Rabies Vaccine

[Chip's Mom]

Since there has been so much discussion on rabies vaccinations lately, I am very nervous about taking Taffy to get hers. She is just now 5 months old and she should have it and it is all paid for but she is still little although real healthy, I am just dreading it. How often do you see a reaction to the rabies shot.

[jakort1]

I agree, I'm not a big fan of getting rabies vaccinations, but where I live in RI there is a pretty fair chance that an animal may get exposed to it (skunks, fox, etc.). One thing though is that I live within a couple of miles of the CT border and go to a vet in CT which has a three year time between vaccinations as opposed to two in RI...

Another vaccination that I vigorously oppose and won't let my animals receive is Lyme disease vaccinations. Many vets in the area offer it, others will give this only if someone demands it.

[MyPemCharlie]

Originally Posted by Chip's Mom

Since there has been so much discussion on rabies vaccinations lately, I am very nervous about taking Taffy to get hers. She is just now 5 months old and she should have it and it is all paid for but she is still little although real healthy, I am just dreading it. How often do you see a reaction to the rabies shot.

There are several potential problems which can result from the rabies vaccine, however, serious problems are fairly rare in dogs with a healthy immune system. Charlie was sore and had a small lump right after his 3 month Parvo and puppy shots, which the vet said was a common reaction. The lump went away after about 5 days. He had a little soreness but no lump with his 4 month Parvo and Rabies shot.

Taffy should do great. Just report any lump that doesn't go away in a few days, any lump that comes up after a few weeks, or any major change in behavior. Not to scare you more...it's really not terribly common.

The bigger picture is that the "3-year" rabies vaccine has been proven to be effective for a minimum of 7 years, and we could likely reduce "not very common" to "almost non-existent" problems by changing laws which require too much vaccine.

I'm having Charlie vaccinated only for what is absolutely necessary, or is required by law (3-year rabies here).

[Michael Romanos]

New Zealand does not vaccinate dogs for rabies unless a dog is travelling abroad. The last known case of rabies here was around 50 years ago.
Dogs should only be vaccinated against contracting anything only when necessary and not simply as an annual exercise. Some of the things Taylor gets vaccinated for only occurs every three years (ie he gets vaccinated for two-three diseases once every three years that is usually carried out annually to almost all dogs).

[colbycorgi]

Cammie had her rabies at 4 months and was just fine. Colby had a reaction but we think it was to the Lyme vaccine as well not just the rabies.

We had lost our last dog in part to lyme and werent taking any chances with Colby, or so we thought...the vet at at time never gave us the vaccine, said they did and even charged us for it.....Having had Colby contract Lyme right after we got him and remembering how scary that was for us, I definitely wanted Cammie vaccinated right away.

The one thing about Colby getting the lyme was that we found our new vet as a refferal from our puppy class and shes awesome...so at least thats good...but now Colby will have to have "Lyme sensitvity" for the rest of his life due to some jerks negligence...alas...i digress....

i am sure that Taffy will be fine, like others said, maybe a little sore for a few but you will know if itsmore than that and if you have any concerns, just call the vet, thats what they are there for..who cares if they think you are a "nervous nelly", my vet must think im nuts but i dont care!!!

you're in good company
Julie

[ColColt]

I'm not a great fan of vaccines of any sort unless necessary. I think way too many vets promote vaccines annually that are more harm than good. You can't get away from the rabies vaccine as it's required by law and varies from state to state. From what I've read, rabies vaccines cause as much, if not more adverse reactions than any other vaccine. Once a dog is considered "an adult", I think the annual booster shots are totally unnecessary. We don't still get boosters for mumps or measles so why do they need an annual booster for Corona, bordetella, or Lepto? All these chemicals can only eventually (in some dogs at least) create a immune system intolerant of some vaccines. A vaccine is not something that prevents a disease, it is a disease. If necessary, I think I'd opt for the killed virus rather tlhan the live variety. I'm not convinced annual boosters are necessary at all. Perhaps in a puppy's life, the first year may require more shots to initiate the system what this diesease looks like but to keep it up forever? I don't think it does anything but help the vet stay in business.

