Will Over-Vaccination Kill Your Pet?

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Will Over-Vaccination Kill Your Pet?

Last update: 8:15 a.m. EDT Aug. 14, 2008

CENTENNIAL, Colo., Aug 14, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Former Colorado

fee-only financial planner Schwartz has done for over-vaccination of

our pets what Mitford did for American funeral institutions in 1963

-- a documented expose on the questionable practices, often at the expense

of companion animals and their guardians. In his new book, " Trust Me, I'm

Not a Veterinarian, " Schwartz explores the legalities, pitfalls and sad

results of over-vaccination in pets, among other topics.

Schwartz's journey began with the sudden decline and death of his beloved

standard poodle, " Moolah, " after a round of routine vaccinations. Moolah was

named for the famed female wrestling champion, " The Fabulous Moolah, " a.k.a.

Lillian Ellison.

Schwartz took Moolah for her annual rabies vaccine in 1999. The dog had also

received what is known as the " Wombo Combo " in previous years, which

included a triple vaccination for parvo, distemper and rabies.

Schwartz said he requested a delay of 2 more years per the new law, a safer

alternative to a yearly rabies vaccination, but was quoted inaccurate county

statues.

A few days after Moolah's shot, Schwartz noticed she " wasn't herself. "

Every guardian knows his or her dog, and when the dog isn't right, " Schwartz

said. Moolah " stayed in the cool hallway, panting and panting, " Schwartz

said.

After taking Moolah back to the vet, Schwartz learned she had developed an

auto-immune disease. Moolah had challenges which should have precluded her

from vaccination -- elderly dogs may be especially vulnerable to lethal side

effects of vaccines, Schwartz said. Moolah died of the disease in December

1999.

Since then, Schwartz has led an anti-vaccination campaign in the Colorado

state legislature and has been subject to threats and harassment from the

veterinary industry. In his book he demonstrates how vaccinations and their

revenue offshoots serve as huge income sources for vet practices.

Schwartz calculates that 300 animal hospitals would administer an average of

2.25 million shots per year with a profit of $156 million over three years.

He also notes that 63 percent of canine and 70 percent of feline vet office

visits are for vaccination shots.

Schwartz learned that a British study demonstrated that up to 12 percent of

vaccinated animals showed adverse reactions within 45 days of vaccination.

Schwartz views current American vaccination practices as a betrayal of trust

by the vet industry, quoting the American Veterinary Medical Association

(AVMA) Journal as stating: " The one-year vaccination frequency

recommendations for rabies found on many vaccine labels is based only on

historical precedent, NOT on scientific data. "

He also quotes the Colorado State University's Animal Vaccination Protocol,

which states, " Of particular note has been the association of auto-immune

hemolytic anemia with vaccination of dogs and vaccine-associated cancers in

cats. "

Deconstructing the science and economics of pet vaccination, the author

finds little value in current rabies protocols, demonstrating far more harm

than benefit to pets.

While Schwartz has worked closely with veterinarians on the projects, none

would go on the record with their views on the business motives of

over-vaccination by vets. " The reason I had to write this book is the

veterinarian choosing collegiality over fixing their vaccination protocols.

The legislation drafts are already written -- making companion animals

living property rather than a couch, which they are by law, and also would

be a deterrent to over-vaccination through loss of companionship damages. It

all boils down to this -- over-vaccination has caused physical and fiscal

harm knowingly, due to their business model and the failure of veterinary

ethics, " Schwartz said.

For information, contact Schwartz at (303) 850-9166. " Trust Me, I'm Not a

Veterinarian " is available at http://www.amazon.com.