Rabies

[MysticExotics]

The question is... what is "up to date?" Because veterinary opinion on that seems to be changing rapidly.

It's based on the vaccine recommendation.
My dogs get the DHLPP & Rabies every 3 years. (I heard that they're possibly proving that it might be stretched out to 7 yrs.)

My ferrets, on the other hand, get annual Rabies (until someone does a study to show that the vaccs are good for longer than a year), & now that a study has proved that the baby series of Distemper vaccs covers 88% of the ferrets in the study for life, I will be following in my breeders footsteps & will add the 1 yr booster, on top of the baby series, & that's it for life, for the Distemper vacc.

 

[Susan]

Susan, this is totally a side topic, but since we're talking vaccines....

I keep all our pets up to date as required on rabies vaccines. The county requires a rabies shot once as a pup and then the three year vaccine will do. I realize the importance of that to protect my critters.

But where do you (and the vets you work for) stand with regards to revaccinating for other diseases such as DHLPP, kennel cough, canine influenze, Feline AIDS, etc? I've heard many respected dog keepers say that after the initial puppy series have been completed, the dogs immunity is technically strong enough to last for much of their life and that the risks of over-vaccinating are enough to not bother with it. I've heard that cancer can be increased by over-vaccination and that this is why vets give certain shots in the legs as opposed to elsewhere-- because in the event of tumors caused by vaccination, a leg can be amputated, while other areas are not so treatable.

Any truth to this?

I never know how much is internet conjecture and how much is actual veterinary science.

Sorry to take so long to respond. The hospital I work at recently changed vaccination policy after the owner vet researched the information and got the truth. Puppies and kittens get the series of 3-4 vaccines and rabies vaccine by 4 months of age. Everything needs to be boosted one year later (16 months of age). At that point, most of the "combo" vaccines are good for 3 years (rabies may be the 1 yr or 3 yr vaccine, we recommend the 1 yr as it is less "reactive"), but the lepto must be boosted yearly and the bordetella either yearly or every 6 months. Feline leukemia in cats is good for life at that point and FIV vaccines should only given to cats at risk...outdoor cats, intact males, etc. The new canine influenza vaccine is only given if there is a high risk of exposure, lyme vaccine is not given routinely as we have so far only seen it in dogs from other states with much higher incidence of lyme disease.

 

[pridecity]

I forgot about the flu vaccine. I got my dogs that as well.

Susan, you're a vet or vet tech, correct? If so, how often do you recommend to owners to have full blood panels done on their cats and dogs? My vet recommended it to me, but if I were to include the spaying of my two dogs, they want about $800 each. I'm trying to find a good reason to save that up seeing as the local shelter will spay both dogs for $60 each and my cat for $40. Then again, they want only $90 or so for shots, microchip and registering.

 

[Hypancistrus]

I forgot about the flu vaccine. I got my dogs that as well.

Susan, you're a vet or vet tech, correct? If so, how often do you recommend to owners to have full blood panels done on their cats and dogs? My vet recommended it to me, but if I were to include the spaying of my two dogs, they want about $800 each. I'm trying to find a good reason to save that up seeing as the local shelter will spay both dogs for $60 each and my cat for $40. Then again, they want only $90 or so for shots, microchip and registering.

Don't know how many vets you have in your area, but it may be worth calling around for various prices on spays. Our vet for Katie wanted nearly $400 to spay her and repair her hernia. We took her to the local ER vet and walked out with her for a bill of $220 for the same procedures! The rest of our vets procedures are fairly reasonable, but the $400 surgery cost was ridiculous.

 

[Susan]

I forgot about the flu vaccine. I got my dogs that as well.

Susan, you're a vet or vet tech, correct? If so, how often do you recommend to owners to have full blood panels done on their cats and dogs? My vet recommended it to me, but if I were to include the spaying of my two dogs, they want about $800 each. I'm trying to find a good reason to save that up seeing as the local shelter will spay both dogs for $60 each and my cat for $40. Then again, they want only $90 or so for shots, microchip and registering.

My hospital requires a "mini" panel prior to surgery on senior pets only. Please remember that calling a pet "senior" depends upon the breed, the age and over-all condition. The "mini" panel consists of a CBC and a serum chemistry panel that consists of an ALT & ALP (both for liver function), Creatinine & BUN (for kidney function), Glucose (diabetes) and Total Protein (hydration, liver, kidney, metabolic disorders). We include that total panel "free" in the cost of all dentals and we charge $71 otherwise. Ideally, we would like to have all our senior patients do a wellness panel yearly (includes test for heartworms, lyme and erlichia, CBC, a 14 test serum chemistries panel and a thyroid test - cats get leukemia, FIV and heartworm test as well as CBC, chemistries and thyroid) and our current price for the package is $125 for dogs and $135 for cats. If the pet is sick and we need to run those tests, they pay full price for what is needed ($30 for HW, lyme, ehrlichia, $35 for CBC, $56 for chem panel, and $45 for thyroid) Our vet is very reasonable in his prices for the routine stuff as well as for surgeries. Most spays run around $200 - $350 depending upon the size of the dog. We have the low cost spay/neuter places, but I know they "assembly line" their surgeries, have special requirements as to size and age of the pet, and I have seen too many problems in those pets directly related to the surgery. If you can afford NOT to go to them, I recommend you do so, but fully understand having to use them. But to charge $800 for a spay is ridiculous! We didn't charge that much to remove a cancerous kidney from a dog just 2 weeks ago, and that included bloodwork, IV fluids, all medications and 4 hours of surgery time. But then, I've seen quotes of that price for a DENTAL!

