One of the many care requirements for pet owners is to get their beloved fur babies vaccinated to protect them from contagious diseases that could potentially be fatal.
However, more recently, some owners are hesitating to do so because they believe the shots can potentially cause autism in their pooches.
According to a 2023 survey by Boston University School of Public Health published in the journal “Vaccine,” around 37% of dog owners believe canine vaccination could cause their pets to adopt this disorder.
The survey also revealed that more than 20% of owners think pet vaccines are ineffective, and 30% don’t even believe they’re necessary.
To each their own.
While some dogs may present certain behavioral issues that might be associated with autism spectrum disorder — this belief is actually just a myth.
In fact, “pets don’t get autism,” Lori Kogan, PhD, a psychologist and professor of clinical sciences at Colorado State University and chair of the Human-Animal Interaction Section of the American Psychological Association, shared with WebMD in March.
“So that’s not something to worry about,” Kogan explained.
Dr. Michael Q. Bailey, the president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, agreed.
“There is absolutely no scientific proof connecting any vaccine that we produce today with autism,” he told HuffPost of both humans and pets.
“And this has been studied and researched, and I think that this is fairly well settled information in the scientific literature. I really can’t say too much more than that, just because [of] the fact it is considered to be settled. Today’s vaccines have no connection with autism,” Bailey told the outlet.
Bailey noted that “hesitancy is not a bad thing in itself,” emphasizing that people should educate themselves and talk to their veterinarians.
While some pet owners are debating vaccinating their pets — Gen Zers are bringing their furry companions to college with them for emotional support.
Forget an emotional support blanket — reportedly, college students are bringing dogs, cats, rabbits and guinea pigs to live in their dorm rooms with them in record numbers, according to the Associated Press.
“College is such a traumatic experience in the way of you’re getting ripped away from everything you knew before, being thrown in with people you don’t know — especially if you grew up with pets, being so isolated from everything you knew,” recent Marist College grad Sam Gaskins, who housed her beloved bunny for three out of the four years she was in college, told The Post.
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