Dogs win shot exemptions

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

The San Francisco Examiner
By Kate Williamson
Staff Writer

SAN MATEO — County health officials have begun allowing exemptions from repeated rabies vaccinations for frail dogs again this month after a move to require the shots for all pets prompted an outcry from veterinarians and dog owners.

San Mateo County requires that dogs be vaccinated for rabies every three years as part of its licensing program. Last summer, however, San Mateo County Health Officer Scott Morrow realized that veterinarians were filing alternative paperwork for some dogs and cats, requesting exemptions for health reasons. Though his office was supposed to approve all exemptions, the applications were actually stopping at the county licensing office, he said.

He immediately invalidated all exemptions, worried that the practice was unwise for an area where rabies is endemic among wildlife, he said.

“That got the veterinarians up in arms,” Morrow said.

The decision came at a sensitive time because pet owners and veterinarians are increasingly concerned about potential overvaccination, according to Carol Schumacher, co-owner of Mid-Peninsula Veterinary Hospital and a registered veterinary technician. Unlike human vaccines, which can confer lifetime immunity when given in childhood, animal vaccines have never been tested by their manufacturers to determine how long the immunity lasts, she said. Ten years ago, it was discovered that some cats were getting cancerous fibro-sarcomas at the rabies vaccine injection site.

“We may be triggering autoimmune disease” in dogs, Schumacher said, adding that owners of pets who had bad reactions became alarmed that exemptions were no longer granted. “People are pulling their hair out. You are pushing the most conscientious dog owners away from licensing.”

That hair pulling may be over if Morrow’s new plan proves effective. He requested a committee of veterinarians study the issue, and now has a policy in place for dogs. Under the policy, a panel of three veterinarians will review rabies-vaccine exemption requests in which the dog is undergoing chemotherapy, suffers anaphylactic shock when vaccinated or meets other specific criteria. They will then forward a recommendation to Morrow for approval or rejection.

Policies for cats are still forthcoming, he said.

“I’m happy that they have been flexible,” said Beverly Ort, president of the Peninsula Veterinary Medical Association. “I’m very happy that they are starting to see our side of the issue.”

[Shadowkins]

I have heard that before that the yearly vaccines can trigger autoimmune diseases... it really should be researched more, we may be doing more harm than good.

[Mellie]

Hmm, per my Veterinarian, my Waldo was exempt from shots because of his cancer. She didn't want to subject his system to anything unnecessarily. It never became an issue with my town clerk. I explained that Waldo had an explanation from my Vet, and they never questioned it. Could be that I live in a small town, and they were more accepting of this? But I was appreciative that my Vet was more concerned about Waldo's health, and the town clerk understood the reasons.

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

Mellie I think your right about the small town being more accepting. Here locally it's an almost impossible process to get an exemption and requires tons of red tape.

[Redyre_Rottweilers]

I personally think it is RIDICULOUS that a blood titer test is not accepted as proof of vaccination.

A vaccination is no proof whatsoever of immunity.

My vet still tries to get me to vax every year.

No dice.