hope i'm doing this right...i've been lurking in the shadows and now i'm ready to add my 2 cents. the things that scare me along with over vaccination is the use of things like capstar, sentinal (i think thats how you spell it), program, proban, etc. these are the things that your dog ingests to combat fleas. last year on my yearly visit to my vet (whom i had to practically demand a blood test to check if my dogs needed to be vaccinated which i got them to go along with and my dogs did not need the shots) they gave me my prescription for heartworm med and it was the one that has other parasitic preventives added to it. i told them that i have no flea problems and my dogs are not in a situation where they would be prone to worms and such parasites and why were they giving me this instead of my regular prescription for heartguard? their reply was that "oh its something new that we give to everyone" well, i think if its not needed, why put it into an animal's system?! now on a groomers' group i've been reading where certain groomers are giving dogs a pill in their shop called "capstar" to get rid of the fleas! i am a national certified master groomer and refuse to use harmful dips and i also use all organic flea shampoos only when needed. when an animal has a flea problem, i recommend that the owner use advantage or frontline if there are ticks. i myself would not use either on my own dogs unless i had a real problem (which i believe everyone "gets their turn") and have never had a problem with those parasites!!! i see so many dogs with allergies and auto immune problems its scary....i believe its all the extra junk we put in their systems just because the vets say "here, use this" or "its time for your dogs "yearly" vaccination. the general public is ignorant when it comes to this situation and they think just because the vet says so then they should do it!!

-- Anonymous, February 24, 2002

Answers

There are quiries whether some of these booster shots are coursing health problems and it should be looked into.Although heard that it was at last being looked into. Please e-mail Eileen Geeson,who wrote the book The Standard Poodle,she has been looking into this area and will be able to help you. janavonspoodles@tinyworld.co.uk

Sincerely Heather.

-- Anonymous, February 24, 2002