Concern about rabies vaccine and dental work in 13 year old yorkie

[Kerryn915]

My older yorkie is 13 years old and weighs about 9.5 lbs. It seems his teeth are bothering him as he is not able to enjoy his treats like he used to. I feed him wellness core grain free kibble for small dogs in the morning and he gets a little boiled chicken and sweet potato in the evening. I've noticed that some mornings he won't eat the dry food even though he seems interested at first. Im taking him for a check up today to see if he needs to have some teeth extracted which is concerning bc he is older. The vet does do blood work prior to any procedure to make sure his heart and other organs are functioning well enough to handle anesthesia. Besides the teeth issue he is in perfect health and still enjoys his daily walks. Has anyone dealt with teeth issues at this older age? I do regret not having his teeth cleaned when he was younger but we didn't know much about how progressive periodontal disease can be in yorkies. Is it safe? Also his last rabies vaccine was a little over 3 years ago and he had an awful reaction to it. He was panting for 3 days as though he couldn't breathe. So I am concerned giving it to him now that he's older and not in perfect health with his teeth issues. Any advice??

[Wylie's Mom]

Aw your poor kiddo - it's great that you're bringing him in, I bet you're right in that some teeth need to be extracted. I know it's extra scary putting a more senior dog under anesthesia but as long as his health is good, and the pre-bloodwork looks good, there is no reason it shouldn't go great.

As far as rabies, if the reaction was really bad - I personally don't know if I'd be getting it again. That said - you can give Benadryl 45mins before the vaccine and/or a steroid shot beforehand to try an mitigate any reaction. I would discuss these options w/ your vet. The other thing to check out is what your state laws are in terms of dogs who can't have the rabies vaccine due to reactions.

[Kerryn915]

Thanks for the fast response! I'm hoping that I will have the option to not vaccinate but the vets seem pretty strict about being up to date on the vaccine before they do any procedures. So it must be a pretty strict New York State rule . Is will see what he says when I take him in this afternoon.

[gemy]

Yes do ask, but also ask if titering is acceptable. The titer for Rabies is much more expensive than the actual Rabies shot, but hey if you don't need another Rabies shot why get one?

[megansmomma]

Here's the law for NY

What Pet Owners Need to Know About Rabies Vaccinations in New York State
(Effective November 20, 2002, this information sheet must be provided by pet dealers to consumers upon point of sale of cats, dogs, and ferrets.)
State law requires rabies vaccinations (shots) for all cats, dogs and domesticated ferrets! (Note: Ferrets are illegal in New York City.)
Where can I get my pet vaccinated?
All counties (excluding New York City counties) are required to provide a free vaccination clinic every four months. Contact your county health department for the schedule in your area. Rabies vaccinations are also available from your veterinarian. If you have questions about new vaccines developed specifically for cats and for pets at younger ages, contact your veterinarian.
When should my pet receive its first rabies vaccination?
The law requires that your pet's first rabies vaccination be given no later than four months (three months in New York City) after its date of birth. Many rabies vaccines are licensed for use at three months, although some may be given at younger ages.
When should my pet receive its second rabies vaccination?
Your pet should receive its second rabies vaccination within one year after the first vaccination. The second rabies shot and all shots thereafter are sometimes called booster shots.
After my pet gets its second rabies shot, when is the next booster shot due?
After the second rabies shot, you need to get additional booster shots either annually or every three years, depending on the type of vaccine administered.
What proof will I have that my pet received its rabies shots?
The veterinarian, or a person under the veterinarian's supervision, will provide you with a certificate as proof that your pet has been vaccinated. The veterinarian's office will also keep a copy of your pet's vaccination certificate. The law requires the veterinarian to provide the vaccination certificate to any public health official for any case involving your dog, cat or ferret that may have been exposed to rabies, or in any case of possible exposure of a person or another animal to rabies.
What if my pet needs to be taken to the veterinarian?
Whenever you bring your pet to a veterinarian, s/he will verify if the animal is up-to-date on its rabies shots. If the animal is not up-to-date on its rabies shots or exempt as stated below, or if the veterinarian cannot find proof of the animal's rabies vaccination history, you may request your pet be vaccinated at that time.
If my pet bites a person, does it have to be euthanized (put to sleep)? *
If your pet bites a person and you wish to avoid euthanizing and testing it for rabies, it must be confined and observed for ten days. If your pet is not up-to-date on its rabies shots, the ten-day confinement/observation period must take place, at the owner's expense, at an appropriate facility such as an animal shelter, veterinarian's office, or kennel. If your pet is up-to-date on its rabies shots, the county health department may allow the ten-day confinement/observation period to take place in your home. During the ten-day confinement period, the county or a designated party must verify that your pet is under confinement and observation, has remained healthy during and at the end of the ten-day period. (* In New York City, ten-day observation periods may be done at the home of the pet owner, regardless of the animal’s rabies vaccination status.)
Fines
If your dog, cat or domesticated ferret is not vaccinated, is not up-to-date on its vaccinations, or is not properly confined after biting someone, as the owner you shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $200 for each offense. Additional fines may apply locally.
Exemptions
The vaccination requirements shall not apply to any dog, cat, domesticated ferret if the animal is transported through New York state and remains in the state 15 days or less; the animal is confined to the premises of an incorporated society devoted to the care of lost, stray or homeless animals; a licensed veterinarian has determined that the vaccination will adversely affect the animal's health; the animal is confined to the premises of a college or other educational or research institution for research purposes; or if the animal is unowned (feral, wild, not socialized).
NYSDOH, 8/25/05

