rabbies shot for pup

southwestwalkers · Post by **southwestwalkers** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 9:39 pm

I gave the hound his first rabbies shot when he was a few month old. Its almost been a year now do I give him another shot for this year. Im thinking I do and then it will be good for another two or three years?

thanks all... Robb

TomJr · Post by **TomJr** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 1:29 pm

Yes dogs should get a rabies shot at one year old. Vets in this area give the shots that last 3 years. I think the county requires you to have a vet do it.

Earlier this year my dad made the mistake of calling animal control when my one of my dogs killed a skunk. They made me get new shots even tho it was only a year ago... plus had to quarantee all 6 for 45 days. At least we were able to do this on the property. Funny thing is they kill a skunk about once a month... Bottem line is don't report. And as long as you keep the shots up todate there is nothing to worry about anyhow.

I did a lot of research and talked to the state vet. While rabies is a terriable dease if you get it. It is acualy not spread that easily. Animals that have it are only contagious for a very short time before they die. And it must get into the blood stream so you have to be cut. (there are some very rare cases of airborn infections but that was in a cave with bats so the average person would not come in contact)

southwestwalkers · Post by **southwestwalkers** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 7:08 pm

Yeah, I gotta get the boy down there around mid Feb thats when its do again...

Bearkiller · Post by **Bearkiller** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 11:35 pm

I wonder why you had to quarantine for 45 days. I was under the impression that rabies would run its course and kill its victim in 14 days +/-.

TomJr · Post by **TomJr** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 1:15 am

It is a very complicated disease. But from what I gathered there is an incubation period usualy from 3-12 weeks (but can be several years)where there are no symtoms. Then once symtoms show the virus migrates to the slivary glands and causes them to work over time. And infected animal usualy dies within 7 days.

Bottem line is government are going to error on the side of caution. Some states Quarantine is 90days. There is a pre-exposer vacine for recomended for people that deal with wild animals on regular basis. But you still have to do the post exposere shots if you think you have been exposed.

I was told by my vet that dogs vacinated under 6 months would have to be revacinated at 6months then again at 1 year. Sometimes the vacination doesn't take if the dog is too young...

I also talked to the state vet and he basicly told me vacinated dogs have almost no chance of getting the desease but still they do the 45 day quarantine for safty sake.

btpp · Post by **btpp** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 6:37 pm

you are supose to give the dog the shot for two years in a row then they are good for 3 years i have a buddy that works for osu vet school he said if i hunt the dogs and they are at high risk of being exposed to the virus that i should give the shot every year if the state you live in requires the shot every three years you can give it your self the other two and take it to the vet every three it depends on the state you live in i personally give mine all myself but i am not covered if my dogs bite someone it is just much cheaper doing it that way