Rabies Vaccine Questions - PLEASE answer ASAP!

Mordy

Quigleyfied
Joined
Jan 9, 2005
Messages
3,868
Likes
0
Points
0
#21
I have no idea - could it be a misunderstanding and they mean that Rabdomun will be given as a rabies vaccine?
 

Gustav

Don't encourage me..
Joined
Feb 23, 2005
Messages
9,125
Likes
0
Points
0
Age
43
Location
France
#22
I have mine done every year for Rabies etc, they HAVE to have it for the pet passport scheme to allow them free entry to and from the UK.... But get this.... Dogs that are resident in the UK and then leave for less than 3 months only have to have the vaccination every 2 years. I have know idea what is behind that thinking!!
Personally I would NEVER DIY dog injections, although I do with my horses. :)
 

Jynx

New Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2005
Messages
1,071
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
CT
#23
While I do not vaccinate my adult dogs, I do vaccinate my puppies to ensure some kind of coverage.

Rabies is required by law (why they are saying "BOTH" to you I have no idea, but it might be a good idea to ask your vet).

I have pondered the rabies vac, as I have a couple of dogs with immune system problems that vac's seem to send them into "whack mode"..I also have the option of obtaining a waiver from my vet for the shot. However, even if I were to get a waiver, if by some reason, my dog 1.bit someone or 2. came into contact with a rabid animal, the letter of the law would abide..Under #1. My dog would have to be quarantined and I'd be subject to the laws 2. My dog would most likely end up with rabies.

So I opt to stick with rabies and deal with it.

47$ is pretty cheap in my opinion. To forego shots because of lack of money is not a reason to do it..Do it, because you feel it benefits the health of your dog. Again tho, I always vac all my puppies, (and I don't do this myself as one poster said, thru a vet atleast you know your getting a good vac not something you have no knowledge of contents) I do vac on top of each other, everything is spaced out atleast a month.
Diane
 
B

Bobsk8

Guest
#24
Jynx said:
While I do not vaccinate my adult dogs, I do vaccinate my puppies to ensure some kind of coverage.

Rabies is required by law (why they are saying "BOTH" to you I have no idea, but it might be a good idea to ask your vet).

I have pondered the rabies vac, as I have a couple of dogs with immune system problems that vac's seem to send them into "whack mode"..I also have the option of obtaining a waiver from my vet for the shot. However, even if I were to get a waiver, if by some reason, my dog 1.bit someone or 2. came into contact with a rabid animal, the letter of the law would abide..Under #1. My dog would have to be quarantined and I'd be subject to the laws 2. My dog would most likely end up with rabies.

So I opt to stick with rabies and deal with it.

47$ is pretty cheap in my opinion. To forego shots because of lack of money is not a reason to do it..Do it, because you feel it benefits the health of your dog. Again tho, I always vac all my puppies, (and I don't do this myself as one poster said, thru a vet atleast you know your getting a good vac not something you have no knowledge of contents) I do vac on top of each other, everything is spaced out atleast a month.
Diane

A dog doesn't actually have to bite someone to transmit rabies to the person and possibly kill them, licking that person might be enough.
 
W

whatszmatter

Guest
#25
Bobsk8 said:
A dog doesn't actually have to bite someone to transmit rabies to the person and possibly kill them, licking that person might be enough.
your skin has to be broken, rabies isn't transmitted thru intact skin.
 

Fran27

Active Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2005
Messages
10,642
Likes
0
Points
36
Age
46
Location
New Jersey
#26
Whether it's the law or not, I was quite happy that my boys had their rabies shot the day we found that racoon under the bed...
 

Mordy

Quigleyfied
Joined
Jan 9, 2005
Messages
3,868
Likes
0
Points
0
#28
Research demonstrated that there is really no need to vaccinate for rabies (and other viral diseases) every single year. The effect of vaccines doesn't "stack", so giving them more frequently isn't going to provide any better coverage.

Many U.S. states have already adopted a 3-year rabies vaccination cycle and don't require yearly ones anymore.

Here's some additional information that may be of interest:

Although a French medical study completed in 1992 showed that rabies vaccine is protective for at least five years, [U.S.] Federal and state legislatures have not accepted this finding. Thus, the health and well-being of millions of dogs in the United States remain threatened by the potential for adverse vaccinal events.

Surprisingly, formal, credible research has yet to be performed by either the manufacturers of rabies vaccines or U.S. academic institutions. The Federal and state legislatures want to see the results of such research before any relevant, existing policy or statute regarding rabies vaccination can be modified. Because of the complexities of politics and bureaucratic mindsets, the best way to change the rabies protocol is to prove through a challenge study that dogs not revaccinated for five and seven years after their first two vaccinations remain as protected against rabies as they were at the age of one year.

