Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Yikes... Help please!

OK, so I lost Aiyana to AIHA caused by her vaccines. Hurley my Siberian Husky has seizure disorder, IBD with skin issues all auto immune in nature caused by vaccines - he will never get another vaccine. Layla my golden is due for her 1 year booster (had all puppy shots) this would be the last time I give her those...I will not give her the DA2PPV, and none of the vets around here will give separate Parvo and distemper vaccines. What do I do now? Does anyone know of any Vets in IL that will give them separately? Thanks in advance, Julie

Julie IL

June, Dr. Dodds recommends, at 1 year, in her "recommended minimal vaccine schedule" the MLV (modified live) distemper and parvo only. For the one year rabies vaccination, she recommends separating this away from the first two by several weeks. You probably already know this, but good to reiterate this here for others. She is careful to note that this is her recommendation and does not supersede that of your vet's. I have found a source of the single distemper and parvo at: http://www.revivalanimal.com/store/p/2046-Galaxy-D.aspx http://www.revivalanimal.com/store/p/2052-Galaxy-PV.aspx They are sold only as a quantity, not as individual vials. You could offer to help your vet buy these to encourage them to consider doing this with other puppies. The expense will be over $100 though for both. There may be other sources of these single vaccines elsewhere, but I wonder if any retailer will agree to sell just one vial of each? my best patrice

Patrice NYS

Julie, Sorry, that is Julie, not June! p

Patrice NYS

Patrice, Thank you so much, I am trying to follow Dr. Dodds protocol, but having no luck. I have spent all day now on the phone with different Vets, I am tired of being treated like I am an idiot and I am making it all up, so sick of hearing how all vaccines are so safe blah blah blah. Unfortunately I know differently! I will call my Vet tomorrow, offer to pay for those and see if he will order them. Thanks again, Julie

Julie IL

Hi Julie - I don't remember where you are in IL but it may be worth giving Dr. Karen Becker at Natural Pet Animal Hospital a call. I haven't talked with her personally but another person on this board passed her name along to me several years ago when I was debating what to do about rabies vaccination for Murray post-IMHA. As I recall, she was someone in the area (I believe they are in the southern suburbs) who was following a more "reasonable" vaccnine protocol - perhaps she would have what you are looking for. Good luck - I hear you on the frustration of all of this. Bonnie

Bonnie Chicago

Bonnie, Thank you...it is about 2.5 hours away, but I may have to go that far LOL. I am on the IL/WI border - tomorrow I will start calling vets in WI. I wonder if they will act like I have two heads too. Thanks again, Julie

Julie IL

Julie, Sorry you are having such trouble with this. If this were me, I might schedule an appt with my vet just to talk, no dogs, and tell her that I am trying to be responsible by having these vaccines given rather than avoiding them altogether. I would ask her for her help with this and remind her that some companies do sell them as separate vaccines so there must be some reason why this is. And that is essentially what I did. I changed vets originally because they would not titer Chance, didn't believe in it. I had been instructed by my breeder to do that after the original puppy series was done at one year. My new vet said only a few owners were doing it, but she was fine with it. They had to look the code up for Cornell but did it every year for me. Now-a-days you will see many training clubs (well around here) accepting titer results in lieu of vaccination records. That is an 180 degree change from the past. Is Layla a pure bred dog? If so, call your local Golden breed club and see if any of them get singular vaccinations and where they do that. my best patrice

Patrice NYS

Julie, I started searching Golden Breed clubs and I found something VERY interesting! At your national breed club's page: http://www.grca.org/health/reports.html there is this report: Proceedings of the 2007 CHF Biennial National Parent Club Canine Health Conference If you click on that, it will open a pdf of this proceeding. Starting at page 58 and going through to page 66, there is a report written for the Golden Breed Club by Dr. Ron Shultz, the veterinarian that is currently conducting the Rabies Challenge in cooperation with Dr. Dodds. I recommend that everyone here, who is concerned about vaccinations, read this excellent explanation by Dr. Shultz about vaccinations. Within this you will find the recommendation for vaccinating the MLV separately. Make a copy of this very excellent presentation by an acknowledged expert and give it to your vet. If this were me I would say something like "I wanted to share this wonderful explanation I found about vaccinations with you, it really helped me understand so much!" If they don't want it, thank them and find another vet. Sometimes you can bring a horse to water but you cannot make them drink. my best patrice ps thanks for helping me educate myself on something so important. These little explorations are invaluable for my own learning.

Patrice NYS

Wow, thanks again Patrice.... I did email Dr. Dodds, I just got her response...she suggested I just get titers done, we may have to go that route. I have some reading and printing to do. thank you, Julie

Julie IL

Julie, Do you want to call my vet at Lincolnshire Animal Hospital? My regular Vet is Dr. Emellot. I don't know if he would give separate Parvo and distemper vaccines but he's a great and understanding. He takes care of Buddy who was diagnosed last year and right now, Buddy has been stabiled with PCV of 48. Since he's in Linconlshire, IL, you'll probably want to start with him first, then dr. Karen. If you mention Buddy the daschund with IMHA, I think he'll remember us. http://www.lincolnshireanimalhospital.com/pages/lincolnshire-animal-hospital-staff We have seen dr. Karen a couple years ago. She's also another great one! However, she's very far from Glenview, IL...so we don't go anymore. Good luck, Evi.

Evi IL

Hi Julie, I faced the same wall at one point, then later discovered a homeopathic vet who completely understood the issue. Search at http://www.holisticvetlist.com/ for one near you. Mine has her own practice affiliated with VCA and charges roughly the same as my own vet for consults etc (affordable!) I also, with experience, have bought pet insurance for my new dog, and though vaccines are not covered, alternative vet treatments are, which i think is pretty good. You might also try some rescue groups in your area, i know of one in mine which has a vet come in to them and does vaccines etc and they may be able to put you in touch with a more sympathetic vet. Keep trying, best of luck, Christine and Winged Kent, and Muki

Christine Florida

This thread was discussed between 01/04/2010 and 05/04/2010

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