Because rabies vaccines for dogs last for three years and there appears to be no medical reason for administering them more often, the city of Wichita should change its policy of requiring yearly rabies vaccinations. In addition to being an unnecessary expense, annual rabies shots can lead to serious health reactions in some dogs. And contrary to the fears of some local veterinarians and Wichita’s environmental services department, other cities that have changed the vaccine requirement from one to three years have not seen an increase in rabies cases.
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35 Comments
Yep, three years for animals, yearly for elected officials.
I think they should change the law for animals who have had their puppy shot and booster one year later to every three years. The argument that since some people don’t get their dog it’s shots or license every year now everyone who follows the law should have to over vaccinate their dog doesn’t make any sense.
For the most point the people who don’t follow the law, won’t follow the law. However for those who don’t get shots for their dog yearly due to financial considerations, might be willing to do so every three years.
I didn’t even KNOW this. Oh that makes me so angry.
Where is the information and research to back this up? We SHOULD change our laws here too.
Actually a rabies vacination probably lasts for the life of the dog.
My breed of choice has autoimmune problems and Addison’s disease in many of the blood lines. Unnecessary vacinations could acually trigger health problems more serious than the ones the vacinations were soppose to eliminate.
Not only should the rabies vacination requirement be extended to three years, dog owners should be allowed to fulfill the requirement with a titer instead of the vacination.
Hank- Is a “titer” a form of oral vaccination?
gster, I could be wrong here, but I think a “titer” is a blood test that could tell the need for a booster? I hope Hank comes back and answers for sure.
I also wonder about the safety of the pesticides used against ticks and fleas. The kind that you put on the back of the neck is hard on the liver I think. I could smell it on my dog’s breath a day or so after I applied it.
God, what would we do without our pets?
Yes on that blood titer thing. They even sell blood titer kits. I think they are about 20 bucks? They are commonly used for ‘Health Certificates’ to provide proof that the animal has been immunized.
Nah, a titer is a blood test that can be done to determine if your dog’s rabies vacination is still good.
Most dogs only ‘need’ one rabies vacination their whole life.
Hey Farm Girl!
Our lives pretty much revolves around our dogs! Most of our weekends and major trips are all dog related.
I don’t trust most people that don’t own a dog or two!
Wow, and I thought I was doing what ensures my pets health. It was an aside that it complied with the city regulations. I use the monthly stuff at the neck too. Now, I’m so confused. All I want is what is best for my three best friends.
I usually use the stuff I buy from my vet ( something Guard) for my 2 Shelties. Is that stuff you put on their necks really that harmful? Is there a good alternative?
How can we know? If our vets aren’t advising us differently and just complying with city regulations…
The fleas and mosquitoes and worm problems must be avoided so we do what (HOPEFULLY!) is keeping our friends health protected.
“I don’t trust most people that don’t own a dog or two!”
Ditto man, ditto.
That’s why my best friends are a couple in Texas with FOUR, count ‘em FOUR full grown Weims.
Let me tell ya, sharing a couch and/or a bed with four hundred pounds of happy and affectionate Weims will humble yer butt real quick.
And humans think we know the meaning of love…
Well, I guess we do if we get up and sleep on the couch ’cause the WEIMS pushed us out of bed!
That ’stuff’ that you put on your dog’s neck is probably harmless. I’m on a lot of different dog lists and I haven’t seen much about any detrimental effects.
There are, however, a lot of detrimental effects of allowing your dog to become infested with fleas and ticks!
Also, for most dogs, because of their short life span, over vacinations probably have little harmful effects. Get a vet you trust and do what he says! But . . .be responsible and informed!
Hey Farm Girl,
We share our bed with a miniture Schnauzer and two beardies. The beardies come and go through out the night, they like the tile in the bathroom. They do, however, have to establish their rightful place on the bed first.
Why do animals sleep horizontally to our vertical? Well mine do until I get in the bed with great difficulty then they fight over the curl of my chest and tummy.
