10 Ways to Give Your Pet the Right Stuff for a Long Life
By Dr. Becker
There are some things about your pet that you don’t have much influence over, for example, her genetics or breed predisposition. But as your furry companion’s guardian, there are many things you can provide that can dramatically improve her longevity and quality of life.
- The Right Vaccination Protocol. As the truth about the potential dangers of vaccines slowly emerges, more veterinarians are acknowledging that vaccines are not the benign “preventive” tools they were once thought to be. If your vet is still recommending yearly core vaccinations, ask that antibody titer tests be done instead to measure your pet’s current immunity. The fact is that most pets who were properly vaccinated as puppies or kittens are protected for life against most life-threatening viral diseases.
Similarly, if your vet is recommending non-core vaccines, you should have a frank discussion with him (or her) about the actual risk your pet runs from whatever diseases he wants to vaccinate against. I also recommend you do your own research on the risks and benefits of all non-core vaccines, which are generally not as safe or effective as core vaccines. For more information on the revised guidelines and my vaccine recommendations for dogs, read “Good News About the Latest Canine Vaccinations.”
The little dog I adopted has had vaccinations every year AND a few I know are not necessary. I’m thinking her prior Veterinarian did her no favors by over vaccinating her.