What is Lucky's Challenge?



What is Lucky's Challenge?

Lucky's Challenge was developed to share information and experiences related to adverse reactions caused by vaccines. Our goal is to provide easy access to valuable resources concerning the health and safety of our dogs. Over-vaccinating can lead to a variety of health problems so you should discuss lifestyle and risk factors with your veterinarian to determine a vaccine schedule that is best for your pet. A trusted vet should not believe in vaccinating every pet for every disease.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

$10,000 Matching Gift to The Rabies Challenge Fund
 

Two anonymous dog owners are making a generous $10,000 matching gift to The Rabies Challenge Fund.  From November 1st through December 15, these dog lovers will match every dollar donated up to $10,000. Please consider taking advantage of this charitable gift to double the amount of a donation.

The concurrent 5 and 7 year challenge studies being funded by The Rabies Challenge Fund have just entered their 5th year.  At the end of 2012, the first rabies challenge will occur. As part of the studies, Dr. Ronald Schultz of the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine intends to establish a rabies titer standard for dogs in addition to determining the long-term duration of immunity of the rabies vaccine in canines.

During the past year, The Rabies Challenge Fund has been actively involved in rabies medical exemption legislation in New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and California.  On October 7, 2011, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a rabies medical exemption into law, becoming the 14th state to do so.|

Click here to donate
Tax-exempt donations can be made with Paypal here:
http://www.rabieschallengefund.org/donate/donate-to-the-fund

or mailed to The Rabies Challenge Fund, c/o Hemopet, 11561 Salinaz Avenue, Garden Grove, CA 92843. Credit card donations can be phoned in to Hemopet (specify they are for The Rabies Challenge Fund) by calling (714) 891-2022, ext. 13.

Thank you for your support of this important research.

The Rabies Challenge Fund is a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization, EIN #84-6390682.

Saturday, September 3, 2011


IMMUNE MEDIATED HEMOLYTIC ANEMIA (IMHA)
IMHA is a condition in which the dog’s immune system attacks his own red blood cells. One of the major functions of the red blood cells is to carry oxygen from the lungs to all other major organs and tissues in the body. Once the body destroys the majority of the red blood cells the body becomes starved for oxygen. IMHA can be triggered by cancer, infections, vaccines, medications or some other recent stress event, but sometimes no clear cause can be established. It is a life threatening disease and it strikes fast and hard.
Symtoms of IMHA include:
Pale or yellow tinged gums
Rapid breathing
Weakness
Lethargy
Dark Urine
Loss of appetite
Vomiting
Conventional treatment consists of immune suppression drugs and supportive care, such as blood transfusions. The most commonly prescribed medication to help control this disease is a steroid called prednisone. The medication therapy must continue until there is evidence that the anemia has resolved and there is no ongoing destruction of red blood cells. This requires frequent recheck examinations to monitor the success of therapy. In conjunction with prednisone, other medications may be required to adequately suppress the immune system and control clinical signs. Drugs like cyclophosphamide, azathioprine or cyclosporine may be recommended. These drugs can have more severe side effects than prednisone. In some dogs, the destruction of the red blood cells is so severe that a life-threatening anemia can occur. Blood transfusions may be necessary to stabilize these pets until the bone marrow can keep up with the demand for red blood cells and until the drugs suppressing the immune system have time to work.
Prognosis for the disease is highly variable and depends on the underlying cause if one is present, complications related to the disease or drug therapy, and the response to treatment. Relapses can occur months to years after the initial episode.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Friday, August 19, 2011

Maddie's Fund - Saving Lives With Antibody Titer Tests


Please join Maddie's Fund and Maddie's® Institute for a free webcast with Ronald Schultz, MS, PhD, ACVM, on "Saving Lives With Antibody Titer Tests" on Thursday, September 8, 2011, at 9 PM Eastern/8 PM Central/7 PM Mountain/6 PM Pacific.


Maddie's Fund - Saving Lives With Antibody Titer Tests

Sunday, August 14, 2011

States consider controlling rabies vaccination intervals - VIN

States consider controlling rabies vaccination intervals - VIN

Dog Vaccination Information

Dogs with unknown vaccination histories (rescue or shelter dogs)
For a rescue dog with an unknown vaccine history, the first choice would be to run antibody titers, particularly if it is an older dog. Otherwise, with a healthy dog, Dr. Robert Schultz would recommend vaccinating for parvo, distemper, adenovirus, and rabies. A conservative approach is to give two doses of CPV, CDV, and CAV, three to four weeks apart. However, one dose is considered protective and acceptable in a dog over sixteen weeks of age, according to Schultz’ research.

