How often does my dog need a rabies shot?
Why rabies vaccination is so important, even for indoor pets
Rabies is such a severe and fatal disease and linked to pets, especially dogs. Luckily, it’s preventable through vaccination. A rabies shot is a key to keeping your dog’s health and safety, and most important to you. How often your dog needs the rabies shot depends on several factors. The first shot, which is dependent on the type of rabies, consists of 3-shots administered each day at an interval of days 0, 7, and 21 or 28. A booster shot is required as often as six months to 2 years, depending on the factors you will learn later in the post.
But the critical question on the issue is “how often does a dog need a rabies shot”-when is the best time to first vaccinate for rabies?
The Real Risk of avoiding rabies shot
Your pet requires rabies shot as often as your vet advises; it’s even a requirement for pet licensing. Pets with frequent exposure and highest risk, primarily through wildlife, require routine booster shots as well as post-exposure prophylaxis if exposed.
Some Pet owner focuses on the effect of vaccines and the risks they pose to their pets instead of benefits. After all, most of us have never seen a rabid animal in our entire life, let alone mad dogs. Thus, the initial or subsequent call for pet rabies shot is a concern to most owners. And those living in cities rule out dogs contact with wildlife and thinking their pets aren’t in any danger of rabies. Such dog owners dodge the vaccine oblivious of the actual risk.
Rabies is fatal to both human and dogs.
Rabies accounts for 59,000 deaths worldwide each year, with an average of two deaths annually in the United States. In 2010 the CDC reported over 6,000 cases of rabies in animals and humans in 48 states and Puerto Rico. Besides, the WHO says 15 million people worldwide with post-rabies treatment each year, a tremendous concern to push pet owners to seek vaccination as set by county law. The WHO report calls for prompt medical treatment following a suspected exposure to rabies to effectively prevent the disease from spreading.
Rabies is typically transmitted via a bite (saliva harboring the virus) of an infected animal. The infection is 99% fatal in humans with no successful treatment options once symptoms manifest.
NO treatment for Unvaccinated Dogs
Not just your dog, rabies can affect most mammals, including cats, horses, cattle, and a wide range of wildlife. Most infections are from common wildlife such as skunk, raccoon, fox, bat, coyote, and others that room in cities and most residential areas. Dogs coming in contact with wildlife are vaccinated yearly and the highest risk every six months.
Even worse, you don’t want your pet tested for rabies. The procedure can’t be undertaken on live animals as it involves extracting brain matter samples for testing. The method can only be performed on dead animals. And rather than quarantining or euthanizing, get your dog vaccinated every year.
State Laws on rabies vaccination
The disease sets a severe health hazard for both humans and animals, and the lack of easy testing makes sense the need for simple prevention through a simple vaccination shot.
Even if your state or county has no set guidelines or regulations on rabies vaccination, protecting your dog is still an outstanding idea.
Important of the first rabies shot
Rabies vaccine should be administered to dogs as early as 12 weeks and not for puppies younger. Any dog over the age should receive the shot, regardless of risk factor. Some states have imposed fines for un-vaccinated dogs, especially if it bites and infects a person. And in some communities, it allows the authorities to shoot and kill any un-vaccinated dog.
You need a pet license, which can only be acquired with proof of rabies vaccination.
While some state sets rabies vaccinations every year, others are labeled for three years. Most states require annual protection regardless of labeling.
Emphases on Following Boosters shot
After the first shot, just like babies, you’ll need the First Booster administered that equips your pet with a more robust defense against rabies, which is scheduled a year after vaccination. The following boosters should be administered at an interval of 1 to 2-years, depending on the local state regulation.
How often a dog should get vaccinated against rabies should be interpreted by the state veterinarian. However, yearly vaccinations are perceived to produce stronger immunity and resistance against the disease. You should also seek “measurement” for rabies, a blood test that checks how well your dog is protected against the rabies virus.
What you need to know?
Even though you have seen no rabies case in your life, “thank goodness,” it’s very crucial to have your dog vaccinated. Think of a community with no vaccination or one that stops vaccinating dogs, and a case of the deadly virus makes its way, it would devastate for everyone. If you still have doubts, watch Old Yeller!
Your pet vet will advise on the appropriate vaccination schedule, as set by the state laws.
