy shot...... lost one puppy and the other one now has HOD..... I know that the vaccine did NOT cause this but it certainly triggered it.

Thanks for listening.

Email #42

Hi,

I was very interested in reading your emails about the vaccinations. I have been a xxxxxxx Breeder and Exhibitor for the past 30 years and also have been breeding xxxxxxxx for the past 20 years. About 18 months ago I had a perfectly healthy litter of puppies who had their injections at 6 weeks of age and within 24 hours to 1 week all the puppies were very ill. 1 died and the other 5 had to be put on a drip, and after much care and expense we pulled them through. We could not get any answers as to why this happened, the vets said it would not have been the vaccinations but I am pretty sure that it was. I have a lot of problems with diarrhoea etc, when the pups are done at 6 weeks so now do not have them done until they are 7 weeks and find that I have no problems with them. I will only get a 3 done, nothing stronger. A friend of mine who is a xxxxxxxxx breeder. Was also having problems and now has followed my advice and is also not having any problems any more. I understand everything you are saying, and worried about the new vaccine, I had the problem with the older one, but the symptoms you are talking about are the same.

Regards.

Email #43

Dear Dot,

Hello! I´ve decided to write to your private mail, I hope I´m not bothering you. I would like to let you know my own experience with one of my litters. They had the same symptoms.

Email #44

My name is xxxxxxxxx I have just put my puppy down that was affected by HOD. This is a nasty disease that affects rapidly growing puppies. The pup was vaccinated with the new vaccine that covers lepto and Coronavirus. I Have studied this HOD via the Internet and on some studies they have linked it to distemper. They tried to infect healthy dogs with HOD and 3 out of 7 dogs got distemper one web site actually suggested that this disease is related to the distemper vaccine. The HOD itself is really quiet a mystery but I have never experienced this HOD before and I will definitely not be using the new vaccine ever again. You can contact me atxxxxxxxxxx if I can be of any assistanace. Thanks

Email #45

Dear Dot,

Sorry to hear about your pups....hope all is well now. Years ago we had a problem the same as yours. There was no help from the company either. Our vet did find out that they were using live parvo and this may have been the problem. Since then we use the killed parvo and have not had another problem. I hope this helps.

Thanks ever so much for the warning.

Take care....

Email #46

Dot,

Very spooky to read about the "blue eye" - eye swelling reaction. One of my pups has had 2 bout's of unexplained eye swelling in the last 2 weeks since being vacc'd. I thought it was from play fighting (although never happened before) but there was no sign of a puncture bite mark. I then wondered if he had ran in to something at full speed and given himself a shiner. It happened again yesterday. His right eye swells up enormously is very hard, very hot, and like nothing I have ever seen before. It is nothing to do with entropion as the lid is in no way rolled in - he has big bug eyes for a Shar Pei. I am now wondering if he is having a reaction to the vacc. I am going to detox him and not do the second shot. Reading a bit more - he fits the 10 days after exposure to adenovirus perfectly for when it first occurred.

Email #47

I had a similar thing happen when I used xxxxxxxxx vaccines when it was first available. They too said it wasn't them. I have not seen this new vaccine, would tell me its components.

Email #48

Dot,

This problem is more widespread than you think and or what vets would admit to. It is a worry to all breeders and I wish you every success in getting some action to stop this from happening to anyone else. Many years ago, I too lost pups after vaccination, perfectly healthy one minute, the next very ill, blood diarrhoea, vomiting, etc. Others would not have these symptoms, instead they would have seizures. At the time I was using the xxxxxxxx live vaccine and when I changed to using xxxxxxxx I didn't have one reaction nor lost a pup since. However, when I have them vaccinated, it's heart in mouth once again!!!!!

Email #49

I just lost a 3.5 month old male to something very similar. First Parvo test was a weak positive, second test was negative. He was on IVs for three days and we lost him. Dysentery is the best way to describe. He couldn't keep anything in at either end. A second puppy that is 2 weeks older is vomiting now, but we went straight to the vet and after sub cue fluids and other meds and a LOT of Prayer, appears to be stabilizing, although I am on duty for the next 48 hours at least. I am very sorry to hear what you had to go through. I had shades of that myself after losing the first puppy, then thinking the second puppy would go, and beginning to think I would have to watch them all die one by one. That will get your attention and convince you there is a God real quick!!!! I hadn't prayed in years, and man I hit the deck. So I am not out of the woods with the second puppy, but she did keep her Albon down, and we are being really aggressive.

Kindest regards

Did you have your pups vaccinated a couple of weeks prior to them getting sick Dot?

Yes, but it was a long couple of weeks. I am going back right now with the other sick one, as she needs another subcu injection. SO FAR, no diarrhoea, but she did vomit this AM at 5 and is just "out of it" or not quite right. This is definitely gastrointestinal of some kind, but the other puppies test for parvo was negative, so maybe this is not the same? It is brutal to be sure. I am very sorry for your losses, and I hope and PRAY that the causes will be known and that the dogs will be healed.

God Bless

Email #50

Hi Dot...been off dog showing and can't remember if I answered this or not....senility setting in, I guess. I'll be very interested in what you manage to get down about all of this. I sold a perfectly healthy puppy who had had 2 vaccinations with no problem. She was health checked before she left here, and when she arrived at her new home. The gave her the final booster and within 3 days she was dead. I believe it was vaccine induced parvo. She would start to get better, then "it was time for her antibiotic shot" and within 20 minutes of the shot, she would start going back downhill... Of course, the vet says absolutely that the shot had nothing to do with it....that she "already" had parvo. She was here the whole time with other puppies...not a one of them ever got sick. I also have a boarding kennel...full of dogs...not a one of them got sick. Guess some people have more common sense than others.

Good luck, and please let me know what happens.

Email #51

I have been breeding since 1979, I have never had an unvaccinated puppy get parvo, but then I have always vaccinated at 6 - 10 - 12 weeks. I have heard recently of a number of cases, where they may be 2 different litters - the vaccinated pups get it and the unvaccinated puppies don't get it. I suspect that much of the parvo that is around is vaccine induced.

Email #52

Hi Dot,

xxxxxxx forwarded your email to me and we own a vet clinic in xxxxxxxxx I breed xxxxxxxxx and we have heard much re: vaccinations and my partner who is a vet does not advocate heavy vaccination programs. He read your email and is very happy to be forewarned before we start using that particular vaccine as yes, we are still using up older supplies. A friend of mine who has a sheltie which was vaccinated and then developed a range of very nasty symptoms due to over suppression of the immune system may be a good person for you to gather further information from.

