Do you think that my dog will need another rabies shot?

Question

My backyard is entirely fenced in, so when my dog has to go outside, I just let him run. The yard also has lots of trees with lots of squirrels. Today, when I went in search of my pooch, I found him gnawing on the body of a dead squirrel. I don't know if he caught it and killed it or if it was already dead when he began gnawing on it. My dog is a male miniature doberman pinscher. He weighs between 12 and 14 pounds. He had his last rabies shot in December of 2006. Do you think there is a chance he could have possibly contracted rabies from this squirrel? Should I take him to get another rabies shot just to be safe? I didn't see any open wounds on the dead squirrel, but that doesn't mean that if my dog had killed it that the squirrel didn't bite him to try and protect itself. What do you think?

Answer 1

He doesn't have rabies and will not get them from a dead squirrel. The shots actually last a life time, but are only "guaranteed" for three years. They are mandated yearly because the states have found a way to make money by taxing dog tags.

Answer 2

the rabies shot is good actually for a little over a year for the booster and 3 years after that .
I would possibly have her checked for worms in about 2 weeks just in case the squirrel had something.
And just keep an eye on your dog for any illness more if the squirrel was already dead ( Why?)
But probably nothing to worry about

Answer 3

first thing is there is no such a breed called Miniature Doberman Pinscher. there is a new breed called the German Pinscher. there is the Miniature Pinscher and the Doberman Pinscher. i have been in dog for 55years and I owned a Min Pin for 19 years and i show him the breedring. He is not do for rabies shot untill december 2007. Here in Amarillo Texas the dog can have three years rabies.

Answer 4

Rabies shots are good for up to three years. (The identical vaccine is given in states that require an annual shot.) You can verify by calling your vet.
I would be more concerned about the dog getting fleas or tapeworms (fleas being the intermittant carrier for tapes) especially if he ate part of the squirrel. If the squirrel was already dead when he found it, the fleas would have abandoned ship.
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_tapeworm.html

Answer 5

If it is in simple terms her 2nd shot than she is due for yet another a million 3 hundred and sixty 5 days later. If she has had quite a few, it relies upon on regardless of if the vet makes use of a a million 3 hundred and sixty 5 days, 2yr, or 3 3 hundred and sixty 5 days vaccine. in simple terms call and ask or look at your Rabies certificates.

Answer 6

The first rabie shot is good for one year. The second or adult rabie shot is good for three years so that shouldn't be a problem. I would keep an eye on the dog for illness. When a dog eats a dead animal it can get an intestinal fungus called coccidia.

Answer 7

squirrels rarely carry rabies because almost anything that would be rabid & attack them would be large & kill them in one bite.

a call to the vet would be a good idea tho. no vaccine is 100%

just an fyi you have a minature pinscher not a minature doberman pinscher.

Answer 8

What age is your mini pinscher?...puppies usually get their rabies as a one year and then they get their 3 year the following year. IF he got his adult rabies shot in Dec 2006 he should be good till Dec 2009.

Answer 9

Probably not. The vaccine is very effective, but watch for any signs of a bite wound from the squirrel that could become infected.

Answer 10

Rabies in squirrels is extremely rare. If you aren't sure if your dog has been exposed to a potentially rabid animal, a booster vaccine is recommended and won't hurt. Ask your vet for his/her recommendation in this case.