I was a little late in getting my cat to the vet for his rabies vaccine. (Less than 3 weeks) He cut his paw, which got infected. I took him to the vet, (less than 3 weeks past his rabies due date) and the vet says that because no one witnessed him getting hurt, and we don't know if he was attacked (which I highly doubt, it's an obvious slice on his paw pad...must have been from jumping over the fence) they can't give him the vaccine for 5 months! During which time I have to have him quarentined in the house!! I'm finding this frustrating. isn't there any overlap with the time of the shot? Does the protection end on the 366th day after the last shot? (BTY, his last rabies shot was actually 6 weeks early!) Does anyone know if there is a chance the cat was still protected? Or are these vaccines only good for 365 days? Five months is a very long time to keep our very active outside cat inside!!
2007-11-30 05:40:12 · 7 answers · asked by sbl1231 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Just got back from our NEW vet. (We were planning on switching because this new one is closer to home and we're bring home a new puppy tomorrow.) she was really surprised the old vet wouldn't give my cat a booster...especially when he got hurt so close to when he was due for his vaccine. She gave him his rabies shot and told me he was free to go outside!!! YIPPEE!!! Thanks for all your answers!
2007-12-03 07:16:24 · update #1
find another vet.....
2007-11-30 05:45:37 · answer #1 · answered by vi 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First rabies vaccine given to any dog or cat is good for 1 yr no matter what. On the booster date, depending on your state and the vaccines that the vet uses, your cat can be boostered with a 1 yr vaccine or a 3 year vaccine. I would want to check with another vet to be sure waiting as long as 5 months before boostering. Sounds like a long time to allow a cat to go without that important booster. I happen to be a strong believer in vaccines. Especially with a disease that can be transmitted to humans. Indoor cats that never go outside, fine, don't give vaccines. But for animals that are out in the world, its foolish not to.
Sorry Ken, I disagree with your stand.
2007-11-30 16:09:44 · answer #2 · answered by lt4827 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd call another vet. I think this one is being way overcautious. You don't know that the animal was attacked by a wild animal, let alone one with rabies, it was previously vaccinated and only a little late on revaccinating. The odds of rabies in this situation is exceedingly low unless you have a serious rabies outbreak going on in the wild animal population your area. Don't get me wrong - I think prevention and vaccination is critically important because of the seriousness of this disease, but the incidence of rabies is relatively low. Unless he is complying with some stringent local law, this feels like overkill.
Though most rabies vaccinations are 3-year, there is a one-year booster for cats one year of age and some places still require annual vaccinations.
Edit to Ken: It's the law and you really want the potential to expose your cat and other animals and people to rabies, a 100% fatal disease? The anti-vaccination people are getting crazy......
2007-11-30 13:56:45 · answer #3 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The one year rabies vaccine will protect the cat for a bit over 2 years, there's enough in his system to keep him ok at this point.
There is a 3 year vaccine as well, you can ask if your vet has that, but ours stopped using it when they started seeing more injection site sarcomas.
2007-11-30 20:33:58 · answer #4 · answered by Elaine M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should not get boosters. They are more dangerous then is widely known and the boosters do not add life to the vaccine. These vaccines are good for much longer then a year
Whether your cat got into a fight or not, it is so highly unlikely to have contracted rabies. If you want to let him out, I would go ahead and do it
http://www.holisticat.com/vaccinations.html
http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/Farm/1050/vaccinations.html
2007-11-30 14:21:31 · answer #5 · answered by Ken 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Rabies is good for 3 years before you have to vaccinate against it again.
2007-11-30 13:51:34 · answer #6 · answered by Tigerbabe 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have heard that 3 months early to 3 months late is alright....I'm not 100% sure of the statistic.
Did a rabid animal get in your house and attack your cat?
anyways why is it so hard to keep your cat quarented in your house, cats are suppost to be indoors anyways.
2007-11-30 14:03:46 · answer #7 · answered by catloverme123 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