12 Reasons to Adopt the Least Adoptable Shelter Pet

By Dr. Becker

Animal shelters across the US are full of pets of all shapes, sizes, breeds, and ages, but sadly, older dogs and cats are typically among the last to find homes.

Many senior shelter pets live years with a family, and then during a time when they most need human care and companionship, they are surrendered to a shelter for any number of reasons, including ill health, incontinence, or another condition of old age. Sometimes the pet's owner passes away and surviving family members can't or don't want to care for the dog or cat left behind.

The reasons potential adoptive owners tend to shy away from older pets include:

• They're not as cute as puppies or kittens
• They may have, or may develop serious, expensive health problems
• They don't seem as perky or playful as younger animals
• The prospective pet parent has recently lost a dog or cat and can't bear the thought of losing another companion to old age within a few years

Many older pets live out the remainder of their lives in shelters or are euthanized to make room for more adoptable animals. This is a heartbreaking end to the life of a once cherished pet.

If you're thinking of adopting a shelter pet, an older dog or cat might be just the pet you need, so I encourage you to keep an open mind.

One Dozen Reasons a Senior Dog or Cat May Be the Perfect Pet for You

1. Senior dogs know proper etiquette. Unlike puppies, many adult dogs have spent years living with a family and being socialized to life with humans.
They may have received obedience training and respond to commands like Sit, Stay, and Down. Many are house trained and it takes a matter of hours, or a day or two to help them learn the potty rules in their new home.

2. Senior pets respect your belongings. Older adoptive pets are years beyond the search-and-destroy puppy or kitten phase.
You don't need to worry about finding your favorite pair of shoes or a table leg chewed beyond recognition. Chances are your senior kitty has no urge to dive head first into your potted plants or shred the handmade quilt Aunt Helen gave you.

3. Seeing is believing. A senior pet holds no surprises as to how big he might get, what color his adult coat will be, or whether his hips will be healthy. A senior pet comes to you with his own history, which makes his future much more predictable than that of a puppy or kitten.
4. You CAN teach an old dog new tricks. Adult dogs can focus on the task at hand. If your adopted older pet needs to learn a few things in her new life with you, not to worry.
Enroll her in an obedience class, contact a trainer, or go the do-it-yourself route. Older dogs are more attentive than puppies, and more eager to please their humans.

5. You can pick your perfect pet. If you're looking for a short-haired cat, for example, or a kitty with no history of health problems, you can search until you find an older pet with exactly those qualities. If you have a cat and are looking for a feline-friendly dog, you can ask to see older dogs that lived with cats in their former homes.
6. You can adopt a purebred senior. If you really love a certain breed of dog or cat, chances are there's a breed rescue organization that can point you in the direction of older purebred pets in need of homes.
7. Senior pets and senior citizens make a great team. Many elderly people find the calm presence of an older pet very comforting. They appreciate having a companion who is also getting up there in age, doesn't mind hearing the same stories again and again, and is content to move through life at a slower speed.
8. Older pets are easy to kick back with. Senior dogs and cats have all the basics down and aren't full of wild energy they need to burn off. Because you're not constantly chasing around or cleaning up after your older pet, you have a lot more time to spend having adventures or just relaxing together.
9. Adopted senior pets are forever grateful. Somehow, older pets seem to know you gave them a home when no one else would. Many new owners form a close bond very quickly with their senior dog or cat, because the pet shows them a level of attention and devotion that is unique to older adopted animals.
10. A senior pet is a relatively short-term commitment. The fact is, a senior dog or cat isn't an 8- to 20-year responsibility like a younger pet is. This can be a serious consideration for an elderly person or someone who doesn't know what their living situation might be in a few years.
11. We're heading into the holiday season. Many people are looking for opportunities to be charitable this time of year, and I can't think of a better way to give back than to help one less animal spend the holiday season in a shelter.
12. You can be a hero to a deserving older pet. Almost without exception, people who adopt older animals feel a special sense of pride and purpose in opening their heart to a hard-to-place pet. Doing a good thing really does make you feel good!

Dr. Becker

Dr. Becker is the resident proactive and integrative wellness veterinarian of HealthyPets.Mercola.com. You can learn holistic ways of preventing illness in your pets by subscribing to MercolaHealthyPets.com, an online resource for animal lovers. For more pet care tips, subscribe for FREE to Mercola Healthy Pet Newsletter.

