3 year rabies shot

[Rae Rae]

With Rocky and Bella I decided to do the three year, that way they don't have to get it as much, and it is a little bit cheaper in the long run. This year Rocky could've gotten the three year, but Bella could only get the one year because it was her first one, so next year I will do the three year with both of them so they always get them together. I think it's just a matter of personal preference.

[tumismom]

Originally Posted by Bizzymammabee

I think it's ever year but honestly they don't particularly enforce it like that. I am not giving it to zoey every year. She will get it every two years or so.

thanks for the info!

[Ellie May]

Michigan law says the first at three or four months then one year later then every three years. The three year is a better way to go since it is probably the same vaccine anyway. It really doesn't matter how much your dog is exposed to rabies. Giving it every three years has to protect them enough for the gov't to be okay with it. Just because an area has a rabies issue that doesn't mean your dog will actually get bit. All dogs across the country have to have adequate protection and the three year will provide that.

I would follow your state laws as much as possible, because if your dog bites with no rabies vaccine proof, you might have a legal battle and be forced to euthanize or quarantine your doggie.

[Mom of 3]

Rocky got the 3 year rabies shot, then Rosie and Romeo will be next. Mine have had no reaction to this. I think it's great. It's not so hard on my babies. Darlene

[Ladymom]

Vets don't really have any wiggle room when it comes to rabies vaccines as they are governed by state law in most states. In a couple of states, they are set by the individual counties.

To answer your questions, both New York and Maryland have the same rabies law. Dogs must be vaccinated by four months of age, then again a year later. After that they don't need another rabies shot for three years.

[Yorkiedaze]

Originally Posted by Ladymom

Do you have the option of waiving it in your state? Most states require that you get the rabies vaccine even if you do titer.

If my girls do not need a rabies shot, I will get a letter from the Vet. saying just that, and no matter what, I will not be forced to give my girls anything that they do not need and take a chance at it causing cancer, liver, kidney or other serious medical problems. I had a Chihuahua for 16 years and she did not have any shots.

[Yorkiedaze]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Michigan law says the first at three or four months then one year later then every three years. The three year is a better way to go since it is probably the same vaccine anyway. It really doesn't matter how much your dog is exposed to rabies. Giving it every three years has to protect them enough for the gov't to be okay with it. Just because an area has a rabies issue that doesn't mean your dog will actually get bit. All dogs across the country have to have adequate protection and the three year will provide that.

I would follow your state laws as much as possible, because if your dog bites with no rabies vaccine proof, you might have a legal battle and be forced to euthanize or quarantine your doggie.

If you can prove your dog is still protected with the Rabies vaccine, then I don't think you could be in any trouble.

[Mom of 3]

The rabies shot is good for 3 years, which eliminates the dog from having to have it every year. At least that is what my Vet said. Darlene

[MyTrixie143]

All the vets around here vaccinate rabies every 3 years.
The first time is good for one year. But then when you get it again it is good for three years. It is the same exact vaccine, your dog just has a higher immunity the next year for it to be given every 3 years from then on.
Harmony and Allegro had their rabies vaccines already and they are only 3lbs.
If you are worried about it though talk it over with your vet. They may give her a shot beforehand to counter any reactions or may just give her some benadryl right before the shot.

[Ladymom]

Originally Posted by Yorkiedaze

If my girls do not need a rabies shot, I will get a letter from the Vet. saying just that, and no matter what, I will not be forced to give my girls anything that they do not need and take a chance at it causing cancer, liver, kidney or other serious medical problems. I had a Chihuahua for 16 years and she did not have any shots.

The problem with not vaccinating your pets according to your state law is that if they should be exposed to rabies, if they aren't current on their rabies shot, they would have to be quarantined.

You're in California, right? The law requires that any dog that has been either bitten by or even comes in contact with a rabid animal be either quarantined for six months or destroyed.

BTW, California is a three year state after the first year of shots.

[lreed]

My Yorkies and Chihuahua always get a one year shot. Sam, at 55 lbs. gets the 3 year shot. I just feel more comfortable about it. Our Yorkie puppies always have a bad reaction to their second set of shots unless I remember to remind the vet about it before (I thinks it's the lepo ???). So I don't like to give the Yorkies any larger dose of medication than is absolutely necessary.

[yorkiesmiles]

mine are 3lbs 4oz & 4lbs 8oz - they get one every 3yrs.

You might be interested in something my vet wrote - It's not all about rabies, but does address the over abundance of shots. I've posted it before, but it's good info http://www.apvet.com/vac.html

VACCINES
Too Many Shots!!!
By Gary VanEngelenburg DVM,CVA

A practice that was started many years ago and that lacks scientific validity or verification is annual revaccination. Almost without exception there is no immunologic requirement for annual revaccination. Immunity to viruses persists for years or for the life of the animal. Successful vaccination to most bacterial pathogens produces an immunologic memory that remains for years, allowing an animal to develop a protective anamnestic (secondary) response when exposed to virulent organisms. Only the immune response to toxins requires boosters (e.g. tetanus toxin booster, in humans, is recommended once every 7-10 years), and no toxin vaccines are currently used for dogs or cats. Furthermore, revaccination with most viral vaccines fails to stimulate an anamnestic (secondary) response as a result of interference by existing antibody (similar to maternal antibody interference). The practice of annual vaccination in our opinion should be considered of questionable efficacy unless it is used as a mechanism to provide an annual physical examination or is required by law (i.e., certain states require annual revaccination for rabies).(1)

The above paragraph was taken from Kirk’s Current Veterinary Therapy XI published nine years ago. This publication is found in almost every small animal vet’s office. So, what has happened? Does your veterinarian still recommend annual vaccinations? The reasoning often is that we give them simply because of habit. Some hint that they are aware of some controversy but are “playing it safe”. The sad truth is more one of economics to most practices as annual vaccinations makes up a large portion of the income for many practices. I really think many veterinarians don’t want to hear the truth about the hazards of giving annual modified live virus (MLV) vaccines.