Email #53

Dear Dot,

Horrified to hear, what happened. Hope, puppies will survive. We just this weekend discussed vaccination for the puppies with a few xxxxxx breeders. They have very bad experience with vaccination too and my friend decided do not vaccinate her last litter. Our litter due in a week or so and we start to be very much concern about effects from vaccination too.

Email #54

Dot,

My name is xxxxxxxxxxxxx and I reside in the States. I recently read an email sent by you regarding problems with a certain vaccine. For about two months now, we have been having problems with our corgi we imported from Tasmania in November. The problems all began when she started limping. We were concerned that we may have done something to her when we picked her up and she yelped. She limped for a little while after that but then was fine.

About a month or so later, she began limping and has not stopped yet. We have taken her to the vet time and time again, but they have found nothing wrong with her.

Now she has gone off her food and tends to salivate quite frequently. Not only are we concerned about the limping, but since she has gone off her feed, she is losing weight. She's also very lethargic. Because she is going to a new vet today, my mother decided to take copies of her vaccination records with her. This is when she became aware of the fact that the corgi has been vaccinated with the PROTECH DURAMUNE C 4 & C 3.

Email #55

Dot,

Sorry to hear about your pups. Sorry to ask , but, what are the symptoms? Just by chance. Are the symptoms: Diarrhea, vomits, they stay very passive, but no fever?

Email #56

Hi Dot.

You probably saw that already but just in case. Forgot if I told you or not, I had parvo outbreak couple of weeks after vaccination 7 years ago. If needed, I can find out what vaccine I used and who is the manufacturer. Now it's only Parvo and Distemper 2-way, xxxxxxx by xxxxx, two or three times between 6 and 12 weeks of age, that's it for the rest of dog's life. I've seen one BRT in 25 years getting Hepatitis but in easy form and around 7-8 months old, so I don't vaccinate for it.

Email #57

Dot, I too know the heartbreak of vaccines killing and making puppies ill. It was also a Duramune vaccine by Ft. Dodge that did it but mine was Parvo vaccine only and not a blend. Make sure your vet registers the terrible reaction your puppies had. If we don't start officially registering these reactions then the drug companies can get away with saying it wasn't the vaccines that made your dogs ill but some wild virus. I have heard it all.

Email #58

Dear Dot,

I found out that my pup did NOT get Ft. Dodge vaccine. My vet, Dr. xxxxxx, told me that he has stopped using Ft. Dodge vaccine almost a year ago due to "quality control issues." We believe my pup had a reaction to the corona portion of the vaccine - - as the breeder didn't give that, but all other components were the same.

Good luck!

Email #59

Now, before I go on, I will, for a reason later to evident, describe what the diarrhoea looked like. It was intermittent, non offensive, and contained some mucous and a tinge of very faint blood. That was it. If you didn't look closely, it could go unnoticed. Second case was recently. I went to another breeder to buy a xxxxxxx puppy. While I was there, she showed me and another breeder friend of mine who was with me, another litter she had but was not going to immunize them because she was too afraid to do so until they were at least three months old, as any time before, she found she would lose them. This struck me as an all too familiar story. This woman had in the past, lost many, many, puppies post vaccination and had spent hundreds of dollars doing this test and that, autopsies, etc. only to be told they didn't know what it was and could only tell her it appeared to be a Parvo like disease.

Email #60

I experience "vaccine induced" parvo from 1984 - 1991. I cant remember what vaccines my vet was using in those days.

I thought they were picking up the germs from my vets clinic. Within days of vaccination they got parvo and most died.

In the last two years, I experienced a new reaction - I was using Fort Dodge and have experienced a vaccine reaction, where the pups had an unidentified illness, not eating for about two weeks, tonsillitis, and blood tests showed they were recovering from an infection. I think the problem was that I was using a 6 in 1 and was too much for the puppies immune system to cope with.

Email #61

Most vets don't report reactions unless they are extreme and within minutes of giving the vaccine (shock). Even then, some vets don't report anything. I worked for a vet and she never reported any of the reactions she saw. The vaccine companies didn't make it too easy to report reactions either, considering how common they are. I think there was a 1-800 number somewhere on the package. I wish they would have to include a card with every vaccine package to make it easier to report reactions.

Email # 62

Several things to consider. In vaccine induced Parvo the dogs do not always test positive or a strong positive for Parvo. Fort Dodge is one of the most sued companies in the vaccine world. Each suit brings a statement that you sign saying you will not disclose your settlement or the evidence. It is possible if you read enough to find evidence of others who experience the same thing. Fort Dodge will tell you that your dog caught a wild strain that they were already incubating at the time your puppies were vaccinated. Never believe them. It is all about money with them. Mega chemical company making mega bucks. I wonder what the true statistics are on vaccine induced Parvo and how many incidences the owners believe the vet that say it can't happen? How many cases go unreported because puppy owners do not know you can report to a government body? How many vets do not pass on events?

Email # 63

Poor babies. The 2 here in GB are on the mend but the girl is a skeleton, she is very nervous and shivery. She is only weighing 12 pounds at 12 weeks so is very small. The Vets have told the owner they cannot guarantee that she will not go into heart failure just by growing up.

Email #64

How long are we as owners going to have to put up with tragedies like this? I just can't believe that vaccine reactions resulting in injury/death are rare, virtually *everyone* I know involved in dogs has a story of illness or death following vaccination. If I can name ten incidents off the top of my head, this can not be an unusual occurrence. Yet try and search the general Vet text books that Vets are currently trained on and you don't even see it mentioned. I hate conspiracy theories, but I have to wonder if the vaccine manufacturers are hiding data here.

Email # 65

Hi Dot

I spoke to you the day I had my 11 Rotty pups vaccinated. Pups are now 8 weeks all well only slight reaction a little lathargic and poopy for a couple of days. I guess I was lucky, all my dogs are on a BARF diet and I upped their supplements at this time

Regards

Email #66

I worked at an animal hospital back in the 70's and even then there were tons of dogs having bad reactions to the vaccines....at this point I don't vaccinate any of my animals, except for a rabies shot when the dog is 6 months. This is tough to do some places because the law says you have to have a rabies shot to get the yearly licence in Texas. I used to read the vet's periodicals and there were a lot of studies and controversy about yearly boosters.....the companies that manufacture the vaccines sponsor studies that support it (I wonder why?) but my own personal experiences and observations are the opposite. My grandmother used to raise Kerry Blue Terriers and she fed a natural diet and did not vaccinate....harsh as it sounds she said that if pups died from distemper their constitutions weren't strong enough to use for breeding anyway. I've nursed dogs and cats through distemper and parvo and never lost one so I guess I don't see the risk of the actual disease as great as the risk of vaccination. Just my opinion here. Good natural diet and good bloodlines are the best insurance I've found.

