I would be interested to hear from people who use/have used these, both pros and cons.

I've used them since 1996 and my dogs have had no illnesses that have needed veterinary treatment.

Me too. I changed after my male had a bad reaction to the vaccine about 9 years ago. I normally do the puppy vaccine then the year booster, after a horrific reaction last year with my pup it is my choice never to go near jabs again.

My homeopath told me that she has seen an increase in reactions (mainly in gundogs) either aggression or digestive issues.

Cons, are that if you need to use kennels (I am lucky that I don't) most will not accept them although there are a few that do.

However, saying that I appreciate that many are totally against nosodes and I respect their choice.  

I use them on both my dogs, I would never use conventional boosters after their puppy jabs, my last dog died from an adverse reaction to his booster aged just 3 years, and I would not put one of my dogs through that again.

If you don't want to use nosodes you could always have a titre test to find out if they have antibodies for protection, but boosters especially year on year is a no no for me!

How do you stand with insurance companies if you do not have the "official" vaccine?

You must check but I believe that most will cover you for everything except the vaccination diseases.......

I don't do insurance because my dogs don't need Vets.  But then I do feed natural food and minimum chemicals.

Thats interesting. I know with my horse insurance will not cover ANY illness unless the horse has its annual vaccine. It covers 3rd party and accidents, but say if we had a bout of colic and no vaccines. They don't pay out, and thats with Petplan

I'm with Pet Plan and they cover for everything except the vaccine deseases but as Westcoast says my dogs don't need the vets I think because they are raw fed and don't do vaccines, but I do have insurance just in case.

Dogs can have accidents even if they are otherwse healthy - mine did and nearly lost her leg :(

Each owner should assess ther own ability to pay for unforseen events.

Daisy

>I don't do insurance because my dogs don't need Vets.

Any dog can have an accident that has nothing to do with vaccinatable illnesses, that can run up a vet bill of thousands.

One of my latest vets bills was for £806. That was for injuries, not disease.

My Cavalier turned 15 yesterday, he has his bad heart but only sees a vet twice a year for his repeat prescription check up, and he has been vaccinated every year of his life. :)

> I don't do insurance because my dogs don't need Vets.  But then I do feed natural food and minimum chemicals.

What a strange thing to say... so if we all feed natural according to species and cut out or reduce chemicals, our dogs would not need vets? 

Mine don't.  Haven't had any accidents that I couldn't deal with keeping up to 6 dogs for 25 years and they live the life of Riley!  But of course if they did have an accident, then I'd would have had to pay.  But I had a dog account and was BIG pounds in over the years.

I've taken one bitch with a bee sting and she died after being given Rimadyl.  I took another because she kept shaking her ear and I couldn't see anything.  Vet diagnosed ear mites that I couldn't see and told me to use stuff that I already had at home so consultation fee only.  That's it!  Oh another oldie to be PTS - old age.

But each needs to make their own assessment according to dogs and situation of course. :)

Maybe yours don't. but that was rather a sweeping statement.. making assuptions that it was because you feed natural.. sadly that doesnt work.. maybe you are just lucky.. but a statement like that could make people assume that feeding natural etc, will eliminate all needs for vets.. it is how you worded it!

I dont have insurance either.. with 16 dogs, costs are rather prohibitive,

Would you say that if I fed raw etc, that I would not have lost Ollie to Grade 3 Mast Cell Cancer, Or Ellie aged 14months to cancer of the Oesophagus? 

Ah ! Rather that your dogs seldom need a vet, rather than 'they don't' :) :)

Daisy

I couldnt sleep at night if I didnt have insurance! I have 3, the eldest has AF so his meds alone are over £100.00 a month, every month, another with a HD mite allergy, her meds are the same cost.  All mine are fed raw, they are in great shape otherwise, but just cos I feed raw doesnt give me the guarantee I dont need a vet! Westcoast - you have been very lucky indeed, long may it last for you. :-)

Would you say that if I fed raw etc, that I would not have lost Ollie to Grade 3 Mast Cell Cancer, Or Ellie aged 14months to cancer of the Oesophagus?

Who knows?  None of my dogs have ever had any sort of cancer.......  I do know that there's too much of it about and I don't believe that chemical or processed food can help.  Apart from the Rimadyl experience, all my dogs have died through old age 13+years.  I'm sorry about your dogs. :(

I love the idea of them but according to the homeopathic society, there is no proof that they work.  Rather not take the chance, I puppy vac and booster when the titre test says they need it.  My eldest hasnt had a booster for 4 years, still doesnt need one. 

>Would you say that if I fed raw etc, that I would not have lost Ollie to Grade 3 Mast Cell Cancer, Or Ellie aged 14months to cancer of the Oesophagus?

>Who knows

I do ... yes I would still have lost both ... in exactly the same way, at exactly the same age..

