"A rabies titer is accepted in humans with NO questions asked!!!!"

Shelley, with respect - I don't think that there is even a test for human's for a rabies titer. I've received the human rabies vaccine when I was deployed to third world countries, and once the multiple injection series was done, there was no titer testing. Nor did I ever hear of rabies titer testing when I worked in a few busy ER's as a PA.

If you pop up in any ER in this country and there is even a question that the animal was rabid, you're going to receive the rabies series. No Physician is going to take the legal and ethical risks of not treating a disease that is near 100% fatal once it is established.

Will

Sorry if my post came across in the wrong manner as normally I do vaccinate as required by law.
This particular dog has alot of medical problems, some of which I feel were brought on by too many vaccinations. This dog is in a very controlled enviroment & we all know things can happen no matter how slim the chance. That being said I can assure you that my my new Leerburg pup will be vaccinated for rabies due to the nature of her work.

A good link:
http://www.vetmed.lsu.edu/rabies_prevention.htm

"Q. If I've just completed the series, should I have my titer checked to make sure the vaccine worked?

A. Because the antibody response after the recommended 3-dose preexposure prophylaxis vaccine regimens has been satisfactory in most people, you do not need to be tested unless you know or suspect you are immunosuppressed. Immunosuppressed persons who are at risk of rabies exposure should have their antibody titers checked 2–4 weeks after completing the vaccine series.

Q. What happens if I am exposed to rabies at some point and don’t have any idea what my titer is?

A. It doesn’t really matter. If you are ever exposed to rabies after having previously received a full preexposure vaccine series, the recommendations are for you to take two intramuscular doses (1.0 ml each) of vaccine, one given immediately and one 3 days later. Treatment with human rabies immune globulin (HRIG) is unnecessary and should not be given; an anamnestic antibody response will follow the administration of a booster, regardless of the prebooster antibody titer."




So there is a rabies human titer, but it appears to be only used in research labs or for the immunosuppresed, from my reading.
They don't test you with a titer after your recieve the immunization series.
And when in doubt, you're going to recieve treatment without titers being drawn.

No problem, robert - I just don't want you to get in trouble if it can be prevented! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

It was my vet who told me about the titer in humans and many vets did do this. You can titer for dogs and it is accpeted in place of quarentine when a dog is taken to the UK. (my sister did this with her dog recently). So, it is accepted in many cases.

A co-worker also went through the whole rabies scare with her son recently. He was traveling Europe and got bit by a dog in Spain (think that was the country). Which ever it is , they have a high case of stray dogs and higher incidence of rabies. Due to the context of the bite (no reason for it ) there was a concern for rabies. You wouldn't believe the hassle that she had to go through in order for her son to recieve the rabies series of vaccinations! Only when she got the CDC involved did any action happen. Was several weeks later when he did finally get the vaccine for it.

There is lots of 'talk' of rabies but in reality very few cases of it in humans. There is also quite a bit of controversy if a rabid skunk/bat/racoon can actually pass on rabies to dogs. (different strain etc).

This vaccine is fear driven and perhaps for 'good reason'.

In the U.K. they don't vaccinate for rabies due to them being a country 'free' of it. The reason behind this is that vaccinating WILL shed the virus into the environment. They take all precautions. It is why your dog (if taking it to the UK) is vaccinated in their present country and they have to stay there for 6 months, while the vaccine is being shed into the environment and the body is building up it's imminuty.

The rabies vaccine is a nasty vaccination and causes MANY problems in our animals. One being aggression. I don't think it is a coincidence and necessarily 'bad breeding' (although yes, this also happens) that we are seeing more and more aggression in dogs. The present vaccine contains over 40 antigens and it takes 4 antigens for a large dog to gain immunity. THe present vaccine is enough for an elephant (direct quote from my vet).

So, yes, by law many have to give the vaccine but it shouldn't be taken or done lightly. Insist on a 3 yr. cerficiate!!!!

Shelley,
Sorry, I didn't realize that you were in the UK which has different standards and practices than the U.S.

Socialized medicine changes a lot of what I said there - when you're worried about cost versus outcome, it changes the end result.

LOL...I don't live in the UK..live in Canada. (British Columbia) We are not required to give our animals the rabies vaccine. However, most do as they don't know this. As well, it is needed if you travel to a different province and to the U.S.

I have quite a bit of information on vaccines/studies etc. (although I don't always remember which computer/file I saved it to!). My vet is also a BIG activist against the rabies vaccine and for the borders (Canada/US) to accept titers in lui of vaccinations. So, I often get a lot of information ('talk' ) via vet about stats/facts/frustrations etc.

Years ago I decided to titer my dogs after vaccinations to see if they 'took'. Was shocked (and so was vet at the time) to find out many did not 'take'. It started me on the road to research and current protocals for my dogs.