shots - Page 3

All rabies shots are the same.  It depends on what the state recognizes.

In NJ a rabies shot is good for three years.  I know in PA it's good (according to the state) for two years.  And in Florida and Texas they are "good" for only one year. 

It's all the same vaccine and end point studies have been done to three years.  Though those probably last longer too.

I'm vaccinated for rabies just because of where I work and I may be exposed.  I get titered every two years.  I was vaccinated 7 years ago, I think  .  First "series" for a human is three two weeks apart.  Was just titered recently and my titer was still in the protective range.  If I were to be exposed I would still have to forego post exposure treatment, but it's no wear near as intense if I were not vaccinated.

We do have a fair number of rabies in NJ, so I do not think that it's one to mess around with.  It is a fatal disease.  One thing that I find facinating is that if you are bit by a rabid animal and get treatment before it reaches your brain you can survive.  And it can take months to get there.  ie:  you were bit in the foot.

Over the summer there was a baby goat who was at a fair that had rabies!

Bats, raccoons, and a fair number of cats too.

It's 3 years in PA too, Rezkat. I wish this state would accept titers.

Typically when a state has a 3 year requirement, tehy still require the 2nd shot to be 1 year after the first shot.

Rabies and distemper in wild animals are common where I live. 

We can, sometimes, if we write a letter saying that the animal is immuno compromised get the individual town to accept a titer.  But, those are few and far between. 

I wonder why I thought it was two years in PA. :)

..........................no wear near as intense if I were not vaccinated.  LOL found my own gramatical error.

no where near....

     In NY, the difference in your one year rabies vaccine and your three year rabies vaccine is "whether or not you remembered to bring proof of your prior years vaccine or not", the first shot is good for one year, after the second your good for three, only if you provide proof of the first one.

I only recommend vaccinating puppies for parvo (Neopar--starting no earlier than 8 weeks--every 4 weeks through 16 weeks) and distemper (Galaxy D--at 10 weeks--and 4 weeks later). I will be damned if I will challenge their already immuno-incompetent immune systems with polyvalent vaccines and risk "vaccinosis" (which may be reflected as staph pyoderma, demodex, etc.). As for rabies, I hold off as long as possible--at 6 months--preferably at 12 months.

My adults get single distemper and parvo boosters once after they are 12 months. Thereafter, they receive no vaccines other than rabies as adults.

I say why vaccinate for Lepto or Bordetella when these vaccines have an efficacy lasting only a few weeks. Even the pharmacy at the UC-Davis VMTH cautions against the Corona vaccine and does not sell it. If my dogs should be exposed to kennel cough, this disease is largely self-limiting. I'd rather have them establish primary immunity through direct exposure to non-life-threatening diseases (known for their ability to mutate even faster than new vaccines are manufactured).

I have lived in the same 20 mile radius since 1986 and do not give heartworm prophylaxis--as there is no "reservoir for infection" locally. Furthermore, it is widely accepted that adult dogs produce their own immunity to heartworm. If one lives in an area where heartworm is endemic, I would rather do a periodic heartworm antigen test for immature heartworms. If the dogs should test postive, these immature HW may be safely treated with the daily diethyl-carbamazine (Filarobits) chewable tablets--much safer that monthly prophylactic doses of Ivermectin.

You will not find dogs healthier than mine or dogs with greater constitutional vigor. Proof appears to be in the pudding.