Shots for your Shelties

The Quahog said:
Sure, but its a question of credibility. This is science, and has no place for those with agendas who make the facts meet the conclusion rather than the other way around.
When someone states that mandatory rabies is not a legislated law but rather an administrative/bureaucratic policy of special interests, they are making stuff up.
I was involved with the change of the RI rabies law- it was done legislatively, after hearing from all the interested parties at some length. The veterinary association SUPPORTED the change from 2 to 3 years, indeed, we wondered why it hadn't passed the previous year since the change had many supporters and no apparent opposition.
As the article devoted a great deal of time to that misrepresentation, I'm not putting much credence into whatever else it said. - Dr. Mac
Click to expand...

I was involved with efforts to change the rabies law in SD on 1998/99. The veterinarian association in SD was also in support of extending cat rabies from 1 to 3 yrs. We got 2yr not fully what we wanted but it was a start. I have moved from SD since so I have no idea where the fight is today.

Any veterinarian who relies on a $10 rabies shot to make or break their practice will be out of business in no time. It is just ridiculus to even suggest.
 
The Quahog said:
When someone states that mandatory rabies is not a legislated law but rather an administrative/bureaucratic policy of special interests, they are making stuff up.
Click to expand...

I guess that's a matter of opinion and how you really believe the country is run. I took it as the author is suggesting those legislating the law are bought and paid for so that would only make it incredible if you didn't agree with that notion.

I'd rather talk about the fact the law was enacted even when there were no reported cases! That seems weird to me.
 
Justicemom said:
Any veterinarian who relies on a $10 rabies shot to make or break their practice will be out of business in no time. It is just ridiculus to even suggest.
Click to expand...

When it cost .29 to buy, I'd consider 9.69 to be a pretty good profit! Although, my vet charged much more than $10. I got it for $10 at the low-cost clinic. The vet here charged $26.50 and while I was waiting three people came in to get shots... that's quite a profit if you ask me! I've always read vets make the majority of money off vaccinations/heartworm/flea medicine...so interesting to hear vets not agree with that.
 
marymrumfelt said:
I guess that's a matter of opinion and how you really believe the country is run. I took it as the author is suggesting those legislating the law are bought and paid for so that would only make it incredible if you didn't agree with that notion.

I'd rather talk about the fact the law was enacted even when there were no reported cases! That seems weird to me.
Click to expand...

No reported cases? 1 county in FL according to an unsourced blog.

While I agree there isn't a rampant epidemic of rabies in the US(largely because rabies vaccination is so effective) I wouldn't say there are no cases.
More about rabies in the US then any average person wants to know from the CDC rabies home page. Sources references.

http://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/pdf/10.2460/javma.239.6.773

This is the CDC map from 2010 and each dot represents a positive rabid cat or dog.

http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/resources/publications/2010-surveillance/cats-and-dogs.html

This is with the current rabies laws that are in place. How many do you think there will be if people stop vaccinating their animals.

http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/location/usa/surveillance/human_rabies.html
At the bottom there are links to public health surveys by year.

The reason rabies is a big deal with alot of people is when a dog or cat or a person get it, It is 99.9% fatal for the animal. Plus alot of pain of mentally and physically for anyone exposed by that animal.
 
I'll toss one in, hardly have to search the archives, this is from last month-

http://www.ri.gov/press/view/15443

North Smithfield is within a 7 mile radius of the city of Providence,RI, and about that distance from my hospital.
Note that at least 20 humans were exposed. Also note the chaos that a single case caused. - Dr. Mac
 
vaccinations

Whew, getting too deep for me! I am just happy that I don't have to run the risk of over vaccinating my Harper, ever again.


Kate
 
Just to throw in a tidbit - if a dog is not vaccinated for rabies and bites someone, that person has to undergo rabies shots, whether or not the dog has rabies. This happened to my great niece and great nephew, just because their paternal grandparents do not believe in vaccinations for animal or human. It is difficult to explain to a young child why they have to go through injections just because.

On another note for vaccinations, I had Emma to a new vet today for her yearly boosters. He does not believe in lepto shots for dogs that are usually just in their yard or sidewalks, not unless they are out in the forests, walking trails, etc., and definitely not for Shelties.
 
Emmasmom said:
It is difficult to explain to a young child why they have to go through injections just because.
Click to expand...

It's not "just because" to me. It's based on SCIENTIFIC research and statistics and hours spent researching the documented results that (repeated) vaccines have had on animals in terms of their immune system and other areas as well. I feel that repeatedly vaccinating my dog, even when they have proven antibodies to fight said disease off which will be longer than the three year requirement, is unjust and therefor I don't see the need to follow the rule. Just because it's a law, doesn't meant I'm going to make my animals risk suffering. An unjust law is no law at all.

And the no reported rabies case comment was in regards to when the law originated, there had been no outbreaks reported in several years leading up to that.

The originally question has been answered and people have made their views. Some people have learned, which is awesome. But the subject can probably be closed now as we've all made our points pretty clear! :)
 
Emmasmom said:
Just to throw in a tidbit - if a dog is not vaccinated for rabies and bites someone, that person has to undergo rabies shots, whether or not the dog has rabies.
Click to expand...

This depends on circumstances. I have been severely bitten by a dog who was within a week of getting her rabies shot, with an unknown previous history. They considered her unvaccinated for bite purposes. She was tested, and I did not request, nor was required to be vaccinated. And in this case, had someone tried to require it, it would have taken a court order. :smile2:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top