Fortunately, for our pets’ sake, public awareness and medical awareness are starting to surface and change is starting. Last year the National Association of Feline Practitioners started recommending it’s members limit booster vaccines to no more than once every 3 years. Colorado State has a website up and running (2) detailing which vaccines to use and NOT to use and recommends a schedule of no more than once every three years for boosters. They go on to recommend using only “core” vaccines in both cats and dogs. This includes canine distemper, parvo, and adenovirus type 2(for hepatitis protection) and parainfluenza. Feline vaccines include rhinotracheitis and panleukopenia only. Rabies for both species varies some from state to state so may be annual or once every 3 years.

The annual vaccine habit wouldn’t be so bad if it was as simple as not being necessary. The truth is that there are harmful side effects to giving MLV vaccines every year. More and more research in this area is coming up with the vaccines causing autoimmune antibody production to many organs and body tissues. (3) When you consider that immune titer studies indicate a minimum of 7 years protection after a single dose(4) where do we get the annual booster idea anyway? I think we, as veterinarians, are obligated to do what is best for the pet. Giving unnecessary vaccines , in my opinion, is unethical and, in some instances, bordering on malpractice.

Another factor to consider is safety when giving MLV vaccines, especially when giving multiple antigens at the same time. Most of our continuing education on new vaccines and vaccine combinations comes from representatives of the companies selling the product. I can’t help but think there may be a bit of bias involved here. Anyway, we are constantly told that the multiple antigen products are safe, convenient and effective. I remember two cases in the past year with perfectly normal, happy, apparently healthy cats being presented in complete total flaccid paralysis within 72 hours after getting “all their shots”. Extensive diagnostics had been done on both animals by their regular vet before being presented to me and in both cases the owner’s were told that nothing was apparently wrong with their pet and that the vaccines couldn’t be at fault!!! Many times every month I hear new clients complain about their pet being sick for up to 2 weeks after receiving multiple vaccines at once. I think our own pets are telling us something and maybe we should listen to them.

The American Veterinary Medical Association now recommends all veterinarians develop a core of only necessary vaccines for their area and not to give all available vaccines. They also recommend that multiple vaccines not be given at the same time. The American Animal Hospital Association is now saying all dogs need only a core of rabies, distemper, parvovirus and adenovirus type 2 and that they only need to be given once every three years. Other vaccines are considered optional according to circumstances. Vaccines such as giardia and coronovirus are recommended not to be used at all.

The Iowa Animal Welfare Act as it stands now is grossly out of date. It requires annual vaccines for boarding kennels and grooming facilities. It even lists Corona virus as a required vaccine. Corona is only an infrequent problem in very young puppies. Adult dogs will not even contract the disease in natural exposure and I consider vaccinating adults for it to be malpractice. Contact your representative in the Iowa Legislature and insist on a review on these requirements. I would be more than happy to help present the current research to the lawmakers.

1. Kirk’s Current Veterinary Therapy, Vol. XI, page 205
2. Colorado State University’s Small Animal Vaccination Protocol, http://www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/vth/savp2.html
3. Vaccine-Induced Autoimmunity in the Dog, Harm Hogenesch, Juan Azcona-Olivera, Cathatine Scott-Moncrieff, Paul W. Snyder, and Larry T. Glickman, Departments of Veterinary Pathobiology and Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907
4. Considerations in Designing Effective and Safe Vaccination Programs for Dogs, R. D. Schultz, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin.

[MyFairLacy]

Originally Posted by lreed

My Yorkies and Chihuahua always get a one year shot. Sam, at 55 lbs. gets the 3 year shot. I just feel more comfortable about it. Our Yorkie puppies always have a bad reaction to their second set of shots unless I remember to remind the vet about it before (I thinks it's the lepo ???). So I don't like to give the Yorkies any larger dose of medication than is absolutely necessary.

The one year and three year are the exact same vaccine - same dosage, same amount, exact same vaccine....the only difference is how often you give it. The three year is not any different than the one year vaccine. So you are actually giving you pets a larger amount of medication by vaccinating them with the one year, as opposed to only having one shot every three years.

[Ladymom]

Originally Posted by lreed

My Yorkies and Chihuahua always get a one year shot. Sam, at 55 lbs. gets the 3 year shot. I just feel more comfortable about it. Our Yorkie puppies always have a bad reaction to their second set of shots unless I remember to remind the vet about it before (I thinks it's the lepo ???). So I don't like to give the Yorkies any larger dose of medication than is absolutely necessary.

The one year and three year vaccines are identical, so by giving your Yorkies a rabies shot every year, they are actually getting more vaccine than your 55 pound dog who only gets the shot every three years.

This is from the Wall Street Journal (July 31, 2002):

One company, Pfizer Inc., decided to test its one-year rabies
vaccine on live animals and discovered it lasted for at least three years. It sells the identical formula simply packaged under different labels Defensor 1 and Defensor 3 to satisfy different state vaccination requirements.

[Yorkieville200]

Originally Posted by Ladymom

Do you have the option of waiving it in your state? Most states require that you get the rabies vaccine even if you do titer.

You know, I am not sure, but intend to bring this up at our annual check-up in April.