We at Ra-Ca Danes follow the philosophy of many well known and respected breeder's of Great Danes. All believe that immunizations are not only detrimental, but down right harmful and deadly to our breed. The running joke I heard years ago was, "Make sure you give the shot in the leg, cause you can't chop the head off". Pretty morbid, but it makes you wonder. After years of following the health of our puppies and also our dogs here, we came to the decision to not give "puppyshots" to OUR dogs over 10 years ago. We used to give the "option" for immunizations to our puppy owners, with the warnings of what may occur if they chose to have "puppyshots". We have discontinued that practice for the following reasons. We have found 10% of puppies after having had their battery of "puppyshots" developed reactions. Allergies that are unspecified, skin problems including hair loss, lesions to the skin, puritis, digestive problems including chronic dairrhea and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), lacking digestive enzymes, chronic low weight, HOD and mange. All occurred within 1 day to 1 month after receiving their first series of "shots". All littermates that received NO "shots" did not develop any signs. Littermates that received "minimal" shots, at a later age (parvo only) in single vaccines did equally well . Our research has found documented studies that have shown animals to have developed tumors at injection sites, immunosupression, immune complex disease, reversion of modified vaccines to cause diseases, neurologic diseases (epilepsy and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis), autoimmune diseases, anaphylactic reactions, thyroid disorders, chronic hepatitis, renal failure, cystitis, asthma, acute adrenal insufficiency crisis, vaccine associated immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, HOD, and even death. Yearly "boosters" are unnecessary, provide no benifit if given (will not increase immunity). Thus boosters are either a legal issue (rabies) or a manipulation issue (revenue for veterinarians). The suggestion is that vaccines "protect" against the acute disease not by preventing the disease but changing the form of the disease to a chronic disease. For example, parvovirus produces diarrhea and vomiting, the vaccine for canine parvo virus has been in effect for 15 years, the incident of IBD has been on a huge increase. Instead of the dog gaining natural immunities to parvo by actually coming in contact with the virus, using the bodies natural defenses to kill the virus, the immunization leads to a chronic state of parvo. Vaccinations may prevent acute diseases, but if the exchange is for a lifetime of chronic diseases, is it worth it? A few pictures of puppies that have had allergic reactions to their first immunizations. Noticable are the red, puritic open lesions to lips and eyes, loss of hair to lips and eyes, and swelling. There was also loss of hair to toes, intense itching, high temperature, lesions to the trunk, inner ears and digestive issues. "Knowledge is the key to power, armed with facts we can better ourselves and the breed". We will give a real life case of vaccinosis and the heart break that can occur. Isis was gone by age 3. The more we bombard our dogs with immunizations, heart worm preventions, antibiotics, drugs, chemicals (topical, oral), diet changes, and stress the more we cause problems, than cure. We do all we can to educate the public on issues we feel are very important, and immunizations are just ONE of them. We continue to not vaccinate our Danes (10 years now) and do not have to deal with vaccination issues as we have seen the damage they can cause. We ask that people think carefully before they give immunizations...once you give them, you can never turn back time. Many of our Danes have tested high titers for parvo and distemper. We have also had cases of kennel cough brought home from the shows. Due to Ra-Ca Danes outstanding health their immune system was able to fight these viruses naturally. See our "case study" on parvo at
Canine hepatitis is almost nonexistent, leptospirosis is rare, coronavirus was never a serious threat, the same for lymes disease, and kennel cough is generally not serious. Unfortunately society follows the norm. "I was told they had to have them." "My vet says it's mandatory." "Everyone does it." "I'm afraid of the diseases!" "I'm not going to be different!" "What if?" "I'll be made fun of!" "People would be horrified!". The list goes on. Statistics are always available to approve or disapprove something. The stats show that majority of animals do well after immunizations, and the minority that do not, are not important. If you are a part of the minority, this is unacceptable.
If you choose to continue to give immunizations, first remember booster vaccines are unnecessary (run titers), secondly, all vaccines should be given as single antigens (natural exposure to diseases are usually one at a time) thus the body can respond to antigens more successfully one at a time, third only immunize for diseases that meet the following criteria
1. The disease is life threatening
2. The animal is or will be exposed to the disease
3. The vaccine for the disease is KNOWN to be effective
4. The vaccine for the disease is considered safe
5. NEVER vaccinate an ill animal.
Here is the story of one of our wonderful owners Christina Kallay and her girl Isis. Isis was given her 1st parvo shot at 6 weeks before going home with her owner. Within days afterwards, Isis developed skin bumps on neck, back and around eyes that would clear up (per owner) then reappear. She also developed chronic stomach problems. She would throw up or burp up at least daily and had loose stools. The diet was not followed that puppy was sent home on which was Alpo lamb and rice. After 13 years of weaning puppies onto Alpo, we have NEVER had any growth, skin, digestive, or coat issues. All of our danes are raised from day one to the end, on Alpo. Breeders know what works best for their puppies and changing foods may cause numerous problems (ie: HOD, mange, digestive issues). She was placed on Solid Gold and prozyme for loose stools. She was then switched to numerous other high end kibbles and finally on Eagle Pack Holistic, where she continued with burping and loose stools. She developed HOD, which is held in the Dane community to be directly diet related. By 10 months of age, Isis had red crusty bumps on neck, stomach, redness to legs, itching lesions to face, ears, and pyoderma. Found to have yeast and bacteria upon skin scrapings. Numerous antibiotics and prednisone had been used up to this point. Allergy testing revealed "No allergies". She developed demodex (mange). All dogs carry for the mite, but stressors and poor immune system let the mite become active causing the disease. Isis then began to have issues with her feet where the pads and the fleshy parts of her toes separated. She then began to lick her back toe, which cause an open sore, the toe was amputated but the wound would not heal. She was diagnosed with food allergy, chronic pyoderma, allergic skin disease, allergic dermatitis and SLO. Isis had her last immunizations at 1 year of age.
PARVO A CASE STUDY
We at Ra-Ca Danes use homeopathy and nosodes. They are also used in our heartworm prevention program. We believe natural remedies are vital to the health of our Danes. To understand more on homeopathy and nosodes, visit our "links" page.