[fogebotom]

Living out in the country and encountering wildlife of all kinds, we are religious about rabies, even with our horses. Routinely we have skunks, coons, possums and the like in the yard. Dogs and cats are every three years in this area. I have had one dog have a severe reaction to his vaccine, first as a puppy and second as an adult. But after much research, it's the particular dog, his own immume system and not the vaccine at all.

In regards to other vaccinations-I do all my own. I do not include corona or lepto as per discussions with my vet. Both can have reactions in young puppies and the only time we give it is if we are traveling into an area with reported cases or there are cases in my area. I do a lot of training, showing and events with my dogs, so I keep up on that stuff.

Older dogs in my home-over age 7 or 8, rotate their yearly vaccinations to every other or every three years. Most don't travel and are titered to insure that they are good to go. All have come back with more then acceptable levels.

Over vaccinating can have some serious side effects, but unless we all have the same level of care applied to our dogs(which we don't) then under vaccinating can have even worse effects.

[Corgis4me]

What circumstances would allow someone to be able to get a waiver from having to give their dog the rabies vaccination?

[MyPemCharlie]

Texas allows absolutely zero exemptions from rabbies vaccines, regardless of reason. Some states allow exemptions, with a written veterinarian letter accompanied by a titers, then usually decide on a case by case basis whether or not to allow your dog the exemption.

Usual exemptions are old age or a medical condition (previous severe reaction to immunizations, diabetes, etc) where the rabies vaccination itself would endanger the animal's life (in the vet's opinion).

I had a very progressive veterinarian some years ago. When my oldest cat (who lived to be 16) turned 12 years old, this vet suggested that because the cat lived inside 24 hours a day, was healthy and at almost zero risk of contracting rabies that the vaccine might do more harm than good. He said, "I can't tell you not to get the rabies vaccine. Texas law requires up-to-date rabies innoculations. You decide." He essentially was trying to persuade me not to have my cat vaccinated. (Good for him!) That was my first clue that vaccines were something to be more wary of. Because all of my cats are total indoor cats (and cats have a significantly higher incidence of immunization reactions compared to dogs), I have their kitten and one year immunizations and no more after that.

Charlie's will have a 3 year rabies required by law, and titers for distemper and parvo.

[fogebotom]

Iowa's the same as Texas--no if's and's or but's--they have to have it.

In cases where the dog has had previous reactions, the vet can put them on steriods or benadryl type products a certain number of days before and after the shot. I have a friend who's cardigan gets an IV drip during the day when he gets his rabies, gets the shot in the middle of the day and remains under observation with the vet until they feel he is good to go home.

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by Chip's Mom

Since there has been so much discussion on rabies vaccinations lately, I am very nervous about taking Taffy to get hers. She is just now 5 months old and she should have it and it is all paid for but she is still little although real healthy, I am just dreading it. How often do you see a reaction to the rabies shot.

Reactions are not the norm, we hear about more now days due to the internet.

If she's healthy and she is, she should be just fine.

Peggy

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

New Zealand does not vaccinate dogs for rabies unless a dog is travelling abroad. The last known case of rabies here was around 50 years ago.
Dogs should only be vaccinated against contracting anything only when necessary and not simply as an annual exercise. Some of the things Taylor gets vaccinated for only occurs every three years.

The difference here is that NZ is an island and you don't have wild mammals crossing your borders. In the US we are bordered by Canada and Mexico, animals come and go at will.

And in the US rabies shots are mandated by LAW. There is no choice. You have to get them. And it's the law that decides if they're one year or three year.

The combo vaccines are good for every three years and they are not mandated by law. They are the choice of the owner.

Peggy

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by Corgis4me

What circumstances would allow someone to be able to get a waiver from having to give their dog the rabies vaccination?

If the dog has an auto-immune disease, either from vaccines or other things. Or some cronic condition that would indicate the dog has a compromised immune system (such as diabetes, etc.)

Your vet would have to write the waiver.

Peggy

[MyPemCharlie]

This is from a Texas petition last September to allow exemptions for old or sick pets (which was turned down).

"Several states have adopted medical exemptions with regards to rabies shots. These states are Maine, New York, New Jersey, Florida, Connecticut and California."

Sounds like no exemptions are allowed in most states.

[Chip's Mom]

Taffy is healthy, just small. I have scheduled her rabies shot for friday late afternoon and her spay is scheduled for the day before Good Friday so I will be home with her for three days. She will be 6 days shy of her 6 month birthday.