The rabies vaccine would be administered per state law (typically an initial dose, followed by another one year later, then on a three-year schedule). A dog coming in with a known vaccine history should not immediately be re-vaccinated; use the three-year time frame from the date of the last vaccine, or better yet, run a titer, especially if there is doubt about the validity of the shot records.

Sunday, August 7, 2011

What's Your Dog's Complete Blood Count (CBC) Diagnosis?


When Lucky became sick the first step in his diagnosis was to run a CBC. Afterwards, I started hearing terms such as WBC, RBC, Thrombocytes, Reticulocytes, PCV or hemacrit and I not only needed to know what they meant but what is normal, what is low and when a transfusion may be needed. This article is a great resource that answers those questions and much more. I've included this article in Lucky's Pages here on the blog so you'll always have quick access to it.

http://luckyschallenge.blogspot.com/p/understanding-complete-blood-count.html

Monday, August 1, 2011

VacciCheck


I submitted questions to Lenny Small, Marketing Manager of Biogal Galed Labs about VacciCheck. It is the only in house titer test available. Be informed before you talk to your veterinarian.

Lucky's Challenge: VacciCheck

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

The Rabies Challenge Fund

Drug companies are motivated to fund studies that can develop more vaccines they can sell for a profit, but are disinclined to spend money on studies that may discover their products potential for harm, or how few vaccines our companion animals really need for disease protection.
The Rabies Challenge Fund is a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization studying the duration of immunity conveyed by rabies vaccines. Please visit  www.rabieschallengefund.org for more information or make a donation at www.rabieschallengefund.org/donate/donate-to-the-fund.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Taking The Risk Out Of Puppy Shots | Dogs Naturally Magazine


If you're thinking of adding a new puppy to your family, consider a minimal vaccine program that would not needlessly stress his/her immune system.

Taking The Risk Out Of Puppy Shots | Dogs Naturally Magazine

Friday, July 8, 2011

Protect Your Dog - It's OK to Disagree with a Dog Trainer or Your Veterinarian - Whole Dog Journal Article

This is a little off topic but very good information. You have the right to say "no" or simply slow things down until you fully understand and feel comfortable with what's being done to your dog. They depend on us!


Protect Your Dog - It's OK to Disagree with a Dog Trainer or Your Veterinarian - Whole Dog Journal Article

Sunday, June 26, 2011

www.legis.delaware.gov - Official web site of First State Legislature


This bill was filed on behalf of a constituent whose vet regularly injected her dog with a 3yr rabies vaccine every 2 yrs without disclosing the fact. According to people contacting the Rabies Challenge Fund, the same is happening in Minnesota! Please share and cross post the notice to help get this precedent setting legislation passed.


www.legis.delaware.gov - Official web site of First State Legislature

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Lucky's Challenge: Adverse Vaccine Reactions

Lucky's Challenge: Adverse Vaccine Reactions: "W. Jean Dodds, DVM Hemopet/Hemolife 938 Stanford Street Santa Monica , CA 90403 310-828-4804; Fax 310-828-8251 Viral disease and rece..."

Friday, June 10, 2011

Monday, June 6, 2011

Canine VacciCheck from Biogal


Professor Ronald Schultz from the University of Wisconsin in the USA, is one of the key world opinion leaders on the subject of pet vaccination. Schultz is a key member of both the American Animal Hospital Association and the World Small Animal Veterinary Association Vaccination Guidelines committees.
Professor Schultz has recently written a clinical review that discusses vaccination, titer testing and how Biogal's Canine VacciCheck can be utilized to reduce over vaccination and therefore avoid potential adverse events. Professor Schultz describes VacciCheck as being a cost effective, user-friendly and as an expedient "in house" titer test for Hepatitis (Canine Adenovirus), Parvovirus and Distemper to determine whether there is a need to revaccinate dogs.
Professor Schultz also discusses the potential use of the VacciCheck as part of the puppy confirmation protocol and the VacciCheck use in terms of determining unknown dog vaccination status.  

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Rabies Vaccine Labeling

www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/rabies-vaccine-labeling/

There is no difference between the 1yr rabies vaccine and the 3 yr vaccine. It's very misleading and it's our veterinarians responsibility to give us this type of  information.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Welcome to our blog!

Lucky

We are just getting started but I hope this blog will be a friendly place to share information and stories concerning adverse reactions to vaccines.