# Yearly rabies vaccinations-a scam? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 20, 2006, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yearly-rabies-vaccinations-a-scam/357508 "2006-05-20T06:27:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AnabolicDoberman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@AnabolicDoberman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnabolicDoberman)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2006, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yearly-rabies-vaccinations-a-scam/357508/1 "2006-05-20T06:27:53Z")
Do cats and dogs really need vaccines once a year? Or is this just so the vets and county can make a buck more often? ---
**Author:** ![AnabolicDoberman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@AnabolicDoberman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnabolicDoberman)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2006, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yearly-rabies-vaccinations-a-scam/357508/2 "2006-05-20T06:30:07Z")
oh I also meant to ask the question about all the pet vaccines like distemper and stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2006, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yearly-rabies-vaccinations-a-scam/357508/3 "2006-05-20T08:55:09Z")
IANAV (I am not a vet), but certainly rabies vaccines are _very_ important. Rabid animals can turn up almost anywhere in the US, and given that when symptoms of the disease appear, it’s too late to treat the victim, it’s better for everyone if animals get regular vaccination against the disease. Some states are now going so far as to distribute animal bait treated with vaccine in an effort to reduce outbreaks of the disease in the wild. The other diseases I can’t comment on. ---
**Author:** ![gabriela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@gabriela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gabriela)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2006, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yearly-rabies-vaccinations-a-scam/357508/4 "2006-05-20T10:36:51Z")
The rules in my state now require every other year rabies vaccination after the first two consecutive years. I am not a vet, either. But this doesn’t strike me as a scam. Rabies is a virus. There are lots of viral diseases to which your immunity gradually declines after vaccination. Some viral diseases, you are so lucky that once vaccinated, you never catch it again; chicken pox springs to mind. On the other hand, lots and LOTS of people in the American Midwest are finding out right now that being vaccinated against mumps in childhood doesn’t mean you are still immune to mumps twenty years later. And mumps rarely kills you. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2006, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yearly-rabies-vaccinations-a-scam/357508/5 "2006-05-20T13:00:53Z")
Whatever is called for with rabies is good to me. Once you show symptoms of rabies, you die. Not something I want to risk. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2006, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yearly-rabies-vaccinations-a-scam/357508/6 "2006-05-20T13:28:02Z")
Depends on the vaccine, if the animal needs it once a year or not. Some vaccines are not good enough to provide really long lasting protection against a disease, so they need to be given annually. Others you can probably go a year or more between shots. There is actually a vaccine for rabies that lasts 3 years, and some veterinarians may chose to vaccinate with that vaccine, and only once every 3 years… but it also varies by jurisdiction, depending on the county or parish, they may require the animals to be registered every year, and that may mean a yearly rabies vaccine, even when it is not needed (East Baton Rouge parish in Louisiana has it this way). Certainly with the discovery of vaccine induced soft tissue sarcoma, many veterinarians (and vet schools) are also moving away from vaccinating the animals (cats, mainly) every year, and at the same spot. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2006, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yearly-rabies-vaccinations-a-scam/357508/7 "2006-05-20T13:39:15Z")
Personally, I use only the three year rabies vaccine. The first time it is given, it is only recognized for 1 yera of protection. The next one is a true 3 year vaccine. Many veterinarians are vaccinating against other diseases less frequently. The stumbling block is that titers can be run to evaluate the animals immune state, but this is more expensive than just repeating the vaccine. [http://www.dvmnewsmagazine.com/dvm/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=46546](http://www.dvmnewsmagazine.com/dvm/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=46546) ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2006, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yearly-rabies-vaccinations-a-scam/357508/8 "2006-05-20T13:41:44Z")
Colorado State University School of Veterinary Medicine is a great source of vaccine related news: [http://www.geocities.com/kremersark/CSAP.html](http://www.geocities.com/kremersark/CSAP.html) ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2006, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yearly-rabies-vaccinations-a-scam/357508/9 "2006-05-20T13:46:35Z")
After a certain age, when my old dog’s health was frail, my vet and I agreed to stop vaccinations. Certainly not from a cost standpoint - it’s a relatively minor sum. But since she really only went outside to go to the bathroom a couple times a day and was otherwise away from any animals that weren’t vaccinated, and she’s been vaccinated yearly all her life, it was decided that it was better not to stress her system. Being required to get a rabies vaccine once is year is the only time a lot of animals see a vet. The clinics do a mini-checkup at that time. It’s valuable for no other reason than that, as far as I’m concerned. StG ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2006, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yearly-rabies-vaccinations-a-scam/357508/10 "2006-05-20T14:20:01Z")
