Vaccinations
Nothing has caused more conversation or concern over the last few years than the debate about vaccinations. Does one continue on an annual basis, on a limited basis, or eliminate vaccinations altogether? We have examined this question for the same reason that we explored the Raw Diet. We feel the Canaan Dog has survived for millennia in a natural environment with only themselves to rely upon. This includes having a well-tuned natural immune system. It has been speculated that the same system that has enabled the Canaan Dog to survive for this long could be thrown into disarray with the introduction of foreign antigens from the vaccines. It would essentially have the dog's immune system attack itself. There have been a few cases of Autoimmune Disorder in recent years, but all have been a result of the dog being on a standard vaccination protocol. When this stimulus was removed, the dogs have recovered and even flourished.
By law, all dogs must be given the Rabies vaccine. Boosters are on a three-year term. As adults, this is the only vaccine that Macc and Cybelle receive. We monitor them yearly with titer testing.
In the end we feel that a healthy dog will be able to fight back against most ailments. Good exercise, a healthy raw diet, and plenty of stimulation should put them in the best shape possible. The recent findings in epigenetics would seem to bear this out. Current studies into the effects of vaccines on the body should also make everyone pause and consider. We always ask the question, "Why do dogs need to be vaccinated annually when we humans don't?"
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