Email #67

Hi,

My dog was not a pup when she died, but developed Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia when she was 5 years old. She was otherwise healthy, a mixed breed (cocker/sheltie) and a very happy dog up till then. She had her booster 3 weeks before. She became lethargic and then one morning couldn't walk. I took her to the emergency vet (It was Sunday) and he prescribed an antibiotic since she had a fever. She got better, then. And a month later, we were taking a trip and needing to leave her with a friend. She didn't know if she'd need to be gone for a day or so, and we were asked to get a bordetella vaccine for our dog. We did. When we returned from our trip 2 weeks later, our dog had lost about 10 pounds (weighed 27, and had weighed 37.5 before) and was lethargic with pale gums. Took her to the vet, who told us she possibly had cancer, pancreatitis, and a plethora of horrible other diseases. The next morning he found out she had AIHA (see above) and that it could be treated with steroids. Our dog recovered and lived for another year before she had a sudden relapse and died very quickly. It was HORRIBLE. I do think that the antibiotics combined with the vaccine contributed, but the vet says we'll never know. Well, we probably won't. But I don't think vaccinating her every year with a giant soup of diseases helped her any.

Email #68

I'm a qualified veterinary nurse with 17 years in the profession. I have been lurking on this list for a little while, learning heaps. On a personal note I will NOT be vaccinating any of my 3 dogs (aged 2, 4 and 9 years) as I did all three last year and three weeks after vacination my oldest dog nearly died when he developed Auto Immune Hemolytic Anemia - research indicates this could be vaccine related - so no more vaccine for my dogs.

Email #69

I recently had a 11 year old dog vaccinated with intranasal Bordetella . The dog was just examined prior to the vaccination and given a clean bill of health. Approximately 2 days later he exhibited paralysis in his right leg (paws curled under and right leg crossings in back of the left leg). Had a hard time standing up. Initial exam thought to be a disc herniation . Proved to be negative after a myelogram, MRI and CAT scan. Paralysis progressed to the left leg. Diagnosed with perineuritis (guilan-Barre) or peripheral neuritis. My dog passed away in his sleep approximately 9 days after the innoculation and 7days after the diagnosis.

Email #70

I work at a vets, have done nursing and reception etc. My dogs were always vaccinated as pups, and boostered every year, until one developed Addisons disease. Each of my dogs, and I had 5, became ill as they aged, but now I have 2 youngsters, who have never been vaccinated, and never will be. Instead, I give homeopathic nosodes, I don't want to leave them unprotected. There are ways around the problems, my boss respects my stance, and consults me about all/any drugs my girls may need.

Email #71

I had a friend who has two dogs same breed both from different lineage. She took them to have there annual booster, they got sick days after, weeks later and a whole load of test later they were both diagnosed with Lupus. Very odd and you could not change my mind that it had something to do with the vaccination. My vet agrees that it is very possible that this was the case.

Email #72

I have read through the link xxxxx sent to us and I found it very informative. Especially the findings of the vaccines and their effects. Personally, I found it a real eye opener and have to ask, why do vets insist on using live vaccine for our dogs when there is the option for other methods?

Email #73

xxxxxx had her last C4 injection on Sept. 5th '02. She was a bit flat for a day but bounced back. Since then, however, she occasionally has a bout of what I can only describe as kennel cough. She stops, coughs with a hard, dry cough which lasts maybe 10 - 15 seconds, then goes on as usual. This does not occur frequently, i.e. every day, but just now and again.

Email # 74

Dot, The book by Dr. Pitcairne 'Guide to a Healthy dog and cat". has a great section on the damaging effects of vacines...will find moe research for you & contact others who had problems.... I am one, I am certain the Parvo Vac I gave little xxxxxxx (about 10 weeks) gave her the Lymphosarcoma she died from at four yrs of age. She crided when I gave it to her and was sick for quite awhile (I document this in all their puppy/health record so I have the exact notes on it and the Vacine number) Hope I can help! My best to you and big thanks for trying to do something about this! Linda

Email # 75

Hi Dot,

That vaccine that was used on your pups... was that for Corona, Lepto?? as well. The reason I ask is that I had three litters of pups (born within a two week span of each other) ... I had two litters vaccinated at the same time.... one with the usual C3 or C4? vaccine but the other with that and a vaccine mixed with it for Corona and Lepto, which the vets said they were doing now. That litter had really bad, smelly diahorea within about three days and were off their food and dehydrated, they had this for a couple of days snd then came good again... but one of the girls had it for about four days (I was giving her peptosyl for the dihorea) and I was actually on the way to the vets with her but went back home after she did a normal motion in the car on the way there. I asked the vet what brand of vaccine was used (because one of the pups from the other litter has gone to NZ and has to be vaccinated for Coraona and Lepto and the vet said he'd use a different brand just in case) and they said Forte Dodge.

Email #76

Hi Dot.

I got a letter from Fort Dodgy.
You know the type Saying they will take legal action bla bla.
Here is the letter I sent back.
Hope you enjoy reading it,as much as I did writing it.
It was also C.C to Anthony at fort Dodgy

Best Regards
Peter.

Att: Mr Michael H. Cooper

Please be advised that I have wiped my ass with your letter. It is now in the toilet where it belongs. Also be advised that you can take any action that you want you will not shut me up until I have been paid for my loses.

Which now stand at $5327.00. The facts are... We vaccinated our Neo pups at 6 weeks of age with your vaccine Protec C3. Within 2 days of vaccinations we had SICK pups. Now our vet already told us they would all DIE if they were already harbouring the parvo virus. I now know of 89 case were dodgy vaccinations are being blamed for the dogs being sick or dieing.

If I am right this is still a free country and I can express my views on anything I see fit. To anyone that wants to hear or read it As long as it is done right. I can asure you it will be done right there will be no mistakes.