I think the issue, as with most vaccinations, is one of critical mass. If you decided not to vaccinate your pet against rabies, the chances of your pet getting rabies are still infinitessimally small; the number of domestic pets who contract rabies is almost nonexistant. If you live in an urban area, chances are there hasn’t been a rabid animal in decades. But, if EVERYONE decides not to get the vaccination, then the virus can gain an initial foothold and spread to the unprotected mass of pets. If you have a petco nearby, give them a call. Most give VERY cheap vaccinations a few times a month. I think it costs about 50 bucks for my dog to get vaccinated against everything, including kennel cough, and get a heartworm test every year. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2006, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yearly-rabies-vaccinations-a-scam/357508/11 "2006-05-20T14:45:43Z")
My dog get rabies vaccine only every three years as well. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2006, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yearly-rabies-vaccinations-a-scam/357508/12 "2006-05-20T14:52:37Z")
My dogs get rabies every 3 years. Most dogs in this area get distemper and parvo every year. However, both my dogs had extreme allergic reactions the first time they were immunized for this. Given the level of the reaction and the likeliness of them developing either of these diseases (we live in a small town, and I guess parvo & distemper aren’t very common), the vet has recommended that we not give them these shots again. I’m a little concerned about it, but I don’t know that there’s anything we can do. Our youngest just had his shot a couple weeks ago, and we had 3 very stressful hours in the vet office with him on an IV to control his reaction. Not fun. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2006, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yearly-rabies-vaccinations-a-scam/357508/13 "2006-05-20T15:01:44Z")
Another issue, is that if you board your dog ever, a lot of boarding places will require the annual rabies vaccine, along with all the other vaccines. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2006, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yearly-rabies-vaccinations-a-scam/357508/14 "2006-05-20T15:05:33Z")
**Athena** , I would not worry about it (much). Distemper and Parvo are mainly diseases of young dogs. Vaccination for distemper typically provides 7 years of immunity. Parvo virus is more likely a concern for you, but adult dogs almost always survive. In puppies, the morbidity and mortality for both viral diseases can be very high. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2006, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yearly-rabies-vaccinations-a-scam/357508/15 "2006-05-20T16:25:35Z")
> [@vetbridge](#): > > **Athena** , I would not worry about it (much). Distemper and Parvo are mainly diseases of young dogs. Vaccination for distemper typically provides 7 years of immunity. Parvo virus is more likely a concern for you, but adult dogs almost always survive. In puppies, the morbidity and mortality for both viral diseases can be very high. Thanks for the reassurance. What are the early symptoms of parvo/distemper? Even if it’s not likely, I’d like to know what to keep an eye out for. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2006, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yearly-rabies-vaccinations-a-scam/357508/16 "2006-05-20T22:42:16Z")
Parvo… bloody diarrhea, and the animal will be feeling sick, too. It is mostly a puppyhood disease, though. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2006, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yearly-rabies-vaccinations-a-scam/357508/17 "2006-05-21T16:24:15Z")
Parvo, as above. Distemper virus is so ubiquitous in the environment, that puppies are either vaccinated and have long term immunity, or else they are exposed and either get sick or not. I have only seen a couple of cases of distemper in my career, compared to hundreds/thousands of cases of parvo. Distemper causes diarrhea/pneumonia/seizures. More distemper detail: [http://www.animalhealthchannel.com/distemper/](http://www.animalhealthchannel.com/distemper/) ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2006, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yearly-rabies-vaccinations-a-scam/357508/18 "2006-05-21T17:03:11Z")
Right here in my own suburban community, there are several colonies of bats – not a million or anything like that, but a few hundred, mostly seen flying out at dusk. And every year, a number of those bats are found to have rabies. I can’t say what it’s like where you live, but it’s a pretty good assumption around here that it wouldn’t take long for rabies to spread if we aren’t scrupulous about vaccination. ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2006, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yearly-rabies-vaccinations-a-scam/357508/19 "2006-05-21T17:33:40Z")
And unfortunately, in my experience, the owners who are lax about having their animals vaccinated are also the most likely to let their animals roam, increasing the chances of contact with a rabid animal. Parvo. Oh Og I hate parvo. I have seen that nasty disease wipe out every puppy in a shelter, no matter how we quarantined new arrivals. I swear I can _smell_ parvo. My cats get yearly vaccinations - as **StGermain** noted, they get their annual checkup at the same time. It helps me keep track of their weight and I would much rather have someone else clean their ears. They get mad at me when I do it. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2006, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yearly-rabies-vaccinations-a-scam/357508/20 "2006-05-21T18:45:09Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > I can’t say what it’s like where you live, but it’s a pretty good assumption around here that it wouldn’t take long for rabies to spread if we aren’t scrupulous about vaccination. I agree. In Mexico, where vaccination is not done largely due to economics, dogs are the primary vector for rabies. From: [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list\_uids=8261565&dopt=Abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8261565&dopt=Abstract) > [@](#): > > From 1 July 1987 to 31 December 1988, a total of 317 animals (91% of which were dogs) were confirmed to have rabies in Hermosillo, Mexico. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yearly-rabies-vaccinations-a-scam/357508.md?page=2)