Chronic illness is the new normal. Autoimmune disease, cancer, epilepsy, obesity and allergies are common and are considered to be normal, when in reality, they are anything but.
Even though it is the norm, it doesn't mean it is ok or an acceptable way for your dog to live.
There are many reasons for increasing sickness and shorter lifespans. I think a lot of the diseases that are considered normal are caused by way too many vaccines way too soon. I am not anti-vaccine. I am anti giving vaccines that aren't needed just because some vaccine schedule that hasn't been updated since the 1980's says so.
About 40 years ago, pharma companies invested time and money in research and development to curing fatal infectious disease including distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and leptospirosis. They came up with a modified live virus vaccines, which are vaccines that are made from naturally occurring pathogens that are modified to trigger a stronger immune response and longer-lasting immunity.
These kinds of vaccines became the standard of care and have been ever since. All parvovirus and adenovirus-2 vaccines are modified live virus. Distemper and parainfluenza vaccines are most likely modified live virus as well. The Rabies and Bordatella are considered "inactive" and so are most Lyme and Leptospirosis vaccines (Source: American Animal Hospital Association).
These vaccines are important and should be administered with great care, but unfortunately, our dogs are treated with a "one size fits all" approach, which is doing a massive disservice. Over the last 40 years, dogs have become sicker, chronic disease has increased, which correlates to the increased administration of the modified live virus vaccines. In fact, according to Dr. Jean W. Dodds, DVM, both allergic and autoimmune diseases have been steadily increasing since the introduction of these modified live-virus vaccines.
It's not just the modified live virus vaccines, it is also the frequency at which the guidelines suggest to vaccinate, which is way too often, given that immunity lasts for 7-15 years.
Because dogs are vaccinated so frequently, their immune systems are already working overtime to not only respond to the pathogens in the vaccine, but to try to metabolize the preservatives and other toxins in it as well. As toxins accumulate in the body, the immune system works harder and harder to keep up and result is often sickness and side effects that are referred to as vaccinosis, or an adverse reaction to vaccines. You can read more on that here.
Vaccinosis can present in many forms, but many common vaccinosis disease are diagnoses as autoimmune diseases, in which the body attacks itself. Examples of these diseases include cancer, leukaemia, thyroid disease, Addisons, Grave’s disease, autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, lupus, thrombocytopenia, organ failure, skin inflammations, and more" (Source: Dogs Naturally).
The body does not attack itself without something triggering it first. Period. Usually that something is a vaccine, which not only contains a dead virus, but also a bunch of preservatives and heavy metals to keep it shelf-life stable, which absolutely cause sickness. Especially, if your dog is a pure-breed and they have received multiple of the same vaccine.
Further, "vaccines are known to cause inflammation of the brain, as well as lesions throughout the brain and central nervous system. The medical term for this is ‘encephalitis’, and vaccine’s role is acknowledged in the Merck Manual. Merck is a vaccine manufacturer."
According to Christine Chambreau DVM, "Routine vaccinations are probably the worst thing we do for our animals. They cause all types of illnesses but not directly to where we would relate them definitely to be caused by the vaccine" (Source: Dogs Naturally).
Again, I am not anti-vaccine. I am pro-health and believe that each dog should be vaccinated based on their own bio-individuality as opposed to being vaccinated according to some antiquated guideline. I believe in titer testing before giving any vaccine. I believe in doing your own research and asking lots of questions. I believe in feeding your dog a high quality, species-appropriate diet and not kibble. I believe our dogs should live, happy, healthy and long lives and deserve way better than what is happening to them.
If your dog is sick or chronic condition, do not vaccinate after initial vaccines. Please refer to Bobzilla's recommended vaccination schedule here.