Are Jackets Really Necessary for My Dog This Winter?

During this time of year there are plenty of dogs walking the streets with sweaters and jackets. You may wonder, “Are these really necessary for my dog?” Aside from being cute as all get out, sweaters and jackets do have a purpose for dogs. Let’s explore some winter weather gear and discuss if your dog needs it, and how he or she would benefit from seasonal apparel.

Sweaters and jackets can be found in our store and come in a variety of sizes, colors, and patterns. These items are important for dogs that have thin, single layered coats. These breeds include, but are not limited to, Maltese, Briards, and Yorkshire terriers. On the other hand, double coated breeds who are bred to withstand the colder temperatures and wind chill, like Labrador Retrievers, Newfoundlands, Siberian Huskies, and St. Bernards, do not have a strong need for added warmth.

But if your dog is older, very young, or on the smaller side you should consider a jacket for them during this time of year no matter what the breed. Age and size contribute to the dogs’ overall ability to regulate its own body temperature. Many jackets offer a weather resistant feature. This will ensure your pet stays dry even when out in the snow, rain, or sleet. Getting wet during this cold weather makes it even more difficult to stay warm. Even a double coated breed could benefit from a windbreaker or rain slicker on cold rainy and snowy days if only to help them stay dry.

If you have been on the receiving end of a good shake when your dog comes in from a romp outside you will know what we mean.  Every dog is different, if you notice your dog seems cold in this weather, buy a jacket to keep them cozy when outside.

Cherrybrook offers a variety of coats and sweaters in our stores and online. Not sure how to find the right size? Our associates will help fit your dog for the perfect size! Not sure if your pet needs a coat, our team can help you decide.

The Secret to Soft and Healthy Paws this Winter

Did you know that your dogs paws can crack and splinter just like our hands do during the winter? Damage to the paw pads of their feet caused by low humidity, ice, and salt can get so bad that the pads bleed. If left uncared for, these cracks and sores can potentially lead to infection. Fortunately, there are plenty of products available to help keep the pads of your furry companions protected and healthy this winter.

To protect humans and vehicles from slipping and sliding on the ice, salt is most commonly used. Salt dries the pads of your pups paws causing cracks. You can avoid this on your own property by using a salt alternative, such as Safe Paw or Walk Safe. Both Safe Paw and Walk Safe are environmentally safe and nontoxic ice melters that will not cause any damage to the pads of their paws, as a side benefit they are less caustic and damaging to pavement and walkways.

Unfortunately, not everywhere you walk your dog will use this safe alternative. This means you will need to find a different way to protect their paws when out on adventures. One of the options is to use booties. Not only are booties adorable, but they also keep your dogs paws safe and many boot options exist for varied terrain situations. This means some boots are used year round.

However, not all dogs adapt well to booties. If this is your dog, there is also a product called Musher’s Secret. This is a protective wax that forms a breathable bond with your dog's paws. It was developed in Canada for use with sledding dogs and is made from 100% natural waxes.

All of these options and more can be found at Cherrybrook! Stop into any one of our retail locations today with your pooch to get more information on how to better protect your dogs paws this winter season.

Avoid Door Dashing With These Easy Tips!

During this wonderful time of year, we all have plenty of guests coming in and out of our homes. Teaching your dog to wait at the door is important because it helps to prevent door dashing. The last thing anyone wants is their dog to go missing because they decided to dash out the door! To train your pup, you will need:

1. Training Treats. 

Examples – Zukes, BuddyBiscuits, Orijen Freeze Dried Treats, Stella and Chewy’s Carnivore Crunch, and Purebites.

2. A Clicker or use of a command, like “good”

3. Patience.

Once you have these items, you can begin! Start practicing with your dog at a door that does not lead outside, like the bathroom door. Have your dog on a leash and ask him to sit at the door. Give the command, “wait”, and then reach your hand towards the door handle. If he stays in this position, click the clicker or say “good”, and give a treat. It is very important that the reward and command are given at the exact same time immediately after the good behavior.

The goal is to enforce the correct behavior with positive feedback; Treats! Once he has the reaching for the door handle down, try opening the door. If he goes to dash, close it immediately. You are trying to associate him dashing with the door closing. Once he is doing well at the bathroom door, move onto the front door. Eventually, practice waiting at the door with guests coming into your home that are in on the training. If the dog tries to dash, the guest can close the door and go back outside.