When the number of cases reaches 100 I will be letting the whole world know what I think of Dodgy Vaccinations and what I think of your tactics. I will print every case and a contact for the person that owns the dog. So anyone that wants to talk to the person can do so. I would not be surprised to see a class action started against your company. I also have a list of vets that are not happy with the Vaccinations and I will be printing it along with there contact numbers as well. I do hope you have a nice day and that you can sleep well at night. Knowing the company that you work for I have My doubts

Peter.

Email # 77

Hi Dot

I am a registered breeder and member of my local breed Club. Our club extensively researched the deaths of some of our members pups a couple of years ago and this research showed protein poisoning after vaccination times (approximately 6 to 12 weeks old). If you are interested in more information on this please contact me and I will send you some relevent documents, the president of our club is willing to assist you if she can and I will forward the details on, if you request.

Hope to help

Email #78

The reactions were treated and did not turn out to be serious. The dogs all developed hives - swellings in the skin, especially around the face and nose. Some had eyes that were swollen almost shut. Some had swelling in limbs, or elsewhere.

Email #79

Hello Dot - I spoke to you at xxxxxxx Show last year when I admired your lovely Russians. I have xxxxxxxxxxxxx. I have been following your terrible story with great interest. For the last month+ I have been battling to keep alive a pup (8 months old) from my last litter and our vet is preparing an adverse reaction form for Fort Dodge. However he thinks it could be for the heartworm vaccine which we gave our boy with his last combined vaccine. Our vet feels his problems occurred because his immune system was compromised and he was unable to withstand a staph infection which went right through his little body - it was horrific - through his blood - and has caused polyarthritis. He is now on corticosteroids and has responded magnificently to this medication but the vet is very guarded in his prognosis of what will happen when he is weaned off the corticosteroids. The reason I felt there was a connection with the vaccs was because he showed the painful symptoms four days after the vaccs when he had been perfectly healthy and in show condition when he was given the vaccs.

Email #80

A vet I took my new puppy to last week was telling me about a bunch of puppies that contracted Parvo after being vaccinated. I don't know what vaccination they were using, as she had already had a vaccination, but I wonder if the vaccine they were giving was causing the Parvo. I will be sure to stay away from the FD. Thanks for the warning!

Email #81

Your experiences are definitely the same as those I experienced all those years ago and I am sooo sorry for you. Once you start looking " beyond the square" regarding vaccines it opens up a whole new world that you never knew existed because of all the propaganda that has been forced on you by Vets and Media.

Email #82

Congratulations Dot,

I wish you The very best on your fight for thr truth. My xxxxxxxx works for Fort Dodge, but I refuse to use any product made by them, and after coming across a few articles in various books and websites, have put my dogs annual vax on hold. I found that there seemed to be a link in some of the conditions that my dogs were coming down with, coming not long after being vaxed. I will now vax my bitches before mating, pups as usual, but with C3 not C4, and fully matured adults about every 2yrs. I will continue to research this topic and collect as much infomation as I posssibly can, as the health of my dogs is my first priority. If any info comes across my desk that my be of help for your cause, I will be sure to pass it on.

All the best

Email #83

I have been using homoeopathic vaccines for 13 years now, ever since my now eldest boy almost died, twice, as a baby puppy due to a severe reaction to his first vaccination and then the booster. It was either find an alternative or not have him vaccinated at all. Even my vet at the time admitted that he had indeed had a severe reaction to the vaccine. What I didn't know then was that the vaccine was actually a "live" vaccine. This was the first time that any of my dogs had been vaccinated using the live vaccine.

Email #84

Hello Dot,

My 15 week old male German Shepherd puppy was vaccinated on 21/03/03 with Protech Duramune C3. He has been very lethargic, won't eat doesn't want to drink. Before the vaccination last Thursday he was a normal , happy, healthy puppy. I am off to the Vet this evening with him and I will let you know the outcome. Because he was vaccinated with Canvac vacine before, I did not think to ask the Vet what vaccination she would be using. More fool me.

Kind regards

Email #85

Hello,

I had a similar experience to yours after using Websters vaccine, I had puppies come down with Parvo 3 weeks after the vaccinations, lost some, and battled to save one at deaths door, literally. I sent a write-up into national Dog and they printed it in July 1981 or 2, can't remember exactly, with a follow-up on the surviving dogs.

I had a baby vaccinated just over a week ago and I asked the Vet what he was using, and stessed I didn't want the Protech Durromune C4, he said, "I see you've been reading the Internet" and I said yes... he used another vaccine

Keep fighting

Email #86

In August 2001 a healthy 7 Week puppy of ours died following its initial vaccination. It developed clinical signs of the nervous system being affected.; vocalising & screaming, ataxia, blindness, convulsions and paddling after about 6 to 8 days. (Its litter sister was not affected) A suspected Adverse Reaction was reported to Fort Dodge. Their response was that it was "difficult to determine whether it was attributable to the vaccine" (Protech Duramune4) "but the signs were not consistent with the clinical signs seen due to typical adverse responses" but they would supply details of the case to the National Registration Authority for them to make an assessment.

Email #87

I have a friend who breeds Belgian shepherds and she noticed that after vaccination her pups had strange neurological reactions - ear infections or eczema's or diarrheas. She is not a modern person - she is not even on the internet, but she got the homeopathic pharmacy to make her homeopathic remedies from the vaccinations she used. She has had no probes since using the "antidote" before and after vaccination.

Email #88

Dot,

I empathize with the loss of your litter. I can do so because we have had a similar situation occur although with less drastic results than yours. As you can see from my signature, we have xxxxxxxxxx and xxxxxxx Dogs. I had always thought I was as up to date as any breeder could be on vaccine issues. About two and a half years ago we had a litter of xxxxxxx we vaccinated with the Ft Dodge Duramune puppy shot (no lepto, no corona) at 8 weeks. (We had just switched to Ft Dodge vaccines because of their reputation of being able to overcome all maternal ammunities). Three days later we had SICK puppies - depressed, severe diahhrea, etc. Our vet said they probably had a touch of cocci when they were vaccinated and then came down with a touch of parvo after being vaccinated. Last year we had both a xxxxxx and an xxxxxx litter about the same age. We made sure that these puppies had no worms or cocci prior to vaccinating them (again the Ft Dodge Duramune, but a new batch). A few days later, both litters were severely ill. We lost one of the xxxxxx and almost lost all thexxxxxxx. Ft Dodge said they must have been exposed to parvo prior to the vaccine. All THREE litters? Way too much coincidence for me. This year we had a litter of one xxxxxx puppy. I was almost afraid to vaccinate him. But we switched to the Proguard vaccine and miracle of miracles, have had no problems. Do I believe the problem was the Ft Dodge vaccine? Yes. Can I prove it? No.