Facilities and staff to commence this important research have been graciously offered by the University of Wisconsin/Madison under the auspices of Ronald D. Schultz, PhD, Professor and Chair of the Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine. W. Jean Dodds, DVM, is both the organizer and supervisor of this project . A world-renowned veterinarian in the fields of hematology, immunology, endocrinology, nutrition and holistic medicine, Dr. Dodds in 1986 established Hemopet, the first nonprofit national blood bank program that benefits dogs throughout North America.

Forty dogs will be involved in the study at the University of Wisconsin/Madison. Twenty will be used for a five year study and the same number for a concurrently run seven year study. Because Drs. Dodds and Schultz believe through monitoring of rabies serologic studies and other experiences that the two rabies vaccinations a dog receives by one year of age are fully effective for life, they want to initially prove that effectiveness over a five-year as well as seven-year span. The successful completion of this research conducted according to Federally mandated guidelines should allow USDA licensing and state legislative acceptance of the tested rabies vaccine for more than three years.

The University of Wisconsin will provide all of the necessary overhead for these studies free of charge and Dr. Schultz, the Principal Investigator, has volunteered his time involved in the formal conduct of the research. Dr. Dodds and her staff are donating their efforts as well in support of this project. A proforma of the direct expenses needed to complete both studies entails $177,000 for year one, $150,000 each for years two to five and $90,000 each for years six and seven.

Dr. Dodds, Supervisor of this project, has established THE RABIES CHALLENGE FUND CHARITABLE TRUST to solicit, receive and distribute funds to the University of Wisconsin Foundation in order to initiate, maintain and complete Dr. Schultz's research studies. Kris L. Christine, a leading pet vaccine disclosure activist, is the co-founder and co-trustee of this Trust. All gifts made to this charitable trust are deductible for Federal tax purposes and will be distributed in full to the University of Wisconsin Foundation.


Here's some more info about Dr. Schultz:
http://www.vetmed.wisc.edu/articles/68/5/39

And Dr. Dodds:
http://www.itsfortheanimals.com/DODDS-RESUME.HTM
 

showpug

New Member
Joined
Apr 21, 2005
Messages
5,218
Likes
1
Points
0
Location
Oregon
#29
chibul said:
Sorry for the rush, but my appointment is Thursday. :)

My puppy (German Shepherd/Husky mix, named Oliver, 16 months old) was due for his rabies vaccination on July 7. I've put it off and put it off because of being unsure about giving him the shot, as I know there's an increasing trend toward not vaccinating your dogs after their initial puppy shots. Basically, this is a two-part question:

#1.) He's scheduled for a rabies shot and a rabdomun shot. Should I get these? Should I only get the rabies shot? Should I cancel the appointment? Money's tight right now, but that's not too much of a factor, because if my little boy needs it, he'll get it. My question, basically, is just that - does he need it? He had these shots a year ago, when he was four months old.

#2.) The quoted total for these shots comes to $47.95. Is that a little high? It seems really expensive, and I know we didn't pay that much last year. Should I consider going to another vet? I feel like I may be getting railroaded here.

Thanks in advance for your help!
Rabdomun is the manufactuer of the Rabies vaccine, it's the brand of the rabies vaccine your vet uses, not a vaccine itself.
 

Jynx

New Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2005
Messages
1,071
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
CT
#30
mordy, there may be no "need", but the law is the law around here, and if we didn't do it, and my dog bit someone, (even tho it can be transmitted thru licking), my dog may end up being quarantined at my expense for up to 6 months Or worse, euthanized.

And we do have 3 yr rabies here, which I am grateful for since the state next to us, is required once a year rabies.
diane
 

Mordy

Quigleyfied
Joined
Jan 9, 2005
Messages
3,868
Likes
0
Points
0
#32
Jynx said:
mordy, there may be no "need", but the law is the law around here, and if we didn't do it, and my dog bit someone, (even tho it can be transmitted thru licking), my dog may end up being quarantined at my expense for up to 6 months Or worse, euthanized.
If you read my posts, you will see that this is exactly my point of view on the issue. :) There's a requirement by law for rabies vaccines (for good reason I might add, just look at what's happening in China), which we must adhere to, but it doesn't apply to other types of vaccines.

I'm just providing information about how things are developing and that in a few years recommendations may change again, from 3-year cycles to hopefully 5 years and more.
 

tinksmama

New Member
Joined
May 10, 2006
Messages
268
Likes
0
Points
0
#34
Oh I believe you can overvaccinate, these are not cure-alls for all doggy illnesses, they're calculated risks injected into our dogs ,hopefully,though NEVER 100% to prevent something very serious from killing them.
Rabies is incredibly nasty,and there is NO cure. Also a lower(I believe) rate of reactions. I like the 3 year schedule, it's the law around here.
And,a bit of saliva from an infected animal, even one without symptoms, entering another's body through a minute scrape,which we all get all the time, is just too high a risk.:eek:
 

Members online

No members online now.
Top