Rabies Shot - What would you do?

puppy rabies shot is not the full rabies shot, not until a year old

I plan on waiting until my puppy is six months before getting the rabies shot also. But that would make me nervous if I was hearing about rabies in the area. I guess if I was always able to be outside with my dog, then I would still wait, but if my dog was going to spend time unattended outside then I would go ahead and get the shot.

Tucker had his puppy rabies vaccine a couple of weeks before he turned 4 months old and we never had any problems. He goes in for his first adult vaccinations in November. I would go ahead and have it done, especially since there have been cases of it reported in your area. It's always better to be safe than sorry!

I don't know what the laws are there, but here dogs are required to be licensed by age 5 months, and in order to have a license, they need to have a Rabies vaccine. I'd check your local laws, you may not have much choice in the matter about waiting.

The first vaccine is always a 1 year vaccine, and then (atleast here) you can have a 3 year vaccine done.

missmarstar said:

I don't know what the laws are there, but here dogs are required to be licensed by age 5 months, and in order to have a license, they need to have a Rabies vaccine. I'd check your local laws, you may not have much choice in the matter about waiting.

The first vaccine is always a 1 year vaccine, and then (atleast here) you can have a 3 year vaccine done.

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That's very true. I totally forgot to menton that. Here, all puppies have to be registered by the time they are 6 months old and they absolutely have to be up-to-date on their rabies and distemper vaccines, otherwise they won't give you a dog license, which can lead to being fined, etc.

If there have been cases of it in your area, I would go ahead and do it. Molson had it done around 3.5 months, and in order to be allowed in public after 4 months old here, he has to have his rabies shot up to date.

It is not advised to give the rabies at the same time as other shots. I waited until over 20 weeks with Kadence for the rabies. I would wait at least 2 weeks. Often the vet will let you come back just for the 2nd shot & not get charged an office visit.

Thanks for all the great advice! Now I know what to ask my vet tomorrow.

Chloe got her rabies shot at about 4 month of age with no problems!

With Jersey I waited a week (or was it two?) between the last round of shots and the rabies shot to avoid overloading his system with too many things at once. It was recommended by my breeder/dad. If there are confirmed cases in your area, I definitely wouldn't put it off for months, but would still consider splitting the shots up.

Julie and Jersey

In San Diego they usually give the rabies shot at around 4 months old, and then a booster in one year, after that every three years. That was the case with my three. We did not give rabies with other shots either, usually split up by a week or so.

We only had one problem with Sammy swelling at the site of the shot. From what I have read rabies shot schedules are normally mandated by the city/county. So check there first.

I had Riley's rabies done at 4 months old. I had it done about 2 weeks after his last shots. This is one vaccine I wouldn't put off doing. Here dogs must be registered with the town by 3 months old and rabies is required.

We scheduled Bailey's Rabies vaccine in 2 weeks, she will be 19 1/2 weeks old and will have a 3 weeks gap between this shot and the last vaccine round.

Hank got his last round of shots including rabies today. No problem.

Same here. He got all his other final shots at 16 weeks, and I went back at 20 weeks just for the Rabies.

Laws in your area may actually dictate what your vet will or will not do.

And I don't know if it's true, but I've been told that the 1 year and 3 year rabies are the exact same shot. Just documented differently.

Gilmours first shot is recorded as a 3 year.

Traz said:

It is not advised to give the rabies at the same time as other shots. I waited until over 20 weeks with Kadence for the rabies. I would wait at least 2 weeks. Often the vet will let you come back just for the 2nd shot & not get charged an office visit.

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i dont want to give my dog too many shots since i know the vac will destroy their immu system.however，give them the rabies every 3 years might a good idea(ontario law....)

I always wait until they are six months old. It is easier on their immune system (supposedly), no harm/very little risk in waiting (there is nothing magic about four months of age) (I haven't contracted rabies in 48 years...), if you are very careful about contact with potential rabies "sources".

Although I am one that is more inclined to follow laws than to flaunt them, just because it is the law does not mean that is the best thing for your pet's health.

BTW... Gilmours breeder sends, in the puppy kit, a tube of homeopathic medicine that is given after each set of vaccinations for a few days. It's supposed to offset/help prevent reactions to the vaccinations.

I can't find the tube right now, but if anyone is interested I can find out.

Ok, I found the name of the medication in a post I made earlier this year.

It is called "Thuja Occidentalis" and is given for a few days after each vaccination series. It comes in one of those twisty top tubes that dispenses the tiny little pills when you remove the cap and twist the top. Like tiny breath mints