His last shot was 4 years ago, so long past what would be considered OK. His 3 year expired a year ago.
Rabies vaccines are thought to be effective well beyond 3 yrs. Look up The Rabies Challenge. Not to say you shouldn’t see your doctor, and I would have the body tested since he has passed, but it might allay your fears while you are waiting for results.
If he was older and had been receiving the vaccine for years, one year past the recommended date does not mean he was not protected. It doesn’t mean he is but it’s likely he would have still had very high titers. I’m surprised your vet didn’t pull titers on him since dogs are required to have rabies by law in most states and you can bypass that with a health statement and titers.
Didn’t you say that you had been given the rabies vaccine last yr? If so just have your dr pull a titer on you. That’s what many vets do. Then you will know your level of immunity. Maybe you would need a booster.
The health dept picked him up yesterday and said we should know something soon. If he’s positive, which I really doubt, I would still be within the 10 days they recommend you quarantine before being vaccinated anyway. At least that’s what they are telling me. I really feel like he had a seizure or stroke or heart attack or something, since he’s been sickly for a while, but I would rather know for sure.
The majority of people here don’t vaccinate their dogs, and a titer on him wouldn’t have changed what I did, so I didn’t bother with it. They don’t even answer calls on starving animals, so I doubt they are too concerned with an unvaccinated dog that never leaves the back yard.
The Rabies Challenge.
actually, the Rabies Challenge is kind of pooping out. They won’t know for sure until they deliberately infect and kill the poor dogs, but their titers against rabies started dropping after three years and were basically non-existent after five years. Seems like the vaccine really does only work for three years.
[QUOTE=NoDQhere;7919090]
If you had the rabies series, especially with the immunoglobulin within the last year, you should be well protected. I had the series and immunoglobulin and something like 5 or 6 YEARS later, still had a very high titer. But since rabies is so deadly, I would insist on a booster.[/QUOTE]
I was going to say, without a tither done, I wouldn’t be confident of having immunity. We had a vet at the zoo (direct-contact employees had to be vaccinated and checked every year) for whom the vaccine just would not take–she constantly had to get it redone to keep the immunity.
No I’m definitely not going to “hope” mine took if he did have rabies. I have too much to live for!
Off to call and see if they have any results.
[QUOTE=wendy;7923748]
actually, the Rabies Challenge is kind of pooping out. They won’t know for sure until they deliberately infect and kill the poor dogs, but their titers against rabies started dropping after three years and were basically non-existent after five years. Seems like the vaccine really does only work for three years.[/QUOTE]
Sadly, I’m not surprised. It’s common for veterinarians and technicians to be vaccinated and there are some who show a solid titre many years out. Then, there’s me with no discernible titre at five years post vaccine.
I have been told that the “one year” rabies vaccine is the same as the “three year” vaccine and is only differentiated for marketing purposes. If the dog was vaccinated a year ago I would not worry.
Very sorry for your loss.
