U.K. Canine Vaccination Survey

From England comes a report on the preliminary results of a well structured survey concerning possible health problems resulting from vaccination of dogs.

Although this is an ongoing survey the early tabulation on approximately 2,700 dogs appears to confirm our concerns with the potential for adverse effects from vaccination.

For the purposes of the survey they asked all participants to list their dogs' illnesses and tell them how soon they started after the date of vaccination. In theory, if vaccination has no adverse effect or even a bearing on subsequent illness, then illnesses will occur in equal numbers at any time during the twelve months following vaccination.

One aim of the survey was to test whether there was a timeframe bias between illnesses that developed that might be vaccine-linked. In fact, the results indicate a distinct statistical skew within the first three months. During this short time span one would expect to see no more than 25% of illnesses based on a one year time frame.

Overall, some 55% of all illnesses reported, occurred within the first three months after vaccination!

Although vaccine reactions are admitted by the manufacturers (all be it at an exceptionally low rate of perhaps 5 in one million) I don't know of any company that is admitting to a relationship of disease to vaccination. The survey indicates a strong statistical probability that such a link does in fact exist! Some examples after vaccination are:

Diarrhea-- 4.9% of dogs surveyed had diarrhea (68% of these within the first three months).
Allergies-- 3.8% had allergies (55.6% within the first three months).
Colitis-- 2.7% had colitis (56.9% first three months).
Dry Eye/conjunctivitis-- 2.5% of dogs surveyed (56.9% within first three months)
Epilepsy-- 2.1% had epilepsy (65.5% in first three months).
Loss of appetite-- 3.4% suffered a loss of appetite (79.8% within first three months).
Nasal discharges-- 1.7% showed nasal discharges (84.1% within three months of vaccination).
Nervous/worrying disposition-- 2.8% suffered from this complaint (54.8% began to do so within three months).
Skin problems-- 5.4% of dogs surveyed had skin problems after vaccination (46.2% within three months).
Vomiting-- 3% were reported to have vomited (72.5% of these dogs, within three months of vaccination).
Weight loss-- 2.5% of dogs in the survey had lost weight.(63.1% were within three months after vaccination).
Behavioral problems-- 2.5% had behavioral problems (55.4% occurred within three months).
Tumor or growth at vaccination site-- 1.1% of all dogs surveyed suffered from this occurrence. (67.9% within the first three months after vaccination).

To increase statistical confidence they still need more completed questionnaires to study the patterns of each of the following diseases (although the interim figures do give rise for concern):

Cancer--31% within 3 months
Chorea--63.2% within 3 months
Encephalitis--75% within 3 months
Heart conditions--26.8% within 3 months
Kidney damage--40.5% within three months
Lameness--52% within three months
Liver damage--47% within three months
Paralysis of abdomen--64.7% within three months
Short attention span--68.4% within three months
Autoimmune diseases--54.8% within three months

They are also waiting for more survey returns for confirmation of early indications of dogs contracting the diseases they were vaccinated against. So far the results are:

Hepatitis--63.6% occurred within three months
Parainfluenza--50% within three months
Parvovirus--68.2% within three months
Distemper--55.6% within three months
Leptospirosis--100% of dogs contracted leptospirosis within three months of vaccination.

These preliminary results tend to support the view that vaccines either don't protect, or can cause the disease itself.

Another interesting observation made from the survey was that the common belief that as dogs get older, the incidence of illness increases, was not supported. There was no statistical bias between the incidence of illness and the ages of the dogs covered in the survey.

The incidence of illness in dogs treated with more than one vaccine at the same time is significantly higher than when only a single vaccine is administered. The "cocktail" effect appears more hazardous (confidence level of higher than 99.9%). They also reported that dogs that were annually boosted were more likely to become ill than those that were not boosted annually.

From the preliminary results I have seen so far, I believe that this particular survey is one that we could all benefit from. The more dog owners that participate the better. Your contribution of a little time to fill out the questionnaire would certainly be of value. There is no charge. You can obtain the form from:

The Canine Health Census
P.O. Box 1, Longer, Derbyshire SK17 OJD
England

Or you can contact John Watt:
Phone: 44 1298 74737
Fax: 44 1298 84739
Email: john@dogcensus.win-uk.net

John does urge all veterinarians interested in this work to participate and study their own patient records to see whether a similar pattern can be established.

Major kudos to John Watt of England for this project!!