Remember, practice makes perfect. Repeat, repeat, repeat; the more you practice, the better your dog will be. Continue practicing with your dog for 5 to 10 minute sessions daily. Your dog may become bored or distracted if you practice too often. Limiting it to small sessions every day helps your dog to stay attentive and interested.

If you are struggling to get your dog to stay on command, there are plenty of dog trainers who can come to your home and help you with this task. You can find business cards for local trainers at all the Cherrybrook locations.

Holiday Décor Do’s and Don’ts in a Home with Pets

Christmas trees, holiday lights, candles, tinsel, poinsettias; the holidays are a magical time with decorations galore! Knowing what can harm your pets is important when deciding how to decorate your home for this wonderful time of year. There are certain decorations that should be avoided completely depending on the pet you have, so educate yourself and avoid having a giant holiday mishap this year!

Christmas trees are a staple in many homes during the holiday season. Our Christmas trees sit in stagnant water throughout the season so they do not go bad. This water is a breeding ground for bacteria and should not be ingested by your pet. Keep your pets away from this water as it could cause an upset tummy with diarrhea or nausea. Using a tree skirt to cover the water may help keep them away from the threat. Other plants like holly and mistletoe can cause gastrointestinal upset and cardiovascular problems in dogs and cats. Many varieties of lilies can cause acute kidney failure in cats if ingested. Instead, opt for artificial plants made from silk or plastic.

Tinsel is a very common decoration used during the holidays. This beautiful, sparkly, light weight decoration is especially enticing to our feline friends. While they may look cute playing with tinsel, it can be extremely dangerous. Playing can lead to chewing, which can then lead to swallowing. If your cat ingests tinsel it can cause a life threatening obstruction in the digestive tract. Avoid using tinsel if your share your home with felines.

Holiday decorations warm our homes and hearts. Knowing what can be potentially dangerous to our furry companions means a happy and healthy holiday season for all!

Have A Safe and Happy Howl-a-day Party with your Pets

  

The Holidays are fast approaching and our furry friends want in on the friends, food, and merry! There are certain things you should keep in mind when looking to include your pets in the Holiday Festivities.

Our pets love routines, so try your best to keep to their regular schedules. Too much change can sometimes lead to a very stressed out pet which may result in unwanted behaviors. The Holiday’s can be a very busy time for us, but it is important that your pets feeding time and walking time remain as close to normal as possible. Remember; happy pet, happy you.

Many of us enjoy a good Holiday party or dinner with friends and family. Some of our furry friends love to be in on the action, while others do not. If your pet does not do well with large groups of people, set up a room for them to go as a sanctuary. 

Your cat or dog may want to hide out away from the hustle and bustle until the guests have all gone. Make sure they have plenty of water and a cozy bed in a separate room for the duration of the gathering. There are plenty of holistic calming remedies available to make this time easier on your shy pets, like Heavenly Hounds Bars and Rescue Remedy.

If your pet is a social butterfly and basks in the attention of guests, make sure there are healthy pet treats available. We all love to spoil our pets, and Grandma is no exception. Having pet treats available for your guests to give your dog or cat will help to avoid them getting table scraps from overeager guests. Alcoholic beverages, fatty, spicy human foods, as well as cooked bones, should not be fed to your furry companions as it can lead to diarrhea or hazardous blockages in the stomach.

Avoid These 2 Temptations When Sharing Thanksgiving with Your Pet

By Dr. Becker

There are few things as tantalizing as the mouth-watering aroma of Thanksgiving dinner being prepared. In fact, it can be hard to wait for the meal to be served if you've spent all day surrounded by the smells of delicious food cooking in the kitchen.

You may have also noticed that your furry companion is spending more time than usual sniffing the air and visiting the kitchen, hoping that a morsel of food might slip off the counter or out of someone's hand.

Do I Really Have to Exclude My Pet from Holiday Meals?

The usual advice for dog and cat owners during the holiday season is to avoid feeding species-inappropriate "table scraps." This is because traditional holiday dinners tend to be high-fat feasts that aren't suitable for pets.

There is also concern about ingredients in human food that can be toxic for pets. Plus, we don't want to encourage begging at the table.

But with all that said, whether or not you share your Thanksgiving meal with your pet really depends on what the meal consists of and what ingredients are used. For example, cooked turkey meat is fine for both dogs and cats. A few fresh cooked veggies such as plain (no flavorings or additives of any kind) green beans or yams are also fine.

