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Vaccination is a serious medical procedure that can potentially affect health, both in short or long term basis. Experts advise pet owners to vaccinate pets according to its individual needs. Read through this guide to get rid of unnecessary shots while actually enhancing health.

1. Don’t allow your vet, kennel owner or groomer to intimidate you into giving unnecessary shots.

When your vet pushes you to give your dog vaccine shots. Suggest titer testing for parvovirus or distemper. As a client, you have the right to select treatment as well as the right to refuse treatment that you think is not necessary. Require written proof from experts that your dog needs any shot. It is a very important issue with your dog’s lifelong health is at stake.

2. Eliminate vaccines on the “not recommended” list.

The American Hospital Association’s Canine Vaccine Task Force as well as most veterinary organizations and schools have released a not recommended list of vaccines. It includes Giardia and Corona virus, found in many combination shots.

3. Firmly say no to combination shots.

Combo shots, called names like DHLPPC, assault your dog’s immune system with five or seven vaccines at once. It is given for false economic reasons and convenience rather than health or safety. The combination shots are linked to autoimmune disease and other major health problems. It has been found that combo shots invariably contain unnecessary and even dangerous vaccines.

4. Stop vaccinating against diseases for which your dog may already have immunity.

Titer testing is a great use to determine the shots that your dog needs. Blood serological studies show that parvovirus vaccines given to dogs over 15-16 weeks of age generally give at least 7 years of immunity, as does the Rockborn distemper strain. (The Onderstepoort strain gives 5 years.) Ask your vet which vaccine your dog received.

5. Always consider locale, lifestyle, risk and vaccine effectiveness.

Bordetella (a.k.a. kennel cough) is for dogs in poorly ventilated close quarters like kennels, not for pets sometimes playing with others. Leptospirosis is a disease of wetlands and woodlands, and the vaccine may not protect against the actual disease in your area. Lyme is only for dogs in areas with Lyme disease. Furthermore, each of these vaccines has dangerous side effects and their efficacy is questionable. Don’t give them without proven need and benefit.

6. Test immunity. Don’t automatically re-vaccinate.

Titer tests are blood tests measuring antibodies to disease. Renowned pet vaccination expert Dr. Ron Schultz believes that titer tests yielding strong titers for parvovirus and distemper means not vaccinating against these diseases for years and maybe life. (Note: Don’t expect everyone to accept test results in lieu of vaccination. This subject is complicated, and most people are programmed to think of vaccination as “the gold standard.” Also, the absence of strong titers does not necessarily mean that a dog needs a “booster.”)

7. Never vaccinate sick dogs.

All vaccine labels state that they’re to be used in healthy animals. Do not be too unmindful of labels given that vaccine labels do not define “healthy”. As a result, sick pets, immune-compromised pets, pets undergoing chemo and surgery, and even dying housebound pets are vaccinated. Any shots given to an unhealthy animal may well not provide immunity and is likely to develop an adverse reaction, even death. Regarding the rabies vaccine: chronically ill or immune-compromised pets may be eligible for a rabies shot exemption for a specified period or even life.

8. Don’t vaccinate puppies too early.

You end up wasting money on vaccines when you vaccinate your puppies too early. Vaccinating pups that still have maternal immunity is unnecessary and ineffective. Most vets suggest waiting until at least 8 weeks of age. Some experts suggest waiting until 3-4 months to vaccinate puppies, keeping pups away from public places and strange dogs until immunity is proven by strong titers.

9. Insist that your vet documents any adverse vaccine reactions in detail.

Someday you may want to apply for rabies vaccine exemption. The dangers of rabies vaccine can be fatal to your dear dogs. Always think of the safety and health of your dog. Too much vaccination can be harmful to pets.

10. Make copies of dog licenses and vet files and store them in a safe place.

Lastly, keep all important documents to prove your dog’s immunity from vaccination. Some clinics go bankrupt, lose records etc. The last things you want to do is to have your dog vaccinate sooner than necessary due to missing records.

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Justin Rudd, a Belmont Shore community activist, is one of aficionados of gorgeous bulldogs that he, together with his Community Action Team, plans to stage the annual Bulldog Beauty Contest and Pet Adoption Fair on February 15 at Marine Stadium.

The main goal of the event is to gather bulldog lovers together and find homes for unwanted pets in dire need of a mother’s love. Rudd expects to see “400 drooling contestants and an estimate of 1,000 spectators.

Beginning at 11 a.m., there will also be pageants for French bulldogs, pugs and senior dogs of all breeds and mixes. Pet adoptions will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m..

Starting at 11 am, there will be pageants for French bulldogs, pugs and senior dogs of all breeds and mixes. Another exciting event of the fair is the Bulldog Beauty Contest, at 1:30pm, where each pet will strut down a 100-foot red carpet as an outdoor runway, flanked by hundreds of seats, rentable for $5. Pet adoptions will take place throughout the event. The dog candidates will be judged base on personality, charm, face and first impressions.

Awards at stake are oldest contestant; congeniality; best smile; farthest distance traveled; and best legs. The top 10 will be announced in each of the breed categories and awards.

Costumes are optional. Rudd says dogs are attractive enough and does not need to be covered.

Last year, more than 300 bulldogs from at least four states and Canada participated.

The event is produced by Justin Rudd and benefits his nonprofit 501(c)(3) Community Action Team (CAT), which includes Haute Dogs and Operation Santa Paws, as well as beach cleanups, spelling bees, art contests and photography events.

Marine Stadium is at 5225 E. Paoli Way.

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The Right Age

A female English bulldog should never be breed on her first heat and not on her second heat either since she has immature eggs. The rule of the thumb is to begin breeding on the third season or around 1.5 to 2 years old with all health tests satisfactorily passed. Your English bulldog female should be examined by a veterinarian to be assured she is free and clear of hip displays, cataracts, cherry eye, palate problems, heart conditions and other congenital diseases.

Heat Cycle

Take note that the average heat cycle for a dog is approximately 3 weeks meaning it could be as shorter as 7 to 10 days or as longer as 4 weeks or more. The first sign of a female English bulldog coming into mating season is often swelling of the Vulva. Check for Vulva swelling a week before bleeding or the day. The most noticeable sign of heating is when male dogs hanging around the house. Your pet may also exhibit behavioral changes such as licking herself often, may start to hump other dogs or even your leg.

Now that you know when your English bulldog female is ready to be breed, ask yourself if you are ready to dedicate yourself to proper long term commitment to the breed. Don’t be one of those breeders with almost no experience or understanding of this breed tries to get in breeding when they see the prices that English bulldogs and their puppies fetch. Instead, be a responsible pet owner who only wants the best for your own English bulldog breeding in safe conditions.

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