 

[pridecity]

I thought it was high too. I've been going back and forth on the low cost spays. Too bad I don't live in FL. I'd come see you at your vet. Can I email the dogs to you and you fix them? Lol

 

[susang]

WOW, that is a lot of money. Then I haven't had anything spayed or neutered for about four years. I know yearly check-up for our dog is around $200.00 that includes year of heartworm and blood test and capstar.

 

[MegF.]

Generally I prefer keeping my cats indoors, however I have one that absolutely wanted to be out so bad that he started marking indoors. He is now indoor/outdoor. In at night and out during the day. When it's cold, he wants to be indoors, but the rest of the time he likes it outside. He and my indoor cat were both vaccinated for rabies and feline leukemia. They have not been since. There is a small chance of rabies in my cat, and leukemia as well. In the 48 years I've owned cats, they were all indoor/outdoor until I got my own. None were under the age of 14 when they died except for a stray we took in that died from feline leukemia. she had been vaccinated for all the years we had her, so vaccination doesn't guarantee anything. As for DHLPP...dogs are not required to be revaccinated for at least 3 years under the protocols set up years ago. If your vet is still insisting on vaccinating yearly, he's not up on things. You have to request 3 year rabies here in SC or you get the one year. I no longer vaccinate my dogs for DHLPP, only kennel cough. They are over 5 years old and the chance of them catching the disease after multiple vaccinations is not even on the radar. Our holistic vet doesn't recommend it for adult dogs. Puppies, yes, older dogs, no. I imagine that most vaccines last a lot longer than the drug companies want you to believe. And for the record....opposums don't get rabies. They are immune to it. Bats, foxes and raccoons are the most often diagnosed and here it's usually foxes.

 

[Dreamsnake]

Parvo is such a common problem here because so many people keep a yard full of dogs and I doubt many see the vet. The kill rate for cats and dogs in this town for the past six years was astronomical. Many people lost their homes and only a few rental places allow pets. It was sad thinking of all the animals that got put down. I hope people will think about it and get their pets fixed, but every dog I see is unaltered and owners don't want to emasculate their mutts. Something about the culture.

 

[Outcast]

Parvo is such a common problem here because so many people keep a yard full of dogs and I doubt many see the vet. The kill rate for cats and dogs in this town for the past six years was astronomical. Many people lost their homes and only a few rental places allow pets. It was sad thinking of all the animals that got put down. I hope people will think about it and get their pets fixed, but every dog I see is unaltered and owners don't want to emasculate their mutts. Something about the culture.

OMG, a couple of Sunday's ago, I was talking to the Pastor of a church we were visiting about getting a dog spayed. He is extremely adamant against getting animals altered in any way... I just don't understand people sometimes.

 

[kristakat]

I keep my cats indoors, but it is law here in Canada that your animals must be vaccinated for Rabies virus whether or not you allow them to be outdoor. The risk of you personally getting the virus is very slim.(unless of course you go around looking for bats and raccoons?) I work in the Veterinary field as a Tech, and i was required to get a rabies vaccination. Which anyone can do if they wish. If your concerned about it then you could go to the doctor and ask for it. Its three shots over the course of six months.

 

[bksbuddha]

My cat Jespah had all of his shots when he was a baby & was neutered when he was about 8 months old. Since that time, he hasn't had any shots as he NEVER goes outside. He's now in his golden years, working on 16-17 years old, & just starting to show his age.
My 2 Iggies, however, get their annual shots (vet said recently that they could go to every other year) & get a 2 year Rabies. They are also required to get a heartworm test every year despite the fact that I keep them on preventative for the whole year. Neither of my boys ever go anywhere alone & are always on a leash out in our yard. Occasionally, they do go to the petstores.
We don't have mandatory Lyme or Bordetella, but they are available. My in-laws have their labs vaccinated against kennel cough, but found out the hard way that it should be done more frequently than once a year...:uhoh: Jena ended up contracting it after a stay at the kennel despite having been immunized against it about 10 months prior.
I'm so glad that those aren't anything I have to be concerned w/my latest passion.