Examples of Thanksgiving people food you'll want to avoid giving your pet include dressing (stuffing); processed or sugary foods; dishes containing raisins or grapes; dishes containing onions, leeks, or chives; bread, rolls, and butter; and all desserts.

I also recommend blending a small portion of safe people food in with your pet's regular food and offering it at her usual mealtime. It's really not a good idea to offer treats from your plate at the table, or in the kitchen during meal preparation or cleanup, because your pet will very likely remember the gesture if you do it even once.

And with that one gesture, you can turn a pet with impeccable table manners into a beggar dog or cat with a very long memory!

15 Thanksgiving Foods and Snacks Safe to Share with Your Dog or Cat

Most of these foods will be more popular with dogs than cats, but they're safe for both. They should be served plain (no sugar, salt, or spices, butter, or other additives), in moderation, and in small portions.

1. Apples. Apples contain powerful antioxidants and vitamin C. Serve apple slices to your pet, but never the core or seeds. 

1. Blueberries. Fresh or frozen, blueberries are loaded with phytochemicals, and their deep blue hue is the result of anthocyanidins, which are powerful antioxidants. Blueberries are also a good source of healthy fiber, manganese, and vitamins C and E. Introduce blueberries slowly to your pet – too much, too soon can cause a digestive upset. 

1. Carrots. Carrots are low in calories and high in fiber and vitamins. Many dogs enjoy snacking on a fresh crunchy carrot. 

1. Broccoli. Broccoli supports detoxification processes in your pet's body; contains healthy fiber to aid digestion; is rich in beneficial nutrients like potassium, calcium, protein, and vitamin C; has anti-inflammatory properties; supports eye health; helps repair skin damage; and supports heart health. 

As an added bonus, even conventionally grown broccoli is one of the cleanest (most pesticide-free) foods you can buy. Your pet may prefer broccoli steamed.

1. Kale. This dark green cruciferous vegetable is loaded with vitamins (especially vitamins K, A, and C), iron, and antioxidants. It helps with liver detoxification and also has anti-inflammatory properties. 

1. Fermented vegetables. If you happen to be serving fermented veggies as part of your Thanksgiving feast, definitely offer some to your pet. Fermented foods are potent detoxifiers and contain much higher levels of probiotics and vitamin K2 than supplements can provide. 

Beneficial gut bacteria provided by probiotics break down and eliminate heavy metals and other toxins from the body, and perform a number of other important functions.

1. Raw pumpkin seeds. Pepitas, or raw pumpkin seeds, are a rich source of minerals, vitamin K, and phytosterols. They also contain L-tryptophan and are a good source of zinc, vitamin E, and B vitamins. Research suggests pumpkin seeds can prevent calcium oxalate kidney stones, reduce inflammation caused by arthritis, and support prostate health. 

1. Sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene and antioxidants, and are also high in vitamins A and C. Sweet potatoes with purple flesh have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may lower the risk from heavy metals and oxygen radicals. 

1. Green beans. Fresh, locally grown green beans are a source of vitamins A, C, and K. They also provide calcium, copper, fiber, folic acid, iron, niacin, manganese, potassium, riboflavin, and thiamin, as well as beta-carotene. 

1. Spinach. This green leafy vegetable has anti-inflammatory properties and can help support heart health. 

1. Asparagus. Asparagus is an excellent source of vitamin K, A, B1, B2, C, and E, along with the folate, iron, copper, fiber, manganese, and potassium. 

1. Pumpkin. Pumpkin is a great source of fiber, vitamin A, and antioxidants. It can help alleviate both diarrhea and constipation. Make sure to feed your pet either fresh pumpkin or 100 percent canned pumpkin – not pumpkin pie filling. 

1. Yogurt. Plain organic yogurt is high in protein and calcium, and most pets love it. 

1. Cottage cheese. Like yogurt, plain organic cottage cheese is high in calcium and protein. 

1. Raw almonds, cashews, and Brazil nuts. These nuts, served in moderation and very small portions, are safe for dogs. Many nuts are not – especially tree nuts – so stick with these three to be on the safe side.

If you're in the mood to prepare some special homemade treats for your animal companion over the holidays, be sure to request my free e-book Homemade Treats for Healthy Pets, which contains nutritious, easy-to-prepare recipes for both cats and dogs.