Kathy

Email #89

Dear Dot;

I read your letter about the vaccine. From your email address I am assuming you are in Australia. The lady who sent it to me is from BC Canada and is thinking you are too because of the mention of Victoria. I sold a puppy on valentines and one month later it contracted Parvo and died. She vaccinated it on a sunday and the dog died on Friday after 2 days of being sick. The vet says there have been no cases of parvo in 9 years in that area. It tested positive for parvo. I don't suppose you will have any answers for us but please respond re the "are you in Australia" question Terry

Email #90

Good for you Dot! I've heard of two suspected reactions to vaccinations recently and both times I asked if their vets filled out adverse reaction reports and neither of them had heard of such a thing.

Email #91

Years ago my old girl Giz had an adverse reaction (got the wobbles the next day) which I reported to the vet and he said he'd use a different brand next time. We never had any more trouble of that nature, but I wonder whether he reported it. I don't know if you read the (Australian) dogzonline forums? I can recall a while back a discussion on pups having reactions to vaccines and it was surprising how many people were reporting sick/dead pups.

Jackie (Australia)

Email #92

Hi Dot,

I just read what you listed to the xxxxxxx list. I have to tell you we had two bitch puppies that died of parvo have their boosters from FD. I thought that we must have broughten parvo into our kennels somehow and bleached for days inside and outside. No one else got it but the two that were vaccinated. The vet said it was impossible for them to have gotten it from the vac. even though it was a "live" form. But from what I read in your letter, mine did the same thing. So I believe that is what happened. Also keep in mind, I had two litters of puppies, I had just enough vac, to do the ones I was selling as pets, I had ordered a new box of the vacc. and figured mine (the two I was keeping) could be boostered when the shots arrived. So the others never got the new shots and had no problems. My two girls got the new shots and died from parvo. No other puppies in the kennel were affected just the two girls I gave the new boosters too. I hope this will help you. I believe you are right.

best regards,

tricia

Email #93

I am not familiar with the name of that vaccine. Every reputable company has a system through which your veterinarian can report any drug related problem. Ask your veterinarian to 1) file a report and 2) request compensation from the company for the treatment incurred.

Lindy xxxxx DVM

Email #94

Here is the message about xxxxxxxxxx: Just wanted to tell you about an announcement at my dog training club

this past week. One of the women used it for the first time on four of herBorder Collies. Three of them developed pretty severe neurological problems within 24 hours. The symptoms involved rigidity of the tail. Her vet got in touch with the company who is paying for the dogs treatment. At this point the dogs are improving, but not yet back to normal... Barb

Email #95

Hi Dot

So sorry to hear about the puppies you lost. Don't know if my story will help but haven't had time until now to reply as have been very busy and wanted to try to ensure that I didn't miss anything. I had my xxxxx boy at 8 weeks old a very healthy bouncy puppy, unfortunately xxxxxxx who bred him was diagnosed with a brain tumour the day after the pups were born and things were thrown into a bit of turmoil. It is the first time I have had a xxxxx, although I have had other breds. Anyway, thinking that I should give him the best of everything (big mistake!!!!) I had him vaccinated using the C5 vaccination, as well as giving him Heart Guard for heartworm in addition to the normal worming and flea treatment. In short, I believe that I basically poisoned him and damaged his immune system. I have been to the local vets and had tests done for almost every body part (kidneys, heart, liver you name it) - Flynn is now the 6 billion dollar dog!!!!. I kept telling my vet that this dog was not well, but the results all came back negative. However, I believe no one knows their dog better than the owner and I pursued this further. Flynn was lethargic, often had diarrehea, chewed his fur away and itched terribly, and it seemed at times that he was very depressed. At one stage I was sure he was going to die. Anyway, from this point onward I started looking at alternative remedies and researched symptoms of other dogs that had been ill to try and match them with Flynn's problems, after all I was not getting the answers from my vet (by the way I have now changed vets). I ended up after spending a huge amount at the vets, finding out that the problem was myself, as I mentioned previously, that he had basically been poisoned with all the medications/vaccinations. I found a case where a large dog (I think it was a Newfoundland) had the same problems as Flynn and I have followed the diagnosis and remedies for this dog to try to resolve Flynn's symptoms. When Flynn is due for his next vaccination in July I will be having him Titer tested as I am sure he probably has all the immunity he will need for a life time and don't expect that he will need to be vaccinated. I have a number of friends who vaccinate their dogs every three years, a vet also recently told me that they are just starting to realize that dogs don't need to be vaccinated every year - why have they been keeping this a secret???? It is common practice in the US now to vaccinate every 3 years so why aren't we?? I also use a natural spray made from the oils you buy from health food shops to spray his coat, it keeps fleas, ticks, flys, mossies and bees away as well as well as conditioning the coat. I try to use natural foods to eliminate worms - if however I see any I would worm him. I am not using any heartworm treatment at all at present but intend to have him tested regularly to check for heartworm. xxxxx partner (xxxxx) who is a vet informs me that from all the dogs he has tested for heartworm only one came back positive and the dog came from Darwin. xxxxxxxxxx has taken some blood from Flynn to have RAST tested (needless to say I will probably continue to see xxxxx as my vet - he does not run around in circles as my previous vet seemed to) will be a bit longer before we have final results from this. Flynn shows severe allergic reactions now to a lot of different foods so hope to establish from the RAST test which food he can tolerate. In the meantime I have him on Hills Science Diet Ultra ZD Allergy-Free biscuits. I am pleased to say that after isolating the fact that he was reacting to various foods and stopping any chemical type treatment, the fur is growing back (I think another month or two and he will be in show condition), I am training in obedience without him falling asleep and he is doing fantastically well in his agility training. In fact he has more energy now than he has had for the past six months and he is just a year old. Don't know if my story can add to your info or not, but we seem to be giving our dogs sooooo much medication and chemicals on the advice of our vets it makes me wonder how much of this is a money making venture. As a vet said to me, the big companies ensure that people who are training as vets know the so-called 'benefits' of regular vaccination, worming, flea treatments etc and they can be somewhat brain-washed - and this is from a vet. Good luck with your report, I will be coming up on Friday for the show with xxxxx if you want to catch up with me and chat further then.

