canine distemper and measles

[blessedwithboys]

i adopted a dog last year. she came fully shot up and now its time to decide if and what to get. i just came across something that said that CD and measles are related. the article went on to say that there are two types of the vax for dogs, live and attenuated or recombinant or something. apparently, the live one can shed and kids in the house would be (potentially) exposed to measles.

ques: ds1, 14yo, is part vax, ds2, almost 7yo, is not at all. would it be a good idea to expose them? might it boost ds1? could ds2 actually GET measles from the dog, and if so, would it likely be subclinical?

and as a side note, if anyone knows on good authority that it is way too dangerous for the dog and the recombinant one is safer all around, LMK!

Thanks!

[Marnica]

IMO I wouldn't vaccinate the dog at all.

Check out the many threads on here about vaccines and pets

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=622509

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=777688

I highly doubt your children would get measles from a distemper vax shedding.

[Sileree]

Interesting. I read that humans got measles from living with dogs, I never knew how. I guess it crossed species?

[Meems]

I don't know anything about CD and measles... BUT

If the dog has had a series of shots, i absolutely would not vaccinate her again.

[NYMOM07]

I absolutely do not agree with not vaxing the dog at all; some may think that vaccinating is ignorant, but so is disregarding the benefit of all vaccines that were ever created, and the possible benefit of them in your specific situation. I believe rabies is important, actaully i think it is the law to get, and the others you can break apart, and do as few as possible. I told my vet that I dont like vaccines, and that I want to do as few as possible, and they did! My dog is 3, and hasnt had shots in 2 years. I will continue on this trend and consider each booster when it comes up.

I have never heard of a child catching something from a dog after a vaccination, and I have never been given a choice as to which kind I prefer. I have no idea how they would get measles from a vaccine for a different disease, and not all information we "hear" is accurate.

As time goes on, I am very comfortable with my decisions about whether or not to vaccinate because I have chosen reliable sources for my information.

I would consider how much your dog is outside, if it comes in contact with raccoons, mice, rats, and other wild animals, and how that risk impacts your life. For instance, leptospirosis is from the urine of these types of animals. if the infected urine is in a puddle, and your dog drinks it, you can pretty much assume your dog will get it= there fore i think this a valuable vaccine for such types of dogs.

hth

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by NYMOM07

I absolutely do not agree with not vaxing the dog at all; some may think that vaccinating is ignorant, but so is disregarding the benefit of all vaccines that were ever created, and the possible benefit of them in your specific situation. I believe rabies is important, actaully i think it is the law to get, and the others you can break apart, and do as few as possible. I told my vet that I dont like vaccines, and that I want to do as few as possible, and they did! My dog is 3, and hasnt had shots in 2 years. I will continue on this trend and consider each booster when it comes up.

I have never heard of a child catching something from a dog after a vaccination, and I have never been given a choice as to which kind I prefer. I have no idea how they would get measles from a vaccine for a different disease, and not all information we "hear" is accurate.

As time goes on, I am very comfortable with my decisions about whether or not to vaccinate because I have chosen reliable sources for my information.

I would consider how much your dog is outside, if it comes in contact with raccoons, mice, rats, and other wild animals, and how that risk impacts your life. For instance, leptospirosis is from the urine of these types of animals. if the infected urine is in a puddle, and your dog drinks it, you can pretty much assume your dog will get it= there fore i think this a valuable vaccine for such types of dogs.

hth

I don't think that for those who choose not to vaccinate their pets they are doing so because they are ignorant and are disregarding any benefit that vaccines may have. I can only speak for myself, but I have throughly researched vaccines for my pets and their particular situations and I feel that the risks outweigh any benefits from this point forward. Most puppies are vaccinated and most of the vaccines that they get confer protection for FAR longer than what we are led to believe, so constant boosters and not necessary.

[Meems]

I have also studied pet vaccines extensively and the *average* time that one shot lasts is 5 years. You can have titres drawn to determine if the pet *needs* any more shots.

[blessedwithboys]

I have a 6-7# toy poodle. She is never outside alone, not for a moment. We don't go to the dog park, none of my friends have dogs, and we rarely go to the big box pet stores. My gut says do rabies triennually for cya purposes and forgo the rest. Lepto and Bordatella are of no interest to me.

But...I have just gotten involved in poodle rescue. (Our first foster dog was just adopted, very rewarding!!!) I won't always know what our foster dogs might be bringing in to our home. Most come from the shelter, and are shot all up to hell before they go to a foster home, though.

Also, today is our first day of raw feeding. I am supporting a local company that makes great raw food, plus the local store owners that sell it. Maybe the raw feeding will keep her healthy enough to be ok w/out all the rest besides rabies? Should I stop fostering if I choose not to vax? I don't vax my kids, and we DO NOT live in fear or isolation, but if my kids get a VPD, I know how to treat them and I know that most are self-limiting. Also, they both have primary and secondary insurance. If my dog gets a VPD, she is as good as dead b/c I can't afford $K's for in-hospital care. (Please don't tell me I shouldn't own a dog, blah, blah, blah...)

I really don't want her vaxed. She is only a yr out from her last set and I am thinking maybe I will do them only every 3 yrs as her rabies comes due.

My main question though is can the live CD vax pass measles to my unvax ds, and if so, is that a good thing to do? If it's not likely to pass it to him, or if the immunity is worthless, is it safer to just do the attenuated version? Of course, that is assuming I do the shot at all, or do it every 3 yrs...