How often do you vaccinate for rabies?

[JustaLilBitaLuck]

How often do you vaccinate your dog for rabies?

I'm torn on this issue. I don't want to be vaccinating him more than absolutely necessary, but I also want to comply with rabies laws. There isn't (as far as I can find) a state law regarding rabies, and it doesn't appear that the county or city where I live has a one-year, two-year, or three-year specification.

Jack got his rabies vaccine in April 2010, and it was marked as expired in April 2011, and I'm torn on whether I should get him vaccinated again. We were talking in class the other day about the legal repurcussions if your dog bites someone and it doesn't have a current rabies vaccine, and your dog could be euthanized to test for rabies, and that scares the sh*t out of me. But on the other hand, I don't want to unnecessarily vaccinate him.

Opinions?

 

[PWCorgi]

I have always done 3 years...I think.

 

[nikkiluvsu15]

3 years, by law.

 

[maxfox426]

Morgan is vaccinated every three years. Though, I kind of remember that his FIRST rabies vacc. was for only one year, and then every three years after that. This is the system that my vet uses by default.

Dunno if that helps, but it's what I do.

 

[kady05]

Every 3yrs. after their first vaccine.

If your state requires you to vaccinate every year, I wouldn't risk not doing so.

 

[Saeleofu]

1 year after the first vaccine, then every 3 years after that.

my city used to require yearly vaccines. We used the same vaccine as now (3 year) but had to vaccinate every year. They went to every 3 years a couple years ago. Gavroche had to have one, then another a year later because he had an unknown vaccination history. Now he's on every 2 years. Logan had one before I got him, then had to have on this year (a year later), and now he doesn't need one for 3 years.

 

[Greenmagick]

If you county doesnt accept three year I would fight for it...there is NO reason for them not to (except maybe loosing the revenue they collect for licensing).

And we had dogs at the kennel that bit and their rabies were expired...none were ever PTS to test, all were quarantined, usually at home. I know it is possible, but if following a what is standard procedure scientifically (every three years) I think the case for pTS would be pretty weak.

 

[Lolas Dad]

Every three years here unless the dog is a puppy then it is one year the first time. After that it is every three years.

 

[Saeleofu]

(except maybe loosing the revenue they collect for licensing).

My city still requires a yearly license. It would make more sense if they had a 3-year license. They'd make more, since dogs can die or move out of the city in those three years, and they'd still be getting 3 years worth of licensing fees.

 

[JacksonsMom]

Got it as a pup, then at one year, then after that, law here is every 3 years.

 

[Brattina88]

3 years by law... we go too many places / do too many things in public to ever risk it!

 

[HayleyMarie]

There is not a rabie vaccine law here. So saying that Teagan has not gotten re-vaccinated for rabies since she was a pup. I might her vaccinated for rabies the next vet appointment or just get a titer test.

Im changing my vet to a homeopathy vet so we will see what she or he says.

 

[Southpaw]

Umm like never. :ninja:

Lucy had it at 16 weeks old, and then again just recently at 5 years old. So she was quite overdue. And I had no intention of having it done at that appointment, but when they told me she was due and asked me if I wanted it done... I felt like I couldn't say no since legally, I should do it.

Juno had it done at 16 weeks and 1 year old, so she's not due again for another couple years still... and if she's still going to daycare at that time, then I have no choice but to keep her UTD; but if there's no other reason that she NEEDS it then I totally see myself slacking and not having it done.

Maybe I don't take it seriously enough *shrug* I just don't see the likelihood of us being in a situation where it's gonna bite us in the butt that they're not vaccinated.

My cat is super not UTD on his rabies, either.

 

[SaraB]

There's been several rabies cases in Minnesota this year. Even a couple times where my clinic has sent a deceased dog/cat to be rabies tested after being euthanized.

They are working on making it a state-wide 3 year law, but it's not there quite yet. In the mean time if there is no city law you can ask your veterinarian to make it a 3 year certificate. If they don't, I'd suggest finding another vet as the canine vaccines are good for 3 years.

 

[BostonBanker]

Meg gets hers every three years. It is the one vaccine I keep up to date. The others I just titre whenever I have the spare money.

Gusto is due for his first at his Tuesday vet appointment, but I'm going to see if I can push it back at least another month or two. We don't know his age for sure, and if anything, he is younger than we think. I'd rather wait a bit.

 

[stardogs]

First between 4 and 6 months old, second a year after the first (so 16-18 months old), and then every three years after that (~4, 7, 10 years).

 

[elegy]

As required by law, which fortunately is as a pup, boost at one year, and then every three years. I am more afraid of the law killing my dogs than I am of complications from rabies vaccines.

And we *do* see rabies around here. Skunks, raccoons, bats, heck a girl I used to work with's uncle is a dairy farmer and he had a rabid COW a couple years ago. Having a dog not up to date on rabies vaccine could make things awfully complicated if a rabid critter wanders into the picture.

 

[LupineTotem]

Every year, as per county law I'm more afraid of what would happen to my dogs if they ever bit someone (you never know) and weren't UTD on rabies than over-vaccinating...It sucks though, I really wish my county would adopt the 3 year schedule.

 

[SpringerLover]

As required by law, which fortunately is as a pup, boost at one year, and then every three years. I am more afraid of the law killing my dogs than I am of complications from rabies vaccines.

This.

I give rabies pretty close to every 3 years. Dogs and cats.

WI state law is 1st good for 12 months, following good for 3 years.

 

[Emily]

As required by law, which fortunately is as a pup, boost at one year, and then every three years.

Same here. Pup, 1 year booster, then 3 years.

Gotta have rabies to go our awesome offleash forest preserve by my parents house, and when I move into the city, gotta have it for a Chicago dog license.