Rabies shot
 

Do you make your dogs get the rabies shot?

When I got my two the breeder was adamant that I not give them the rabies shot but then my vet insisted that I did. So I ended up listening to my vet and they got it. My smaller Yorkies hair fell out in the spot that he got it and it never grew back. Now it's time to get their second rabies shot but the vet says this one will last for three years and she will use a different brand than the one that made his hair fall out.

My puppies came with rabies shots. I was reluctant to give the booster a year later...
Vets almost always recommend rabies. I ended up doing it when Scottie was 2 yrs because we sometimes cross the Canada/USA border and it's a requirement. Otherwise, I dont think I would. Vet said same thing, that booster rabies lasts for 3 years. Scottie did get really sick after, but I'm not sure if it was the shot that caused it :(

In the US it is illegal to not get the rabies shot and they can take your dog and make them stay in observation for months if they find out.

Maybe different in different states. But where i live they cannot take your dog for observation just because of no shots.
But it is required. In city limits they check on dogs to see if they have a license, and proof of rabies.
I live out of city limits and they dont even check or care. All of my dogs have had it however.
You can get a titer(blood) test to see if your dogs need it or not. I dont know all the details. But you could ask your vet. We had a regular client all the years i worked at the vet, that had the titer test done each year .
However if your dog bites someone and doesnt have proof of rabies shot then they cam require your dog to be quarantined. We had to do that at the vet clinic a couple times as well.

The titer doesn't qualify and they could still take your dog and that would be really stressful on your dog plus why play with rabies there is no cure.

Thanks guys. I'm going to let them get it, I'm just nervous about my smaller Yorkie since he lost some of his hair last time :(

We live in the country, so we always keep that one up.

Mario is also required to be current on all state required vaccines in order to have public access.

I never suggested to not get it.
But i worked at a vet clinic for years. Some dogs are allergic and cannot have them a second time. In those cases there is the option of titer testing. In those cases you also dont ever allow your dog to bite someone.
Like i said different laws in different states.
If your dog has a severe allergic reaction.... And they cant have another you have to go with othe options.
I also stated my dogs are all current.
In idaho you can even quarantine your dog in your own home under specific rules. Or in a veterinary clinic under vet supervision.
All cases are different.

Can a dog just be allergic to just the brand and not the rabies shot in general? My vet told me he was probably allergic so she will change the brand.

Yes they can. Certain brands can have different things in them. They can also give a benadryl at the same time to help prevent a reaction.

The ones that contain mercury cause the most reactions. Ask for thimerosol free. Thats mercury free. I believe merial makes a vaccine without it.

Thanks so much Farleys!

It's the law around here, rabies vaccine is required and associated with licensing. Especially if there was ever a bite case but even without- you could definitely lose your dog if they are not vaccinated for rabies.

You are welcome :)

Sorry if you took that as offensive it was not meant to be. There are some states where if you vet is willing to write a letter that you dog has serious reactions that you can get out of it but not all states will do that heck there are still states that require the shot every year. Certain things are different in different states so it's important to know them. My little guy got a lump that lasted 2 months after his.

If he had any other issues with it you might could try a Benadryl shot before or ask your vet what dose to give him so you can do it before you come in. My little one had a lump for two months after his.

This might help some
https://www.avma.org/Advocacy/StateA...ccination.aspx

Thanks! I'm going to ask. It's hard with him because he's only 3 pounds so I'm not sure if the Benadryl + the rabies shot would be too much :(. My 7 pounder has no issues with the shot.

My little one was a few ounces over 3 pounds when he had his first vaccine reaction to I think the Lyme vaccine and they gave him Benadryl with no issues but it's definitely something you have to talk to your vet about. All vaccines can be scary especially when they are small, I was so happy when mine got to 7 pounds lol.

The rabies vaccine out weighs the risks. Just make sure your baby is well monitored.

With any previous known reaction -- I'd be very sure to *always* give a Benadryl 45 minis prior to ANY vaccine ever given, for the rest of his life. You can give it at home - the dose is 1-2mg/pound -- I'd go the 2mg/lb route for vaccines.

We have always done the Benadryl first, and even if it was annoying to our vet (who politely said it wasn't) we split up our vaccines too. I think it is a great idea.

That's a super tough one. I'm against that shot BECAUSE of a vet who doesn't give a crap about actually learning the dangers of dual vaccines on small dogs especially. I got very, very, lucky with Chewie that she didn't get sick or worse.

Hubby and I are locked in an ongoing argument, as he's for vaccines, and insists that bad experiences with them doesn't mean that every person/dog/cat etc has issues. He pointed out she did well with each one. He's conceded that she should only get the core ones and that rabies is a huge issue here in AZ, so we really should do right by her. I am finding with each argument that I really can't argue with his logic, but time will tell.

Look at the vaccine information on here and follow what they say to a T, and I'm certain things will go well.

Do you think I can safely give it to him myself before a shot even though he's only 3 pounds (full grown)? I'm sorry if I'm being annoying with all the questions :( I'm just so paranoid of something happening to him.

Also, my vet gave both of my Yorkies bordatella (oral) and distemper in one day. Do you think they should not have had both injections in one day? She did say an to bring them back for the rabies because she didn't want to do 3 in one day

If your worried about the Benadryl ask your vet they should have no issues answering your questions. One of the issues with giving more then one shot besides them being tiny is you never know which one they had a reaction to.

Chewie wasn't even 3 pounds when she got hers. I hope that helps.

Here in the Portland area, there are a lot of dogs who die without vaccines. There are a lot of homeless people and most of them have dogs, I bleach my shoes when I come home because you wouldn't believe what walks through my door at work. I am constantly dealing with people who have sick, wormy puppies or bring in a dog with mange (seriously? Why did you bring that in my store?) and most of the people I see ARE coming in to get an OTC vaccine from me because they know if they don't around here their dog will probably die of parvo or become very sick from something else. The scared people who's dogs are already at the end that call me on the phone and end up not coming in are the ones that wish they had come to get a vaccine. The horror stories, seventeen puppies dead who all shared the same potty spot and the same illness, the sick dogs and the devestated undereducated owners are enough for me to be a vaccine advocate; that said, now that Lilah is older and has her immunity developed I am paying for titers at my vet and I am grateful we don't have yearly rabies requirements or something crazy like that here. Also, I must note , Ashland, Oregon nearby is where the parents who weren't vaccinating their kids had a recent measles outbreak- I am grateful that my kids are healthy and able to be vaccinated and I hope that by protecting them I have also protected children who are medically fragile or have compromised immune systems and cannot get vaccinated (or like my moms dog Bella who has an auto immune disease and cannot receive regular vaccines anymore).

Want to tell you I did NOT mean rabies- even though she was under 3 pounds. I meant the benadryl- different visit.

Rabies shot is good for my dogs I think it's good for you too, I don't see some bad effect about the rabies shot.

Yes, you can very, very safely give Benadryl. In my vet's 30 years as a vet, she says in all that time, she has never, ever seen a vaccine reaction in a dog who was given Benadryl before the shot.

Personally, I don't believe in getting Bordetella but if I did get it, yes, I'd get it separate from other vaccines most likely. But really, it's most important that you get the rabies vax separate/on its own.