Dr. Becker

Dr. Becker is the resident proactive and integrative wellness veterinarian of HealthyPets.Mercola.com. You can learn holistic ways of preventing illness in your pets by subscribing to MercolaHealthyPets.com, an online resource for animal lovers. For more pet care tips, subscribe for FREE to Mercola Healthy Pet Newsletter.

Meet Our Cherrybrook Garwood Team!

Kellie

Hi, I’m Kellie, the Cherrybrook Garwood store manager.  I have been with Cherrybrook since this store location opened in 2010.  I have spent my entire life around animals and have worked with dogs in various ways.  I spent many years both working and volunteering at a local animal shelter and with various rescue groups.  My love for dogs brought me to the Seeing Eye in NJ where I worked for 5 years at the breeding station.  In 2008, I embarked on a once in a lifetime journey around the United States with my doggie soul mate, a German shepherd named Hudson.  We traveled to over 40 states, Mexico, and Canada, camping and seeing what this great country had to offer. 

After returning home I worked as a veterinary technician for a canine reproduction specialist here in NJ for 1 year before moving out to Denver with Hudson, my doggie soul mate, to open our very own doggie daycare and boarding facility, Barkly Manor.  During this time I continued my education in dog training and became a Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) and a certified AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluator as well.  I truly enjoyed my years as a trainer working with families and their new puppies/rescues.  Having a pet is such a rewarding experience and I love sharing that passion with others!

After a few years in Colorado I got engaged and decided to move back home to NJ to start my new family.  My husband and I have since had 2 adorable children and a German shepherd named Vader.  Working at Cherrybrook allows me to continue my career in the pet industry.  I enjoy offering advice to customers based on my extensive background in all things dog!  Stop by and say Hi next time you are in the store!

Anthony

Hi, I’m Anthony and I have been an integral member of the Cherrybrook Garwood team and have a range of experience working with pets and pet parents.  Before joining the team at Cherrybrook I spent a few years at another well known NJ pet store, honed my customer service skills at an upscale home décor retailer, and prior to that enjoyed my time working in canine health management assisting in medical procedures of and caring for guide dogs for the visually impaired.  My two dogs love that I work here at Cherrybrook.  I love working at Cherrybrook too and I especially enjoy greeting and serving our customers everyday.

Camille

Hi, I'm Camille and I joined the Cherrybrook Garwood team 4 years ago after being one of Garwood's best customers.  As a professional groomer I am very happy to share my grooming expertise with all of our customers.  On most Mondays I offer walk in advice and nail trimming from 10:30am-1:30pm for just $10.  All the proceeds go to the Tibetan Terrier Club of America Rescue.  I love Tibetan Terriers and have owned, breed, and showed them for years.  I've joined many happy families with their new furry additions.  If you have any grooming or rescue related questions then I'm your gal, so stop in or call on Monday and ask for me.

Laura

Hi, I’m Laura and I'm pleased to be the newest addition to the Cherrybrook Garwood family.  I've always owned dogs and have been very passionate about them.  I was a member of The Board of Directors at Rawhide Rescue for 6 years and an active member for 15.  For 8 years I've rescued numerous dogs from the south and placed several hundred into their "fur-ever" homes.  Taking care of pregnant dogs and whelping their puppies has always been an exciting and special experience for me.  I own one beautiful 12 year old female Husky mix named Angelina.

Besides being an avid member in rescue, I've also worked in retail for 25 years.  Even with all of my experience, I still am growing and learning new things each day thanks to the entire team at Cherrybrook.  I enjoy greeting customers and offering my help and insight.  With such an extensive past in working with dogs in general I'm always available to answer any questions that a customer might have.  But if you have any questions about acclimating your rescue to your home and family, or want to know what toys or treats are best for your dog I will be particularly happy to help.

Affecting Change Through Diet for Your Pet with Diabetes

By Lori Horton, Bedminster Store Manager

Diabetes is becoming one of the most diagnosed diseases amongst our four legged friends. While this disease requires treatment, it is not life threatening. Here is a short list of some of the tell tale signs and symptoms of diabetes in pets to watch for:

·       Drinking more water than usual

·       Frequent urination

·       Always acting hungry

·       Cloudy eyes 

With proper care, your pet can live a happy, and relatively healthy life with Diabetes. It is important to work closely with your veterinarian, getting a diagnosis and the correct medical care is a crucial part of treating Diabetes. The main goal in managing diabetes is to keep the glucose levels regulated and avoid sugar spikes and drops. This can be achieved through insulin treatments from your veterinarian. But another critical component in the proper treatment for your diabetic pet is diet. The good news is that changing your pet’s diet is something you can easily do and it will have a dramatic impact on the health of your pet with diabetes.