My GSD has begun to scratch something fierce, we’re giving her benadryl by the buttloads and she’s miserable. No fleas, no skin infections to speak of. And all of this started around the last time we came in for a rabies shot. We need a whole round of new tests, which will cost an insane amount of money
Obviously it’s not a reaction, but did it hurt her liver/kidneys?
Heh, Linda. We used to tell the “kids” they had to do “long dog” if they wanted to sleep in the bed.
Long dog being vertical, and wide dog being sideways on the bed.
Picture a dog with legs stretched out fore and aft, head on pillow, you get the idea…
But it was my EX who was always “wide dog”.
Hank, my Husky prefered the tile also. She was always hot and would pant at high volume just to let you know. After a couple of minutes of hot dog breath and loud panting, she would huff off the bed with a loud THUMP and move to the nearest tile floor, fling herself down, and sigh deeply.
Huskies are such DRAMA queens!
…and vain. Did I mention Huskies with beautiful blond hair and blue eyes are also vain?
heheheheheheheehheh!
but but…cat owners love their babies too! I love dogs, my lifestyle just doesn’t jive with having one. It wouldn’t be fair to the poor dog.
On the other hand, I think the lack of spaying and neutering pets is the most harmful thing people are doing to their pets (unless you are a breeder). Prevent overpopulation and euthanasia, spay and neuter your pets.
Dear WichiWomn,
There is no such thing as a ‘cat owner’. Cats grace us with their presence. We are merely their staff.
Used to have dogs, but don’t have any now. Didn’t really like the ‘bombs’ planted all over the yard. :)
Hank – SO TRUE! That said, I got my cat ‘fixed’ (Actually he worked fine – I got him broken)
That’s a good one, Ben!
I guess in that vein I would need to admit I paid to have both my cats and my dog broken.
I’m not always sure the cats have ever forgiven me. The dog thinks everything I do is perfect!
oh oh – Hank, I currently do not have a dog – just the cat. A couple of problems – similar to wichiwoman – the dog would be neglected with our work schedule. However, we hope to remedy that this summer.
linda – sometimes I think I should have had my teenager ‘fixed’
Hey Wichi, good too see ya. LTNS. I heard the blues cruise advertised on the XM blues channel the other day and thought about you. And I thought about you at Antone’s the last time I was in Austin!
I hear cats love the blues. Is that true? The barn cats come close to the house everytime I play “Wang Dang Doodle”.
I think they pitch one every night in the barn!
“I’m not always sure the cats have ever forgiven me. The dog thinks everything I do is perfect!”
Boy, isnt THAT a great description of the difference between dogs and cats.
Did you guys read the article that went with this. It was so sad.
That said, I haven’t had my girls vaccinations in about 3 years, mainly because they are indoor dogs that only go outside to potty. My cats are totally indoors except when the big guy sneaks out for about 2 minutes(he shows back up at the door all freaked out EVERY TIME).
Hank, you are correct! In my next life I hope I come back as my own cat for that very reason. They are spoiled although I work with them daily to affect good habits. (they were strays) And they do offer unconditional love, just choosy about displaying it.
Thanks kfg! I hope to go on the cruise next year, the lineup is awesome. In Marble Falls TX, they are having SXSW festival this weekend, showcasing a film about Antone’s. For those near Wichita, the Winfield Library has an exhibit worth going to see.
http://www.winfieldcourier.com/
With spring on its way, festivals are coming, yea!Get out and support live music!
Rock on Wichi!
“I don’t trust most people that don’t own a dog or two!”
Thanks a lot Hank…don’t my cats give me any credibility?
I’d love to have a dog but there is no place to put one and it wouldn’t be fair anyway because we’re hardly ever home. The cats don’t care if we’re home or not as long as the food bowl is full.
Dear Mary,
Samson says you have ‘canine street creds’. Anytime you feel the need of some ‘hot dog lovin’ just call!
He has forgiven you for being a ‘cat lady’. He sees you have a good heart and a gentle soul.
Sorry,
The boy was on the ‘puter the other day!
Hank