Sandra

Email #96

Dear Dr. Preshaw,

Having read your reply to the woman who wrote the email regarding inoculations, I can see you are protecting your product which is understandable. However, I also note that along with other points you state: "The rate of reporting of adverse experiences to this product is low, and it has not changed recently. Reports of litters developing problems as described in the email are extremely rare." I would very much like to know the percentage of these pups that have a "low" adverse experience (or reaction?) to the C4 immunization. I note that every time I have had my dogs immunized there are about 1/3 of the litter that are "dopey" and "off their food" for over 24 hours. The same amount of vaccine is given to each pup regardless of weight as well, which I realise is also the case with humans, but there have been major reactions and even death caused by human immunization until proper research was put into the "small percentage area". I realise that each case must be judged on its merits, as you say, but there is also the point that unless drug companies and Veterinarians begin listening to the "small complaints" and concerns made by the breeders of animals, we can never really know the truth as to whether it is co-incidence, the animal was already ill or became ill from some other cause or that in fact the immunization is having some effect that is enhancing an illness that may be coming on in a pup. There are many, many facets to this question and they must be answered fully.

Thank you for your time.

Email #97

Dear Dot Sweeney.

I saw the message on the deerhound discussion list.

I don't have time to write now but I had a similar experience. Fortunately my pups - they are xxxxxxxxxxx - were eight MONTHS old when they were vaccinated and then with a single dose parvo vaccine from Fort Dodge/Schering Plough. This was in 1998. They all became sick the very next day and one almost died and had to be at the vet. for almost two weeks trying to save him. I have all the records and Schering Plough (who made the vaccine for Fort Dodge) did reimburse some of my bills without acknowledging blame, although my vet. said the parvo was definitely from the vaccine and I have that in writing too.

Anyway, if you would like records, I would be happy to provide them.

That's the final time I have ever vaccinated my dogs.

Marilyn

Email #98

my youngest GSD zena just got her last set of puppy shots on saturday morning. she was fine the rest of the day on saturday and on sunday. but, today she has had 2 very watery yellow stools (no blood and no mucus). i called the vet and they said just to keep an eye on her, make sure she gets lots of fluid, keep her calm, and if she starts to vomit then bring her in.

Email #99

Perhaps the Great Spirit decided to show me a hands-on lesson: My puppies were healthy, lively and happy pre-vaccination. The reaction after the single-dose distemper vaccine was the four puppies had a significant drop in appetite. The reaction after the single-dose modified-live parvovirus vaccine five weeks later, (Fort Dodge Batch Serial #850008, exp. 11/7/99), was the four puppies had a further significant drop in appetite. In fact, the following day, they stopped eating entirely; they were severely depressed and did not eat for seven days. One puppy did not eat for eleven days and that was because after the fourth day he was at the veterinary clinic on continuous IV's having contracted the disease - parvovirus - he had been vaccinated against. In the blink of an eye I was faced with losing my four puppies from one single vaccination, (and I could not ever replace them because I had spayed their mother). As anticipated, my veterinarian denied any connection between the vaccination and the puppies' illness. He suggested perhaps the puppies had picked up something in their yard; perhaps someone had thrown something over the fence; they had eaten some mushrooms perhaps... A couple of days later, he did admit my puppy had parvovirus from the vaccination. He had talked to the vaccine company and he had been told that after "thousands of trials" only one dog had come down with parvo and this dog had no immune system. So titers were done on my puppies; all antibody titers came back in normal levels. I told my vet. that I had read there were many cases of dogs coming down with the diseases for which they had been vaccinated. His response was, "Don't believe all you read." I did not think to tell him that if I had believed all I had read, I would not be in this predicament. (Of this writing, my puppies are still not out of the woods: they look a mess, their appetites remain lackluster; two have severe allergies, chewing on themselves so vigorously they cry out; the puppy who had the parvo now has a morbid, festering eye and putrid skin condition on his face and neck, oozing blood and pus with a fetid odor that can be smelled many yards away, and I am now really worried something worse will crop up in the future. I have no doubt my vet. will deny any connection with the vaccines were I to tell him this, - although I truly believe he sincerely believes all he is told too.)

Email #100

My 8 year old Border Collie boy was vaccinated in Feb last year and three weeks later (with no warning)he was one very very sick boy - AIHA was the diagnosis - his liver & spleen were huge, he had an ultrsound and biopsys to rule out cancer - after much dedication by my vet (who I work for) and a blood transfusion he celebrated his one year aniversary of surviving this terrible condition on 3 March this year. We used Imuran and high dose prednisone on him and eventually after months he was weaned of these drugs (with me worring the whole time in case he relapsed) He's really well now but if he even looks like he's a little off colour he's in for my vet to check. I will never vaccinate him or my other dogs again (they are all adults). My heart goes out to anybody who has a dog that developes this dreadful disease - my boy is one of the lucky ones but I live with the fear of a relapse as this often happens and becomes harder to treat each time. I have to say I am also lucky that I am a vet nurse so I dont have to pay for my vets time and got all my drugs at wholesale price - even so when I added up my account he cost me about NZ$1600.00 - much of this was laboratory fees for blood tests as they are sent to a lab outside the clinic. I don't how I would have found the money if I had to pay normal client fees !!

Helen

Email #101

When we give vaccines we are injecting the body with the actual 'disease' that we want it to prevent. Unfortuantely, we are injecting it past the natural defenses the body naturally has to fight the disease and putting it right into the system. We do that on purpose. In order for this to happen many very harmful things are added to the vaccines to get them past the natural response system. We have all taken for granted that vaccinating our animals is the 'best' choice for prevention. In reality the best choice is a healthy immune system. It is hard to give our animals a healthy immune system with many of the 'protocols' that are being used for vaccination. Most of us have thought for many years that vaccines are preventative. In reality, sometimes they work, sometimes they don't and sometimes they cause more harm than good. My quest and research into vaccines started with a set of parvo vaccinations that did not 'take' with one of my dogs.

Email #102

I am a breeder of labrador puppies and last Wednesday night I had my six week old pups vacinated with the above vaccine. Protech Duramune C4. Saturday midday all three in the litter would not stop vomitting. I immediately put them on Peptosyl which I had in the medicine cupboard from my last litter of pups. That seemed to settle them but they were not themselves till the next day. Wouldn't eat and just kept very quiet. The last one stopped vomitting Sunday night. I kept them on the medicine for the next 24 hours.

