I went through history and read about previous rabies discussions. I see that a dog should have a shot when it is a puppy and again at 1 year, then every three years after.

Unfortunately I didn't understand this or the vet told me wrong, I don't know, but I got my puppy vaccinated at 4 months old, and now he is almost 18 months, so we are a little late anyway, but I was aiming for one year AFTER the first shot, not AT one year of age.

I stuck this poor little guy like a pun cushion all through puppyhood, not knowing any better, and he has allergies. And joint issues. I don't want to vaccinate for anything I don't absolutely need to. My old vet gives the 3 year vaccine but recom. giving it every year. A new vet at our doggie chiro's place gives the three years and pulls titers in between. We have an appt tomorrow to get him the 3 year shot.

I guess my question is, is that going to be ok, even though it is late. Certainly I wouldn't have to get him an extra one since too much time went by?

Also, my backwoods hick county still requires every year. My husband said he would still only do every 3 years anyway. I guess as long as they would only do a quaratine would be one thing, if he happened to be in an incident. It frustrates me to have to hurt his health to satisfy some county law, when state law says it is not necessary.

Our county animal control is so awful, I went there when I was looking for a dog and two guys sitting out front relaxing, while the animal's cages looked like they hadn't been cleaned in DAYS. It was horrible. I had called them once about a neighbor's aggressive dog that was left to run loose and terrorize the neighbors. They said if I knew who it belonged to, there was no reason for them to come get it, because the people would just come pick it up again.... Seriously?

This is who i was told to call to find out what their usual proltocol was concerning dogs involved ina bite and rabies requirements. Still waiting on that return call and probably will be for a long time.A guy at the people Health Dept who apparently fields a lot of rabies shot calls(hey Bob, ANOTHER rabies shot ? for you) said they would take into consideration that the dog had a documented three year shot if there was an incident no matter the county ordinance.

ANy help here on the puppy shot requirement would be greatly appreciated.

Julie, what county and state are you in?

You would not need to give him an extra rabies shot; just the one he missed at 1 year. And definately opt for the 3 year shot...

Rabies vaccine #1 at any time after the adult canine's have emerged.
Protective titer from this initial exposure is only good for one year.
Rabies shot # 2 roughly a year after the first vaccine. A few months either way should not matter. Use the 3 yr vaccine. This vaccine is killed. Protection from this vaccine is legal for 3 yrs after this injection.
To be legal, vaccines are then given every 3 yrs.

This is the protocol that I use. There is rabies in my state.

 Quote: Betty Landercasp

Rabies vaccine #1 at any time after the adult canine's have emerged.
Protective titer from this initial exposure is only good for one year.
Rabies shot # 2 roughly a year after the first vaccine. A few months either way should not matter. Use the 3 yr vaccine. This vaccine is killed. Protection from this vaccine is legal for 3 yrs after this injection.
To be legal, vaccines are then given every 3 yrs.

This is the protocol that I use. There is rabies in my state.

This is pretty much how I do it too, I wait until the dog is close to a year old for the first shot.

Why is it that I feel like someone has their hand in my pocket with this 'little 1 year 3 year protocol'?

Ok, so he had one at 4 months, now I get him the 3 year shot at 18 months, and every three years after.

I mentioned the money thing, too, when talking to a vet receptionist at the office. She said, oh no, it is for the dog's and people's protection. If the county tries to get people to vaccinate every year, then maybe they will all be vaccinated by the three year mark. Again, seriously?


Edited by Connie Sutherland (03/31/2011 09:18 PM)
Edit reason: typo corrected on request

In my area (MI), you have to have rabies done by 6 months, then one a year later, and then you can go to an every 3rd year schedule. My pup was about 3 days away from that. I will give him another when his "expires" which will be one year from the date he got the first one. Then, he will have them every three years...there is NO need for titers in between.

I do always keep my dogs up to date on rabies as I want to avoid any issues should a bite occur and whatnot.

 Quote: Julie Sloan

Ok, so he had one at 4 months, now I get him the 3 year shot at 18 months, and every three years after.

I mentioned the money thing, too, when talking to a vet receptionist at the office. She said, oh no, it is for the dog's and people's protection. If the county tries to get people to vaccinate every year, then maybe they will all be vaccinated by the three year mark. Again, seriously?

Gotta love the crap that the vet's office comes up with...similar to what I heard here in FL, so I changed to a holistic vet...

Make sure you request the 3 year vaccine. There is no difference in the vaccine itself (from my understanding) but you want it on record that he has received the 3 year vaccine...

This is all new to me. I don't think we have a 3 year dog vaccine here, but even if we did, I'm not sure I'd trust it. I get MY rabies shots only once every two years, and I don't feel comfortable with that!

Although we have a computerised registry (dog licence), many many people (most, even) are late vaccinating their dogs and the authorities have great difficulty following up on them. So if you get bitten, there's a good chance to find out that the dog is six months late on his yearly rabies. I fear that if they only had to vaccinate every three years, they would forget completely.

 Quote: Arik Kershenbaum

Although we have a computerised registry (dog licence), many many people (most, even) are late vaccinating their dogs and the authorities have great difficulty following up on them. So if you get bitten, there's a good chance to find out that the dog is six months late on his yearly rabies. I fear that if they only had to vaccinate every three years, they would forget completely.

The rabies vaccine is highly effective. Pretty much if your dog has had the initial shot and a booster they are completely protected. But since rabies is rabies the US sticks to at least a 3 yr booster protocol.