[CupofDog]

Even though Ollie's reaction was 'moderate' by your vets standards (it doesn't sound moderate at ALL to me) - it speaks to your baby's reaction to the injection of toxins to his system.

My fear is that a yearly booster will wear his immune system down and Ollie will begin to suffer autoimmune disease down the line (ie allergies of all kinds, skin disorders, liver damage, kidney failure and even cancer)

His reaction is a clear sign that his body is sensitive to the shot. No matter what the legal protocall is, you can get a waiver based on yearly titer testing and Ollie's reaction. I just had Louis' yearly titer test done, its been a year and a half since his rabies shot and his immunity levels were SO far above the minimum numbers required to determine immunity. Based on his reaction to the shot and his already slightly compromised immune system (which, btw I think is COMPLETELY from his having been over vaccinated as a puppy) I will not give him rabies again.

Once you work with your vet, next year do the titer test, the vet writes a letter which states that it will jeapordize Ollie's health to give him the shot and you submit that to your county and get your yearly tag. Its actually quite simple and I have encountered little resistance and I have live in 3 cities with Louis in the last year and a half since I got him. He has been registered easily with all of them.

Studies show rabies vaccines are often completely effective for years and even the lifetime of a pet. Yearly re-vaccination is a protocall designed by drug companies as a way to make money and has been instituted into our system with little thought.

Vets who have practiced for a long time are openly saying, since the institution of yearly vaccines, they are seeing higher rates of autoimmune disease and cancer in companion animals then ever before.

Consider Ollie's reaction a very clear sign from his little body - he is sending you a message. If your vet is not supportive of your desire to make your own decisions about your pup's health - its time to find a new vet who is educated on the most current vaccine research and will work with you to design a program you are comfortable. with.

Different dogs are just that - different. Louis had a horrible reaction to his rabies, while Ella Bean acted as if nothing happened! No reaction! We have to listen to the messages they send us, as we are their guardians and responsible for speaking for them.

There is a great little book called Stop the Shots by John Clifton that provides more in depth information on all of this and will help you make a more compelling case to your vet, if you so desire.

Good luck, hope that helps and I am so glad they were able to temper Ollie's reaction and that he is feeling good!