The reason I question the vaccine is the mother came down sick on the Sunday night, mind you she is still cleaning up after the puppies so that could also explain how she got the bacteria. My other three adult dogs came down with the vomitting Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. They had cleaned up some of the mother's vomit so that is how they may have contracted it.

There was no diarrhea just the constant vomitting, but I think having the medicine in the cupboard and a really bland diet helped the situation.

Email #103

The vaccination story hit home. Two weeks ago we euthanized two beautiful, healthy German Shepherd pups. After discussion vaccination pros and cons with two holistic vets we decided on an alternate schedule of parvo and distemper and delayed the first parvo shot until they were 9 weeks old. After the second distemper shot two pups developed high fever within 12 and 24 hours and suffered from failing health for two weeks with a variety of symptoms like diarrhea, lack of appetite, depression, weight loss. It all culminated in cluster seizures and after the most horrifying 24 hours of our lives we had both pups euthanized. Of course the vaccine manufacturer denies any connection with the vaccine. The third pup got sick as well but not as severe and recovered.

Email #104

I [Dot Sweeney] was given permission to use this ladies name as the following was used in a court case by a third party against Fort Dodge in Canada.

My experiences with Ayerst Durimmune Parvo-only Vaccine.

Monday October 29th, 2001 @ 4:00 pm - Vaccinated 6 of 7 puppies with 1 ml of the above Vaccine. Note: when I opened the box there was NOT an enclosed insert technical data sheet with information about this vaccine. I feel strongly that there should have been an enclosed data sheet with the vaccine! These pups were born on Sept. 17th and so were EXACTLY 6 weeks of age on the date of vaccination.

The 7th puppy, a male who I considered compromised because he was very small (born with a cleft soft palate) and had had a systemic infection during his first week of life. Because of these issues I felt it unsafe to vaccinate this puppy. I vaccinated the others because of previous problems with parvo at 7 weeks of age in previous litters. I whelped this litter in a room never occupied by previous parvo pups and as well had completely bleached and painted the room so there would be no lingering microbes of any sort. I did not remove the compromised, small male puppy from the room after vaccinating the rest of the litter. In retrospect I most certainly should have!

Wednesday October 31st, 2001 - Found several stools of diahhrea (black). They turned out to be from female puppy "Winona". Who was not eating well by the end of that day.

Thursday November 1st 2001 - Found many pink, lumpy, bloody, mucosy stools in the morning. Winona Vita and Bee-Mouse were very out of sorts. Winona was refusing to eat or drink and had also vomitted as had Vita. They would only nurse from their mother, but would not eat solid food or drink water. They are acting very ill (the stools look like parvo but don't have the strong cadaverous odour of parvo. Justice (other male) is sleeping more than usual but has not had more than a little blackish mushy stool. Rika had one or two similar stools, but otherwise also seems fairly unaffected, as is Prue. The compromised puppy, Dodger (who was exposed to the shed Vaccine in the stools) began to be sleeping more than normal. By 10 pm although Winona and Vita are still having diahhrea, they seem to be now playing when they wake up from sleeping and are eating a bit now. Winona, Bee-Mouse and Vita have all lost some weight however Winona has lost a lot and looks very thin.

Friday November 2nd, 2001 - Diahhrea is letting up a bit now, and although the 3 most affected (Vita, Winona and Dodger) are sleeping more than normal, they are eating and drinking, and when awake are playing.

Saturday November 3rd 2001 - Still the odd soft stool, but everyone except Dodger seem to be almost back to normal. Dodger has now had a pink coloured, mucosy bloodyish stool. He isn't eating today, has vomitted up liquid (his goat milk feed) and is sleeping a lot and not playing at all.

Sunday November 4th, 2001 - Dodger is not eating at all again, has lost a lot of weight which he cannot afford to lose. He is drinking water with electrolytes and honey. He is very sick and his stools are the same as the other sick pups previous stools (mucosy, pinkish diahhrea with bloody streaks in it.) I am giving him occasional sub-cu ringers as well.

Monday November 5th & Tues. Nov. 6th, 2001 - Dodger is still not eating, has same diahhrea with more blood, but still taking the water/honey/electrolytes. He is lost more weight. On the 6th I am trying to get chicken broth into him because he has lost a tremendous amount of weight. He is still sleeping most of the time and is having difficulty walking. He is not improvingl at all.

Wed. November 7th, 2001 - Dodger is extremely ill and dying. No longer mobile, getting sub-cu fluids still but very frequently (every 4-5 hours) and is no longer taking oral fluids. He is vomitting every time I attempt to give him fluid orally including kaopectate. I have given him depocillin which has done nothing. He was dying. He dyed at 1:27 am Thursday November 8th, 2001. I was very distressed over the loss of this puppy to of all things, EXPOSURE to the shed modified live virus in the Durimmune Parvo virus vaccine!

The one puppy (Justice) who had almost none of the side-effects that the others had after the vaccination, did within a couple of weeks develop some warty looking things on his "eye brow" area of his face. I felt strongly that these things were a vaccinosis reaction and treated him with an appropriate homeopathic, which seems to have worked as the growths began to shrink and disappear as he was being treated.

I did report the vaccine reactions to both my vet and a friend of mine who is a Registered Veterinary Technician. They both told me that it was normal for puppies to react like this to vaccines. I was shocked by this. I personally do not feel that this was normal or safe and I lost a compromised puppy to exposure to the shed Vaccine virus. These reactions caused me a great amount of distress because I did not feel that the pups should have been that sick from it and Winona, Vita & Dodger especially lost a lot of weight. This cannot be healthy for the dogs. My smallest female, Bee-Mouse also lost some weight (and being the smallest female, she really couldn't afford this), as did Dodger who eventually died from the weight loss (he was ˝ the size of the other pups and could not afford to miss more than a day's worth of meals or lose more than an ounce of weight.

Roberta Jamieson

Email #105

Hello,

I am writing to you because I saw your experience with the Black Russian Terriers and want to share my experience with my Golden Retriever puppy. I got my puppy when he was about 2 months old. He was perfectly fine, the doctor said he was healthy, he had already had two distemperment shots. We went to the vet he got his third, then on March 27th, he got his 4th distemperment shot and also a rabies shot and a lymes vaccination. He was just barely 4 months when he got these three shots. Following that Thursday, on Saturday he had a mild seizure and then 5 days later had a grammal seizure. It was so frightening. We brought him to a 24 hour hospital, they did all these tests, a complete blood work up, a neurological exam and a liver test, all which came back normal. They to this day have no idea what went wrong.

