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Is Rabies Vaccination Still Necessary?

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Rabies vaccinationOn September 7, 2007, the Centers for Disease Control announced that the canine form of rabies has been eraditicated from the United States.

Good news for dogs!

So, is it still necessary that animal licensing agencies require rabies vaccinations before issuing dog licenses?

There's already a lot of literature circulating around the Internet claiming that rabies vaccines can be deadly to dogs, if administered too frequently. Some activists contend that a single rabies vaccine is good enough to last five years, or maybe longer, and that administering the vaccine more frequently can cause serious illness, permanent disability, and death.

But it appears that rabies vaccinations are not going away.

These days, with animal rights activists pushing for laws that put dog breeders out of business, a growing puppy industry has blossomed in Mexico. Now we have to deal with Mexico's faulty disease control, as these puppies are being smuggled into the USA to meet the growing demand for puppies.

And it's not just Mexico. Foreign-born puppies are being brought in from the Caribbean, Canada, even as far away as India. And these countries don't have the same strict rabies control systems that we have in the USA.

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5 Comments:

  • The form of rabies virus that prefers the canine host has been eradicated....but humans and animals alike are still vulnerable to bats, skunks, coyotes, and racoons that are infected. VACCINATE YOUR DOG.

    - A concerned veterinarian

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:21 AM, October 31, 2007  

  • "dog rabies" may have been eradicated, but cat cases of rabies are still occurring in many states. The southern states report a significant number of cases of rabies in skunks, bats, foxes, coyotes, and raccoons every year. These rabid animals are potentially contagious to dogs, cats, humans, and livestock. Rabies is still out there and still deadly. Don't stop vaccinating! If your dog has an allergic reaction to the rabies vaccine, it can have it's blood level of rabies antibodies tested every year to be sure it is still protected. If it's antibody levels are too low, medication can be given to offset the allergic reaction and still vaccinate the pet. Rabies vaccination is important not only for the safety of your pets, but also your children!

    Southeastern Vet

    By Anonymous AL, at 5:13 PM, October 31, 2007  

  • I have 4 dogs, and I keep them up on all their vaccinations, because the last thing that I need to deal with is to have one of my dogs get infected with rabies. I will always keep them vaccinated. What harm is there in vaccinating? It doesn't cost much either.

    By Anonymous Rick Marnon, at 8:21 AM, November 01, 2007  

  • what harm? could cause death..of course the vets want to keep their customers coming so they will never say anything about it. The yearly shots are also a disgrace...need to be done every 5 years+, not yearly..

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6:16 AM, January 29, 2008  

  • As it seems that you are not at all well informed about vaccines in other countries, I will let you know that as well as in the US Canada and Mexico both require animals to be vaccinated against rabies. It's all the other diseases that are not an issue in other countries that are not mandatory. I advise thatif you are going to criticize or "inform" others, you should educate yourself first.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:56 PM, June 25, 2008  

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