Vaccine hesitancy and anti-vaccine sentiments are prevalent throughout the country right now. Vaccination rates are dropping in kindergarteners, measles outbreaks continue to crop up, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has an anti-vaccine history, is now leading the Department of Health and Human Services.
While the anti-vaccine focus tends to be on shots for humans, another population is also the subject of vaccine hesitancy: dogs.
Pet owners have become increasingly reluctant to give their dogs their required shots, with some even believing the vaccines can cause autism in their dogs. (This is totally wrong, by the way.)
This particularly worries vets as cases of rabies in wildlife are increasing throughout the country, according to NBC News. This increase has not yet been seen in dogs ― and currently, canine rabies is eliminated in the United States ― but if vaccination rates drop, that could change.
Vaccines prevent viral illnesses, bacterial diseases and more in dogs, and they’re very safe. Here’s what to know:
Approximately 37% of dog owners believe vaccination can lead to autism in their pet, which is unequivocally false.
Research from 2023 out of Boston University found that 40% of dog owners believe vaccines for dogs are unsafe and 30% believe they’re unnecessary; 37% of dog owners believe dogs can develop autism from vaccination. This, of course, closely aligns with current political rhetoric that falsely claims vaccines are a potential cause of autism.
For the record, the link between vaccines and autism in humans has been debunked many times.
“There is absolutely no scientific proof connecting any vaccine that we produce today with autism,” said Dr. Michael Q. Bailey, the president of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
That is true regarding vaccination in both humans and in dogs, Bailey noted.
“And this has been studied and researched, and I think that this is fairly well settled information in the scientific literature. I really can’t say too much more than that, just because [of] the fact it is considered to be settled. Today’s vaccines have no connection with autism,” Bailey said.
Autism is not something that even exists in dogs.
“Canine autism — that is not a recognized diagnosis in dogs,” said Dr. Meera Gatlin, an assistant teaching professor in the department of infectious disease and global health at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in Massachusetts.
While some dogs have behavioral issues and may even present with behaviors associated with autism spectrum disorder in people, such as social avoidance or bolting, that is a separate, non-vaccine-related and non-autism-related issue.
“There is no diagnosis [of] canine autism spectrum disorder,” Gatlin added. “People should not worry about [autism] as it relates to vaccination in their pets.”
It’s OK to have questions about the vaccines your dog needs, but know that vaccines are overwhelmingly safe.
“Hesitancy is not a bad thing in itself. It means you want to know more. You want to get educated. So, I strongly recommend individuals do get educated, and your veterinarian is going to be an excellent place to go for that education,” Bailey said.
Vaccines for pets (and, yes, humans) are safe, effective and lifesaving. When it comes to vaccines for both humans and animals, there’s loads of safety data. “A lot goes into developing a vaccine and ensuring that it is safe,” Gatlin said.
This is not to say there can’t be adverse effects from a vaccine, but this is true of anything we introduce into our body ― even water when we drink too much of it, Bailey said.
There could be a small number of effects, but they are usually minimal and short-lived, Bailey said. This can include issues like body aches, fatigue or appetite loss.
And the benefits of vaccination in dogs (and humans) far outweigh the risks. “My message to people would be that vaccines are generally safe for your pet,” said Gatlin, noting that she chooses to vaccinate her dog based on the research.
“Dogs who might have had a 5-10-year lifespan now can have a much longer, healthier lifespan because they are vaccinated.”
– Dr. Michael Q. Bailey, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association
“Vaccines prolong the life of all of our individuals,” Bailey said. “We’re talking about dogs who might have had a 5-10-year lifespan now can have a much longer, healthier lifespan because they are vaccinated. And they can live inside of our household without us being concerned that they’re going to expose us to a deadly disease.”
Vaccination lets dogs be dogs; they can go outside or to a dog park and be protected from illnesses that are known to spread in these areas, such as parvovirus.
“Because they’re vaccinated, they can go and enjoy themselves and be a dog. Do we want to take that away from them? Do we want to keep them locked in the house so we don’t expose them to diseases?” Bailey asked.
Vaccination also helps save money when it comes to costly treatments and medications for your pet.
Pet vaccines also protect humans.
Pets are a part of the family, so it’s understandable that owners want to do what’s best for their four-legged friend, Bailey noted.
“They want to have the same protections for their pets as they do for any family member. So, we understand, we appreciate and we respect that completely, but we have to look at the benefits of vaccines,” Bailey said.
“Veterinarians are a health care professional, and a lot of what we do is protecting human health by protecting the health of our animals,” he added.
A recent example of this is rabies; before 1960, dogs commonly introduced rabies to humans, Bailey said. Now, canine rabies is eliminated in the U.S. thanks to vaccination. That vaccine not only protects dogs from contracting the disease, but also protects humans from getting infected, Bailey explained.
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Your vet can help you determine what vaccines are right for your dog.
“As a veterinarian, I do factor a lot of things in when I am recommending a vaccination to a client for their animal,” Gatlin said.
The shots your dog needs depend on the types of environments your pet frequents (such as dog parks or doggy day care), plus age, health history and even where you live, both experts told HuffPost.
“There are certain core vaccines that veterinarians will generally recommend, rabies is a very classic example, but there are also lifestyle vaccines that may be tailored to your pet’s needs,” Gatlin added.
Your vet can prescribe the vaccines that are right for your pet. Bailey said you can also look at the American Veterinary Medical Association’s vaccine resource for additional information and fodder for questions to ask your vet.
If you have questions about vaccinating your dog (or any pet), talk to your veterinarian — don’t rely on social media or neighborhood rumors.
If you have questions about your pet’s health, you shouldn’t turn to social media. Instead, you should be wary of it, Gatlin said.
“It can be really good for information, but of course, there’s a lot of misinformation that comes from that,” she said.
If you come across concerning health information (whether it’s regarding you, your family or your pet), talk to an expert ― in this case, a vet ― to get the facts.
“Come get information from me. I understand wanting to look at other sources of information, but I think sometimes social media can paint a very different picture and can change people’s perspectives, sometimes in a good way, but sometimes in a way that can be challenging for those of us actually boots on the ground in the clinic when we’re trying to do what’s best for your pet,” Gatlin said.
Vaccine hesitancy is rampant, and this extends to the pets in our homes, too. But vaccines are safe, effective, and can allow your dog to live the life they deserve to live.