Here is a link for a Rabies Exemption form.

http://www.agriculture.ny.gov/AI/vet...mpt%20Form.pdf

Vets are usually very strict about giving the vaccine prior to surgical procedures because if the staff were to be bitten while your animal was under their care they could be help liable and your dog could be quarantined.

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by gemy

Yes do ask, but also ask if titering is acceptable. The titer for Rabies is much more expensive than the actual Rabies shot, but hey if you don't need another Rabies shot why get one?

I didn't see anything regarding the use of titers to replace the actual vaccine. But I might have missed it.

[Kerryn915]

I went ahead with the rabies vaccine... They gave a steroid shot and some Benadryl since I was so concerned... He has been fine so far so I think he won't have a reaction. Also his teeth are in pretty bad shape esp the back molars. They want to put him under anesthetic and clean his teeth and then also extract the bad teeth. I'm so torn. He has been the picture of perfect yorkie health and I'm wondering if I should just let him live out the rest of his years without interfering or if I will extend his last few years by removing the bad teeth. I'm so worried that something will happen to him while under anesthetic and I won't forgive myself

[107barney]

Originally Posted by Kerryn915

I went ahead with the rabies vaccine... They gave a steroid shot and some Benadryl since I was so concerned... He has been fine so far so I think he won't have a reaction. Also his teeth are in pretty bad shape esp the back molars. They want to put him under anesthetic and clean his teeth and then also extract the bad teeth. I'm so torn. He has been the picture of perfect yorkie health and I'm wondering if I should just let him live out the rest of his years without interfering or if I will extend his last few years by removing the bad teeth. I'm so worried that something will happen to him while under anesthetic and I won't forgive myself

I recently posted my experience with my 14 year old having a dental.
I'm glad I did it! I posted about it here:
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...ld-dental.html

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by megansmomma

Exemptions

The vaccination requirements shall not apply to any dog, cat, domesticated ferret if the animal is transported through New York state and remains in the state 15 days or less; the animal is confined to the premises of an incorporated society devoted to the care of lost, stray or homeless animals; a licensed veterinarian has determined that the vaccination will adversely affect the animal's health; the animal is confined to the premises of a college or other educational or research institution for research purposes; or if the animal is unowned (feral, wild, not socialized).
NYSDOH, 8/25/05

Here is a link for a Rabies Exemption form.

http://www.agriculture.ny.gov/AI/vet...mpt%20Form.pdf

Vets are usually very strict about giving the vaccine prior to surgical procedures because if the staff were to be bitten while your animal was under their care they could be help liable and your dog could be quarantined.

Yay, so helpful!!! There's what you need right there.