Benpaws

I think some of you may find this site very interesting: TITER TEST

When Benny was fighting his cancer it was brought to our attention that vaccinations every year are NOT essential. Instead, give the necessary vaccinations the first year and the rabies vaccination every 3 years which is the LAW! Then have your vet give an annual "titer" test to your dog on his/her annual check-up. These are blood tests which can determine the level of your dog's immune defenses. We do NOT vaccinate our children yearly, why do we vaccinate our pets????

These tests are relatively inexpensive and very accurate.

EVERYTHING which is put into a dog's system can be potentially dangerous to him/ her. We are not taking any chances with our new puppy.

We have a new vet for our puppy Shadow. The above is the protocol which he will be following with Shadow, i.e yearly "titers." He was so glad when I brought up the subject.
His wife is retired now but is an holistic vet who followed the "titer" program with great success.

It is too late for our Benny but I have learned much significant information which just might help somebody else facing this disease with their precious pet.

Nobody knows exactly what causes cancer but we can change diet, add beneficial supplements (Shadow gets 1000 mg capsules of wild salmon oil every other day in his meal) and is on the puppy formula CANINE LIFE MUFFIN! That is all he will require for one year. We can also limit the number of vaccinations our puppy receives in his /her lifetime.

I don't know if this will protect Shadow from cancer but it is the best I can do for him. I never want to travel that road again if I can avoid it!!!

N.B. This is only some information which I am passing on. You have to each follow your own hearts but information is POWER when we are up against this dreadful and aggressive disease which is claiming the lives of so many very young animals and children as well.

Blessings,
Joanne & Shadow

Cyndik7

Joanne and Shadow,
Thank you for the information on vaccinations and titer testing. I find it very upsetting that the vets we trust to care for our beloved pets would not consider this testing, but they would just do the "yearly" shots and that is all. I am very frustrated with the lack of education that I didn't receive from my vet with Mast Cell Cancer. As with other issues in our life, we must learn from our experiences (good or bad) and educate others because most vets just don't give information on what is BEST for our pets. Most are too busy. I also have a beagle mix who is in very good health at this point in time, and I have already taken steps to decrease her risks of developing this terrible disease. Thank you again for this info.
Cyndi and Mia

Benpaws

Dear Friend,
Thank you. I think you are absolutely correct when you say that vets are just too busy to pass on any good information to us which might benefit us and particularly our beloved pets.

How is Mia doing? She is in my prayers. Also, so glad that you have another healthy puppy at home and are starting to take measures to ensure continuing good health.

Our vet was more interested in getting the $100 for a WELLNESS TEST for Benny back in May of 2006 when I noticed the first small lump on his side. Nothing was done and the WELLNESS TEST came back as positive.....our puppy was NOT WELL. He had Mast Cell Cancer!!

My anger at Benny's untimely death at age 6 prompted me to write a letter to the clinic and suggest their was negligence on the part of the vet who dismissed the original lump as nothing to worry about!!. No biopsy was done on the tumour for a year and a half and then it was too late for Benny and the surgery was unsuccessful I KNEW he would have lived a long and healthy life if the original lump had been biopsied.

Well, I got an apologetic letter from both vets admitting their negligence and saying that Benny was their youngest patient ever to die from Mast Cell Cancer and yes, if the original lump had been checked out at the time there would have been immediate surgery, much less invasive because the lump was tiny and he no doubt would have survived and gone on to live a long and healthy and happy life! They also said they are now changing their protocol and checking every lump on every animal no matter what the age. Why they didn't always do this is beyond my comprehension!! They said they learned a lot from me and from Benny's case to help other dogs. Little consolation to me now.

Needless to say I was blown away by their honesty, but it was too late for Benny. It did give me a sense of closure and perhaps Benny did not die in vain. It should have been them helping me and Benny and not the other way around with me giving them information to help other dogs and Benny, a "guinea pig."

Thanks again for your kind note. God Bless Mia.

Blessings,
Joanne

Raymond

The American Veterinary Association does not even recommend annual vaccinations. Doesn't that tick you off...

Benpaws

YES, it SURE DOES......

Joanne

Penny's Mum

Two years ago when this first started with Penny our vet said to us'' I would advise NO more vaccinations '' . He checked her levels by doinga blood test & told us she did not need to be vaccinated anyway. She wanders around our garden which is failry large & at 13 does not need long walks now.

daphne

I've read about this many times but when I go to see the vet they make you believe that it is essential. My cats are due for their vaccinations in the next month and I will bring this up when I go in.

Sophie
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Benpaws

Hi Cyndi,
I am glad you found this post. We took Shadow in for yearly check-up and we went the "titre, aka titer testing route." His bloodwork came back very positive and his immune system is strong and healthy this year.

Vets do not give us this information. Our new vet is just awesome and totally agreed with our choice.

If our former vet had been on his toes and acknowledged the first small lump on Benny prior to his 4th birthday and said it was nothing to worry about (a fatty lump) which of course turned out to be cancer and too late for Benny, then most likely Benny would have survived. I cannot go back, but it still angers me greatly.

We pay "big bucks" to these so-called "experts" and "caregivers" to our precious dogs and the don't, in many cases know "much" when it comes to cancer. Our vet knew nothing about diet, that carbs and sugars are bad for dogs with cancer; what supplements work,; of course, FORGET herbs and spices and foods which fight cancer! We have to search for ourselves and I found out so much while dealing with Benny's cancer which hopefully will help Shadow. Perhaps there is truth to "everything happens for a reason." Benny's death was not in vain.


We did give "liquid ADVANTAGE: to Shadow for Heart worm prevention, but only every other month since this is also under investigation re: cancer in dogs.

Good luck on this precarious journey and hugs to Mia.

Blessings,
Joanne & Shadow

Penny's Mum

Sophie

My vet was adamant. NO VACCINATIONS It encourages the cancer as it affects their immune system.

daphne

Oh yes Sue - I know you're right - it's just hard when your vet is telling you they must have it. You should be able to rely on your vet to give you the best advice - but it seems you can't and I don't know where you live but here in the UK they seem to be not as clued up as in the States, Canada or Australia.

Sophie
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