When choosing a diet for your pet with diabetes, the glycemic index is important to consider. The glycemic index is a scale that ranks different types of carbohydrates from 0-100 according to how high they raise blood sugar levels after they are eaten. Foods that are low on the glycemic index take longer for the body to digest, therefore, blood sugar levels rise slower. Since one of the goals in the management of your pet with diabetes is to avoid blood sugar spikes and drops, a slow digesting carbohydrate is ideal. 

There are some ingredients readily found in super market pet food brands that score very high in the glycemic index. These ingredients should be avoided in order to successfully manage the health of your pet with diabetes. Absolutely avoid foods containing:

·       Corn

·       Wheat

·       Rice

·       Potatoes (both white and sweet)

Look for ingredients in a pet food that score low on the glycemic index. These include:

·       Lentils

·       Peas

·       Barley

·       Alfalfa

·       Apples

Cherrybrook offers many different food options with these low glycemic ingredients. Understanding diabetes and how you can help your pet to live a healthy and happy life after diagnosis is attainable. The associates at Cherrybrook can help you in this journey to a better life for you and your pet with diabetes.

Does Your Pet Really Need That Rabies Shot?

by Dr. Becker

In the fourth installment of this 4-part series (find the first three installments here: part 1, part 2, part 3), Dr. Becker continues her discussion with Dr. Ronald Schultz, a pioneer and expert in the field of veterinary vaccines. In this final segment, the doctors discuss the future of rabies vaccines and the vaccination protocol Dr. Schultz uses with his own pets.

Dr. Becker's Comments:

Today I'm wrapping up my 4-part interview with Dr. Ronald Schultz, Professor and Chair, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Science at the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

We're returning to the subject of rabies vaccines and Dr. Schultz's fascinating work in this area.

Are Rabies Vaccinations Really Needed Every Year or Three Years?

I asked Dr. Schultz to explain why there are 1-year and 3-year vaccines, but not, say, 7 or 12 or 20-year rabies vaccines.

Dr. Schultz explains he's conducting studies at the moment to successfully demonstrate a minimum duration of immunity for rabies at 7 years. This could enable us to extend the time between re-vaccinations. Up to now, no one has done the research to prove we can go beyond 3 years.

Part of the reason is because the studies are very expensive and take a lot of time

Currently Dr. Schultz is in year 4 of his 7 year study. You can read more about the study at the Rabies Challenge Fund. He is looking to be able to recommend that after an animal is vaccinated at from 12 to 24 weeks of age for rabies, it doesn't require a re-vaccination every 3 years.

Every state in the U.S. now has a 3-year rabies law, however, depending on what city or municipality you live in, the laws may be more restrictive, requiring every-year or every two-year rabies vaccines.

Dr. Schultz reminds every pet owner that you are the one with the ability to get the laws changed if you live in a location that requires your pet be vaccinated more frequently than every 3 years for rabies. There is absolutely no scientific reason for anyone to vaccinate an animal more often than every 3 years with products that are licensed by the USDA to be given at 3 year intervals.

Re-vaccinating that animal more frequently will not enhance herd immunity or protection against rabies. Animal owners who never have their pets vaccinated will continue to avoid doing it, so the requirement for more frequent rabies vaccines is nothing more than a penalty handed out to pet owners who do get their animals vaccinated per the law. It is those pet owners who are potentially causing harm to their animals because they are complying with the every 1 or every 2 year vaccine mandate.

Is There a Difference Between the 1-Year and 3-Year Vaccines?

I asked Dr. Schultz if the 1 and 3-year rabies vaccine products are the same. His opinion is most of them are. There is also a 1-year feline rabies vaccine that has no adjuvant, but there is not at this time a similar 3-year product.

I asked Dr. Schultz why there isn't a 3-year non-adjuvanted product. His answer is the adjuvant-free 1-year feline rabies vaccine is new technology. It is a recombinant vaccine that is similar in nature to a modified live vaccine, but there's no live rabies in it. The cat's immune system sees this vaccine as live. The company that developed the adjuvant-free 1-year vaccine did studies that showed vaccinated cats were still protected 100 percent from rabies 3 years later.