Ah ! Rather that your dogs seldom need a vet, rather than 'they don't'
But they did'nt, apart from the instances that I've given.  That doesn't mean that they didn't get simple problems.  Just not things that need vet's attention and nothing that insurance would have helped. :)

As I've said, each person needs to make their own assessment according to dogs' breeding, health and their own arrangements to pay any necessary bills. :)

I do ... yes I would still have lost both ... in exactly the same way, at exactly the same age..

Ah I obviously don't have the same crystal ball that you do. :) 

> But they did'nt, apart from the instances that I've given

Oh - many apologies then that I misunderstoood you :) You just sort of implied that they have never/would never need a vet.

Daisy

> I don't do insurance because my dogs don't need Vets

I hope you have fingers firmly crossed on a block of wood when you are typing that :-( .

My dogs have always been insured, vaccinated every year and rarely need the vet. Yes, insurance sometimes annoys me given the ever increasing cost of the premiums, but if they should need expensive treatment then I am happy to know that I can go ahead with it without concerning myself about how  much I can afford to pay.

Knowing someone who believed firmly in the nosodes  and wouldnt  have injections   saying her dogs had all been fit and healthy which was true, until she came across parvo  and a load of her dogs died of it leaving mostly her imports alive which had of course been vaccinated

> Ah I obviously don't have the same crystal ball that you do.

Obviously  not ;-)

But we do both feed natural, and we dont feed unneccessary additives, preservatives or chemicals.. so your statment that you dont need vet because you feed raw, is sweeping and rather 'off'...

we have to remember that many people read these posts, and many of them think what is written is correct..

so yes, you have been lucky, but its nothing to do with how or what you feed them ;-)

My dog is no longer allowed to be vaccinated due to adverse reactions and other health reasons. I was advised against nosodes, some vets believe in them others do not. I also have insurance and the insurance company are happy with the reasons given for not to vaccinate. I also now feed raw or home cook on the advice from the vets due to allergy problems and have not looked back since doing so.

Thanks for the comments, it seems quite an emotive subject. What got me really thinking, apart from having had problems with my last two GSD's having had bad reactions to boosters, was when a friend told me she does not booster and she is a vet!!

Interesting Goldiemad.  The Vets that I worked for 45 years ago did the same! :)  What they say in public and what they do in private are often different things. ;)
I never boosted even before I used nosodes.

I've always had my dogs vaccinated/boostered every year - cos I don't know enough about not doing them every year and am worried about them getting the deseases.  I've seen threads about them not having to have jabs every year and have started to think about the possible consequences of carrying on doing this into old age as boosters aren't always a good thing.  My eldest is 13+ and has had jabs every year; maybe she shouldn't be?
Can you explain what the 'titre test' is please?

Titre testing basically measure the dogs individual immunity to the diseases we vaccinate against.  My vet is more than happy to do this and advised that even dogs that dont have the titre test only be boostered every 3 years now. It horrifies me to hear when vets tell their clients to restart the whole vaccination process if they miss their booster by 12 weeks! I went to a RVC seminar last year and the vets who were doing talks their said that it would never be neccessary to do this.  Unfortunately some people believe whatever their vet tells them.  I have a lot of respect for some vets especially mine but not all of them when I hear things like this.

Its strange that most homeopathic vets themselves say that nosodes don't work as its totally against the idea of homeopathy. Homeopathy is not a preventative its suppost to treat a disease - like treats like. If you don't have it when you give a nosode how will it work?

I titre test one of my young dogs, but the problem I had was trying to get single nosodes.  vets have to buy in batches. 

I had the same problem when I had my boys titre tested, I couldn't find a vet in the area who would give him the single vaccine, they can be obtained individually but vets don't do that they would prefer to give one shot for everything, which as we all know is not the safest option.  I was offered the single vaccine as long as I purchased the whole box :(

>Homeopathy is not a preventative its suppost to treat a disease - like treats like.

Exactly, and the homoepathic vet website agrees with you. Nosodes are supposed to be given to treat the illnesses, not prevent them.

My homeopathic vet who also practices conventional methods would disagree and believes that the nosodes are formulated as a preventative measure (similar to vaccines) and this is why she also treats her own dogs with them. 

I guess like any opinions on how to treat and prevent illnesses there will always be differing opinions - as in this case by professionals and laymen alike!

Yep Homeopathic Vets have varying opinions just the same as conventional ones. :)

Homeopathy surely acts like vaccines in that they introduce a minute amount of the 'offending substance' and then the body [human/animal if there's a distinction] produces its own chemicals to make itself immune to an attack by that substance [or prevent the body from over-attacking and thus damaging itself]. 
Isn't that what's been talked about on the news recently re 'new??' treatment for peanut allergy sufferers?  They start by introducing a tiny amount and attempt to build up an immunity over time by gradually increasing exposure. 
This surely acts as a preventative.