Email #106

It was sad to hear about Dot's litter. This has happened to vaccinated puppies here in the Hunter Valley NSW.

Email #107

Dot you are not the only one to lose puppies - I know of at least one Samoyed person recently who lost an entire healthy litter of happy puppies within 24 hours of having their first vaccination.... none survived to have the second vaccination.

Email #108

Hello Dot,

My 15 week old male German Shepherd puppy was vaccinated on 21/03/03 with Protech Duramune C3. He has been very lethargic, won't eat doesn't want to drink. Before the vaccination last Thursday he was a normal , happy, healthy puppy. I am off to the Vet this evening with him and I will let you know the outcome.

Email #109

Hello,

I had a similar experience to yours after using xxxxxx vaccine, I had puppies come down with Parvo 3 weeks after the vaccinations, lost some, and battled to save one at deaths door, literally. I had a baby vaccinated just over a week ago and I asked the Vet what he was using, and stessed I didn't want the Protech Durromune C4, he said, "I see you've been reading the Internet" and I said yes... he used another vaccine

Keep fighting

Patricia

Email #110

Hello Dot, Ihave read your letter on Pets4sale about the vaccinations and thought Iwould also add, we lost a 7 week old toy poodle last week, now this pup was fine and very healthy before the vaccination, 2 days after he started with diarreria, then his temperature went up , he was listless, so I took him back to the vet, I did point out to the vet my concern that the vaccination may have caused this little one a side effects only to be told NO VACCINATIONS cause side effect and I was being silly. So armed with antibiotics we went home, then next day this pup was not well at all, so back to the vet, who said he needed more antibiotics and some needles so this was done, that night at 11 pm I rushed this darling baby to another vet as he was in serious need of medical attention, he was given more needles and then needed a blood transfusion and he was so dehydrated because of his having the runs,, well sadly my baby did not make it, he died, and it all points to vaccinating him, the new vet I went to admitted it but don't quote me on it was his words. His vaccination was a c4 Protech duromune batch number 096105A. fortunately he was the only one in that litter, I suppose looking at it loosing one was bad enough. I do remember 3 years ago a lady in Sydney had a litter of Standard Poodles there was 8 in the litter and she lost all bar 2 the cause was the Vaccination, I bought luckly for me the one that survived, and there was another litter also at the same time, he, the breeder was not as fortunate he lost the lot. No Vets do not like you asking questions, but they are quick to take our money. Ithought Iwould share this with you

regards

vivienne

Email #111

I just found your warning on the internet. Now I think I had the same problem with protech duramune c4 a year ago. About half of my litter died.

Email #112

Recent Parvo Cases

In March, I treated a litter of puppies that had Parvovirus, a debilitating and life-threatening intestinal infection. I have treated many of these puppies before, but I found these cases to be different and I wanted to elaborate on these points. The episode began with a 15 week-old puppy vaccinated with his first modified live viral (MLV) Parvo vaccine. On day 3, I saw him back as he had suffered a 24 hour illness consisting of some vomiting and a fever. He recovered very quickly with a homeopathic remedy and was then mixed with a litter of 7 week old pups. Subsequent to this, all of the younger pups developed symptoms of Parvo. All of the pups were unvaccinated at this time (the earliest I recommend for any dog is 8 weeks). The first two to come down with it remained unvaccinated and both of these went on to suffer relatively short illnesses (1-4 days) and made full recoveries. Unfortunately, the remaining 4 had full combination vaccines given elsewhere after they had been exposed but were not yet sick, a questionable practice at best. All of these 4 became gravely ill. Two went on to die, while the other two made full recoveries after lengthy illnesses of 6-7 days each. This case serves to illustrate two important things. The first is that I feel very strongly that the original dog given his first Parvo vaccine became mildly ill with what appeared to be a vaccine reaction. He then most likely went on to "shed" this MLV to the other pups, with the first to become ill "amplifying" the virus for the other pups. The second point is that the pups who made fast recoveries did not receive any combination vaccines, these same vaccines being what I feel directly contributed to the deaths of the two by immunosuppressing their systems so that they were unable to fight off the virus. In my 16 years of practice, I have not lost a Parvo case except one that was brought in too late for treatment, so I know that something else was contributing to the degree of illness I was seeing.

While there may be denial by the vaccine manufacturer that their vaccine could somehow revert to virulence (capable of causing infection), this is just one of the reasons that homeopathic vets dislike vaccines. Every animal will react to a noxious "energy", such as a MLV vaccine, differently and some may go on to express the disease they were "vaccinated" against, depending on the susceptibility of their life force. Difficult to prove, but in my estimation there is no other explanation for this sequence of events. The vaccine manufacturers do know that the pups can test Parvo positive 5-12 days after their shots are given. To prevent this in the future, perhaps Parvo nosodes (homeopathic "vaccines") may be of help for the younger pups; not exposing them to recently vaccinated dogs; or perhaps risking early vaccines.

Email #113

Well, most vets don't report reactions unless they are extreme and within minutes of giving the vaccine (shock). Even then, some vets don't report anything. I worked for a vet and she never reported any of the reactions she saw. The vaccine companies didn't make it too easy to report reactions either, considering how common they are. I think there was a number somewhere on the package. I wish they would have to include a card with every vaccine package to make it easier to report reactions. The thing that bugs me MOST is when a dog does have a reaction from a vaccination and the vet actually admits that's what it is, instead of saying NO MORE VACS for that particular dog....they give an injection of dexamethazone or tell the clients to give Benadryl before they bring them for their vaccinations next time!!! Some of these dogs go into anaphylactic shock and their airways close and these are the dogs the vet will admit have reactions. The puppies that seizure, the long term damage, injection site tumors and hair loss, etc....are usually blamed on allergies,genetics,or some other bull...

Our gratitude, once again, to Dot Sweeney for allow us to reproduce all this on our site.

Disclaimer: Information contained here is obtained from various sources and does not replace the advice from a qualified professional. If the health of your dog/s is ever in question, you should consult your veterinarian first and foremost. No liability is accepted by Britfeld Weimaraners, owners of Britfeld Weimaraners, their families and/or their associates for any information contained here which may result in adverse outcome/s for your dog/s.

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