However, a problem in the control (non-vaccinated) group of cats (not enough of them died) prevented the USDA from issuing a 3-year license for the vaccine. In a second round of studies, even fewer non-vaccinated cats died, so again, the USDA refused to issue a 3-year license for the product.

With regard to vaccine-associated sarcomas (VAS) in cats, Dr. Schultz believes it's preferable to give the non-adjuvanted 1-year rabies vaccine over the 3-year vaccine containing adjuvants. Whereas the non-adjuvanted 1-year vaccine created no inflammatory response at the injection site (a marker for tumor development), adjuvanted rabies vaccines are known to cause more VAS. So even in genetically predisposed kitties, it is assumed the non-adjuvanted product, even given yearly, is less harmful than the adjuvanted vaccine.

Since it is known that cats are more likely to develop vaccine injection site sarcomas, the direction for feline vaccines is toward non-adjuvanted products.

Adjuvanted products are more likely to cause adverse reactions in general, across all species.

So the overall goal in future vaccine development is to 1) have fewer adjuvanted vaccines and 2) to develop new adjuvants that are less likely to create adverse reactions.

The Vaccine Protocol Dr. Schultz Would Use with a New Puppy or Kitten in His Family

The last question I had for Dr. Schultz was how his vaccination protocol has changed over the years for his own pets and those of family members.

Dr. Schultz feels very confident about the effectiveness of vaccines. He is also a risk taker in his personal life (he rides motorcycles, has a pilot's license), and not everyone (including me) is as comfortable taking risks as he is. So his choices for vaccination of pets must be put into that context.

With that said, there are very few people who know more about veterinary vaccines than Dr. Schultz, so he is really not taking much of a risk with his pets, his children's pets, or his grandchildren's pets with the vaccine protocol he follows.

He does antibody titers on the mother to know the right time to effectively immunize (not just vaccinate) the puppy or kitten for the 3 core viruses. He titers the puppy or kitten 2 or more weeks post vaccine to make sure the animal responded, and as long as the response is adequate, he would probably not re-vaccinate for the rest of the dog's or cat's life. This is a protocol he has followed since 1974.

He would also give a rabies vaccine (which is technically also considered a core vaccine), the frequency of which is not dictated by Dr. Schultz's knowledge of immunology, but is dictated by the law. He gives the first rabies vaccine sometime after 4 months of age, re-vaccinates in a year, and then again in 3 years and every 3 years thereafter. Dr. Schultz reiterates his rabies vaccine protocol is because of the law, not because every 3 year vaccines are necessary immunologically.

The law is not interested in when an animal actually needs another rabies vaccine to be protected – the law simply demands every 1, 2 or 3 year vaccinations with no consideration for whether the animal's body is already immune to the rabies virus thanks to a prior vaccine.

If you choose not to re-vaccinate your pet for rabies, it is your choice, but you should be aware it is also against the law. Neither Dr. Schultz nor I are suggesting you do anything illegal. However, if you choose not to re-vaccinate, be aware your pet is probably protected for life from the virus anyway due to prior rabies vaccination.

If Dr. Schultz's 7-year rabies study can prove the vaccine is good for at least that long, prompting a change in current vaccination laws, then a dog might only receive 2 rabies vaccines in a lifetime.

My Sincere Thanks to Dr. Schultz

I want to point out to all of you that Dr. Schultz is single-handedly changing the face of immunologic veterinary medicine. I am so grateful for the work he does – his effort and his passion – and for helping all of us make better decisions for the animals in our care.

Dr. Schultz, in turn, thanks the veterinarians who've been willing to make changes to their vaccination programs, as well as the vaccine companies that conduct their own studies with their products. Every major veterinary vaccine manufacturer has completed a minimum 3-year vaccine study with the core vaccines, and they have all demonstrated their products provide a minimum of 3-years duration of immunity.

This should say something to any veterinarian out here who is wondering if it's really safe to go 3 years between vaccinations -- as well as any pet owner with similar concerns -- that yes, they can confidently go 3 years, regardless of the product used.

Dr. Becker

Dr. Becker is the resident proactive and integrative wellness veterinarian of HealthyPets.Mercola.com. You can learn holistic ways of preventing illness in your pets by subscribing to MercolaHealthyPets.com, an online resource for animal lovers. For more pet care tips, subscribe for FREE to Mercola Healthy Pet Newsletter.