[Ramrod]

Link

DOG and cat owners are spending millions of pounds on unnecessary and potentially dangerous vaccines for their pets, according to a group of veterinary surgeons.
More than 30 vets have signed an open letter accusing the pharmaceutical industry of encouraging annual vaccinations, although doses last much longer. The advice being given to vets by drug companies, and passed on to pet owners, amounts to †œfraud by misrepresentation, fraud by silence and theft by deceptionâ₠¬Â�, the group says.Annual vaccination boosters, which cost up to £50, are given to dogs and cats to protect them against potentially life-threatening conditions such as distemper, leptospirosis and several strains of flu.

In the letter to the Veterinary Times, the vets point to American research that links the overuse of boosters to †œadverse post-vaccination eventsââ‚Ã⠀šÃ‚¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ÂÂ�, including auto-immune disorders and transient infections.

†œIt is our contention that those (vets) who continue to give annual vaccinations in the light of new evidence may well be acting contrary to the welfare of the animals committed to their care,ââ‚ƚ¬Ã‚ÂÂÂ� the letter concludes.

The boosters, which cost from £20 to £50, are central to the annual income of most veterinary clinics, with a large practice likely to see in excess of 5,000 cases a year.

So save yourselves some money......