But My Vet Says I Need to Give the Rabies Shot Every 2 Years

I'm sorry to be blunt but your vet is wrong. If the label on the rabies vaccine says the Duration of Immunity is 3 years, it doesn't lose its potency earlier than that. And most jurisdictions now sanction the use of 3 year vaccines (the exception is the animal's first rabies shot which is good for one year before being boostered). More people are getting with the programme and challenging their vets to use correct vaccinating protocols. If your vet is still doing annual or 2 year vaccinations, insist on a 3 year or change vets. You are spending too much and jeopardizing your dog's health otherwise. This video clip explains more:

http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/investigative/investigators-vet%2C-vaccines-and-vagaries-jul-27-2011

Thanks Hillary! I love my vet, he told us years ago he was switching to the 3 year rabies. This was back before I even read up on vaccinations. I'm lucky he's ahead of the game.

Sounds like he's a keeper, Saira.

pugpillow wrote:Sounds like he's a keeper, Saira.

Yeah I had to follow him around when he moved. He works well with Sophie's specialist and holistic vet too-no pushing Science Diet either.

I love my vet, too. She actually recommends running titers so you don't overvaccinate. I have to make sure Marlee gets her rabies vaccine every 3 years, though, so I can renew her license -- we do school presentations regularly and her license has to be current.

Lots of vets are still on the 1 year bandwagon now. Izzie however needs high doses of anti-histamines to even get shots at all, so we don't do any right now and will probably titer next year (as it will be about 3 years since last vaccine). Rabies isn't actually required by law where i live so we're not technically breaking any laws, she can't go to the states though or be boarded (fine by me) or go to daycare. She however does therapy work and the only reason she does it with non-current vaccines is because i have the right connections. Though i realize not everyone is so lucky.

I don't know that yearly vaccines of any sort were ever truly necessary. I don't believe the formulation of the "one-year" vaccines is significantly different from the "three-year" vaccine. As my very honest vet explained to me when we discussed my vaccine concerns, most vets still encourage a one-year vaccination program because that is the only way the can get most pet owners to come in regularly for an anual exam for their pets. Otherwise, the owners only come in when something is really wrong and never do any preventative maintenance. He said he never worries about us because, quite frankly, we are in all the time and have probably paid for his last few vacations, but that is not the case with most pet owners.



I just wish, though, that they didn't charge triple the price for titers that they charge for vaccinations. With Chester and Bruno being 10 and 9, we've stopped vaccinating them because they are mostly home bodies now.

smoochieface wrote:I don't know that yearly vaccines of any sort were ever truly necessary. I don't believe the formulation of the "one-year" vaccines is significantly different from the "three-year" vaccine. As my very honest vet explained to me when we discussed my vaccine concerns, most vets still encourage a one-year vaccination program because that is the only way the can get most pet owners to come in regularly for an anual exam for their pets. Otherwise, the owners only come in when something is really wrong and never do any preventative maintenance. He said he never worries about us because, quite frankly, we are in all the time and have probably paid for his last few vacations, but that is not the case with most pet owners.



I just wish, though, that they didn't charge triple the price for titers that they charge for vaccinations. With Chester and Bruno being 10 and 9, we've stopped vaccinating them because they are mostly home bodies now.

Kendie, our vet said the same thing as yours. We've seen some people apply who use the growing (responsible) vaccination movement as an excuse too. It doesn't mean I'm ok with you not seeing your vet in 3 years!

Kendie, the one year and 3 year rabies vaccine formulations are identical! All that's different is the labelling. But to comply with the law, one must vaccinate every year if giving the one year vaccine but only every 3 years if giving the 3 year vaccine. No such thing as a 2 year vaccine and giving a 3 year vaccine every 2 years is taking a risk for NO benefit.

At Pugalug rescue, we write into our adoption contracts that the adoptee must be seen by a vet at least annually. But using vaccinations to ensure people come in is clearly malpractice considering what we now know about vaccinosis.