Yeah, Bruce Fogle definitely has a minimalist approach to vaccination – just once every three years. When Meg had a chronic infection and we were trying to build her immunity, she came off vaccinations altogether. We also have no rabies or heart worm, so don't need to protect for those unless going overseas. For worming, we test and only treat if necessary. He also performs sterilisation of females, rather than full hysterectomy. I'm not sure about the boy dogs (I think he does vasectomies). I also don't know how typical this approach is in the UK or Europe generally and how it compares with the US.

BTW, I was told that Brexit will spell the end of the European Pet Passport for British pets (and humans ). I don't know if that's true. Seems odd they'd have it worked out already. I mean, they don't seem to have thought about anything else. Also, currently British vet hospitals are full of vets and interns from all over Europe. There's a hell of a lot of knowledge being shared. I'd hate to see that come to an end. (For example, in Meg's stays in hospital, she was operated on by Irish, French and Italian surgeons, and looked after by a Spanish intern)

I have tried really hard to shrug this off, but after two days I am still reeling. I have never before felt like a 'foreigner' on Tripawds, and have felt like a member of a global community. But I find this thread just ASTOUNDINGLY PATRONISING towards non US members and the countries they come from. The assumptions made (not in every post, but in several), not only about the expertise and knowledge in non US countries (which are completely ill founded, as a cursory google makes clear), but even about our relationships with our pets and how we value them are extraordinarily offensive. I'm sorry, I know you are good and caring people, but please just try and imagine how you would feel if somebody spoke about you and your country in that way. I also feel really upset that nobody seems to have seen fit to challenge some of these statements.

megstamum said
Yeah, Bruce Fogle definitely has a minimalist approach to vaccination – just once every three years. 

Good for him. Most vaccines are proven to be effective for at least three years and up to seven years. A leading animal immunologist in the US vaccinates his dogs as puppies, then 7 years later, and at the age of 14 years. It's big business to over-vaccinate for both the vets and pharmaceutical companies. My Mona got cancer from a vaccine so I do appreciate thoughtful vets. Unfortunately, there are archaic laws that require yearly rabies vaccines (although effective for longer) in some areas so people have no option.

I'm just catching up on this thread and am sorry to hear about assumptions between "foreign" countries and the US. I have seen treatments that were first studied in Europe and then adopted in North America. There is even a difference between Canada and the US in pet medications. I find it interesting that vets don't see vaccine-associated fibrosarcomas in cats in Australia like they do in the US, Canada and Europe. Is the problems in the vaccine manufacturing?

Clare, thanks for speaking up about how you're feeling. It took courage and others may have felt the same way. And, of course thanks for share the skills and adventure of Meg and Elsie Pie.

I hope it's a Hupsie Day for all! 

Kerren

Thanks everyone for your responses. I greatly appreciate your taking the time to reply. Please know that I never thought it was intentional, just unthinking assumptions, which we all make sometimes because we're human and that's what humans do (and boy, am I ever human!). I do hope it didn't come across as a massive over-reaction. I know I wear my heart on my sleeve and I feel things STRONGLY (I'm like Meg in that way) and it isn't always easy. This is an amazing community, full of the most extraordinary people with a capacity for compassion and love which is rare in my experience and exceptionally precious. I think this is why I felt so upset, but also, importantly, why I felt able to speak up. You're responses (which are so lovely) make me glad I did. And strange thing, guess what arrived today? Our Tripawds calendar. I take that as a sign that we are where we're meant to be.

Love to all,

Meg, Clare and Elsie Pie xxx