I know it's the law, however...

[Symph2001]

My sister chi has a vets note saying he gets a pass cause he looses all the hair around the injection site plus since he's an inside dog she doesn't feel he's at risk.

[yoon714]

are rabies shots bad to yorkies? if so why?

[bchgirl]

Originally Posted by yoon714

are rabies shots bad to yorkies? if so why?

Rabies shots are the number 1 vaccine that sometimes causes a reaction.

[yoon714]

Mimi has not recieve a rabies vaccination yet.. I feel stupid but I didnt even know it was a law.. oops.. but now I'm scared to even get it cause i just researched some info and I am so scared for Mimi to get.! Her annual vaccinations are due in August. She only goes outside with me on a leash and she is always indoors, I know I want every possible way to protect Mimi but I don't want her to like change or have a reaction. What should I do?

[BLowry]

Originally Posted by Bruce's_Mom

Rabies vaccinations can be harsh and as another poster stated in some cases you can get a waiver, however even then I would reccomend titre tests, so that in the unlikely event your dog did bite someone you could prove they were not rabies positive.

Otherwise in many areas euthenasia is the only option for an unvaccinated dog that has bitten. This is because blood tests, etc are not an effective means to screen an animal for rabies after it has bitten. They must actually get a sample of brain tissue and I am sure you know what that means. Also because it is critical a human recieve human rabies immune globulin (HRIG) nearly immediately after the bite the law in most jurisdictions is to immediately euthanize a suspect animal. There is no treatment for rabies; once symptoms begin, the disease is always fatal and the law tends to error on the side of protecting human health rather than quarantining the animal.

All dogs should be vaccinated if possible. The risk is way to high if they are not. Allowing a dog to go unvaccinated exposes the dog to the risk of contracting the disease (even if it is remote in most cases), the risk of euthanasia in the event of a bite and it exposes pet owners to serious legal liabilities.

I have titers done on my girls...here in mass they WILL NOT do a titer for rabies...they HAVE to get the shot its the law.

[nanahas3]

I know we all worry about our puppy's but I have a tiny little niece who at the age of 13 months had to go through the whole rabies thing. It was horrible for her and her family as they had lost her big sister the year before at the age of 4 to a horse falling on her so yes I will be getting Laddy his shot and yes I will worry but I could not bare to watch another little one go through all that.

[nacke]

Id protect myself even if your pups are only in your yard. What if an infected squirrel or rabbit bites them?

[Princes mom]

I will have to face this dilemma next month. Like many of you, Prince's chance of getting rabies is almost nil. (The key word is almost!) I just don't understand why a 5 lb yorkie gets the same amount as a great dane. I know why they are administered the amount, but I don't agree...it makes no sense. Prince's vet in FL would give half of the dosage, with a rabies tag. I'm trying to get his vet here in GA to do the same...1/4 when due and 1/4 two weeks later, with a rabies tag. Prince got sooooooooo sick last year.
I don't want Prince to get rabies, nor have legal problems if he bites someone, without proof of the vac, so he has always gotten it.
If his doctor here won't do half now and half later, I will drive to FL and have his first vet do it there.
Prince was in such bad shape last year. He was fine before the shot, and near dealth later that evening. Within 5 days, we went to his vet 3 times and the emergency hospital twice!!!!! Of course I had to stay home with him, so I had to miss work, but I'm not complaining about that...missing work.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Princes mom

I will have to face this dilemma next month. Like many of you, Prince's chance of getting rabies is almost nil. (The key word is almost!) I just don't understand why a 5 lb yorkie gets the same amount as a great dane. I know why they are administered the amount, but I don't agree...it makes no sense. Prince's vet in FL would give half of the dosage, with a rabies tag. I'm trying to get his vet here in GA to do the same...1/4 when due and 1/4 two weeks later, with a rabies tag. Prince got sooooooooo sick last year.
I don't want Prince to get rabies, nor have legal problems if he bites someone, without proof of the vac, so he has always gotten it.
If his doctor here won't do half now and half later, I will drive to FL and have his first vet do it there.
Prince was in such bad shape last year. He was fine before the shot, and near dealth later that evening. Within 5 days, we went to his vet 3 times and the emergency hospital twice!!!!! Of course I had to stay home with him, so I had to miss work, but I'm not complaining about that...missing work.

My understanding is that the same amount is given to every dog because it takes a certain amount to get an immune response and that is not dependent on size of the animal. The thing with rabies is that it is way more potent than it needs to be, so a dog may be protected with less than a full shot.

If he had that kind of reaction and you are sure it is from the rabies, although I understand it is risky not to give it, it may be in his best interest...

[BamaFan121s]

Rabid animals do not have what could be considered a "normal behavior." How can you be so sure they won't come INTO your yard? When they are infected, they lack reason and often show no adversion to humans they way they normally would.

The law is the law, regardless to what your little one actually needs or not. (Granted, I'll give you that generally speaking, most laws regarding rabies vaccines SUCK and are not what they should be!) You have to decide if you feel like it's worth the risk and be prepared to deal with the consequences if you are caught not complying.

[tinyterriers]

t is the big deal about getting your dog a rabie shot.you only have to do it every three yrs. if you get the second shot before the yr. is up. It is protection all around and you dont have to worry what could happen if you didn't. I would rather be sure than sorry.

[Lynn WDW]

Baxter lost all the hair around his rabies shot site. this year our vet gave him the shot in the same spot so that wouldnt' be an issue. it is well-covered with his other hair. I can see where that might be an issue on a chi though.
We live out in the country and Bax is getting his shot!

[Symph2001]

It was right on his side and it took 4 years for it to even start growing back. He was so pitiful.

[KimberlySRN]

I feel the same way. I think it is more for a safety concern if you take your dog out. I don't really like the idea of the rabies shot either. I lost a pup to it so it scares me that we have to do it.

[BamaFan121s]

Originally Posted by tinyterriers

t is the big deal about getting your dog a rabie shot.you only have to do it every three yrs.

That's not the case everywhere. Some places still require you to have the vaccine administered annually. (Like the county where I live, for example.) They could care less how long the vaccine is effective, you still have to have proof that it's been done every year.