If one decides to give a 3 year rabies vaccine, are there any problems with the Fort Dodge vaccine that can be given inexpensively at the "big box" pet stores? Thanks for any input.

There are problems with any vaccine.
A search of this forum, with the keyword "vaccinosis" can illustrate what they are.

Putting in a plug for the Rabies Challenge Fund
http://www.rabieschallengefund.org/

This study seeks to extend the length of time a vaccination is 'good for'. The initial target is 5 yeats with plans to extend it to 7 years.

The drug companies have no incentive to extend their labeling periods -- it would cut in to sales too much. So, we need to do it privately.

FWIW, they are all 'three-year' vaccines. The only difference is in the labeling. Same drug -- different label.

If your dog does have any kind of reaction, make certain it gets reported.

There was a recall on a large batch of the Fort Dodge rabies vaccine in 2006 (www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/jul06/060715b.asp). My vet uses Merial rabies vaccine.

Re Alyssa's comment: rabies (required by law every 3 years here) is the one vaccine my dogs do get throughout their adult lives. Apart from the legal and licensing issues (cannot get a dog license without proof of current rabies vaccination) rabies is endemic in the wildlife around here. There is always a risk of exposure for my dogs, whether we are hiking in the backcountry or a rabid skunk or raccoon gets into my yard. Where I live, a dog not current on rabies vaccinations that comes into contact with a rabid animal can legally be impounded and euthanized.

I don't think this is unreasonable. Unlike distemper, parvo etc. rabies has extremely serious human health consequences and it is always fatal for the dog. So for this I one I accept the risk of side effects, and vaccinate.

I second Charlie's plug for this research initiative. It would be great if we could extend the period between vaccinations, and the data is needed.

Please don't take my post to be either for or against the rabies vaccine.
Just letting the OP know where to find risk info.

 Quote: Sarah Ward

Where I live, a dog not current on rabies vaccinations that comes into contact with a rabid animal can legally be impounded and euthanized.

In my area, it's even worse. If your dog is not current on rabies and comes into contact with (attacks or bites) a domestic animal or a human, it can be impounded and euthanized.

Also, FWIW, I have noticed that my rescue animals that come in from the states are vaccinated with Fort Dodge (1 year). (Usually rescues get the cheapest possible option). I haven't had a dog react to it, but that doesn't mean it's the best.

I would never get a rabies vaccine for my dog unless it was administered by a vet.

Hi Ken,

My last dog ,I had the rabies done at Petco with no problems. She lived a heathly, Vet free, life until she was 15 years old....with that being said, I got away with her not getting her first rabies shots until she was over 4 years old, when the city found out I did not have her licensed. Then I was forced to have to get them done per schedule.

My new puppy is now 6 months old and I still have not had her rabies done. The vet who gave her the puppy shots said that rabies is not a problem here in my area and if I wanted to wait, that was fine but he reminded me that I was suppose to get her licensed at 16 weeks. He left is at that.

Each dog has a different immune systems and genetics, so all I can tell you is that my last dog did fine with the Petco rabies vaccine, but back then Vets did not have the vaccine clients in-house like they have now.I would now just go to a vet office that offers special days of the week for vaccines, where you don't have to pay an office visit, just the cost of the vaccine. When I priced the difference between the vaccine client at the local pet store and the Vet office, it was about a $1.50 diffence.

Anna

Rabies is the only vac my dogs get anymore. Required by law live in apartment.
I go to the normal vet a frined got a regular round of shots at petco and her dog got sick very sick. I dont even think they do rabies here at petco cause it has to be given by a vet and there all techs out here. I volenteer for it sometimes. I dont belive in vac so offen either.
Phoenix wont ever get another core vac just rabies but she is not do for two years now. Bruiser I tried to slide by and he bit a kid completly myf ault they quariteened him and uthinized after 10 days.
So all my dogs will get there rabies cause I dont want to go through that again

 Quote: ken kuznetsky

If one decides to give a 3 year rabies vaccine, are there any problems with the Fort Dodge vaccine that can be given inexpensively at the "big box" pet stores? Thanks for any input.

That 2006 recall pretty much stunned me into permanent distance from anything manufactured by them when I heard their response to the questions about the recall of 300,000 doses of rabies vaccine after at least one dog contracted rabies after being routinely vaccinated. Kelly Goss, then spokesperson for Fort Dodge Animal Health, told the press that they didn't know why the vaccinated animal contracted rabies.

They didn't know why.