My dog can't get vaccines. How to protect from rabies & distemper?

Hi, I think it is dangerous to let Teddy close to other rabid animals and also allow him to eat trash. He could get intoxicated by eating mouldy food for example, or get an obstruction by ingesting material that can't be digested. With regards to rabies, there is need for direct contact through a bite or infected saliva to go onto an open wound.. I would not allow him in the backyard until fully vaccinated and up to date with anti parasites treatment, and I would also start training Teddy. Hope this helps !

Rabies is always a possibility if there are sick dogs in your area, or other wildlife that carry it. There is a rabies vaccine available for people, however if you are caring for the animals, watching for signs of illness and bringing them into a vet for care right away is best as well as seeking care immediately if you are ever bitten. If you are able to capture the animals, getting them vaccinated can also help prevent the spread of illness from them to you and to other animals. You can also continue to feed any strays by setting out food without interacting or petting them, and then making sure to thoroughly clean any dishes used in between uses. Seeing if there is a local animal shelter or rescue in your area that you can volunteer for can also help you care for the animals in a safer, more structured manner.

Good on you for wanting to get Buster's vaccines! While you can get the vaccines he needs from a tractor supply store, I never recommend it. Tractor supply stores are notorious for handling and storing vaccines improperly, and I have colleagues with numerous stories of dogs coming down with parvo and distemper who had been vaccinated with vaccines from stores. It's too much of a risk, and if he did come down with something serious like parvo, it would cost you so much more to treat than the cost of having a vet give the vaccine. In addition, diseases like parvo and distemper have no cure, and are very often fatal. It's best to take him into your vet to get the DHPPi combination vaccine (distemper, hepatitis, parvo, parainfluenza). I hope this helps!

That is a decision you and your veterinarian must make. There are two injections that Brody could take before his vaccination. One is called diphenhydramine and the other is dexamethasone. Dexamethasone is a steroid and this may temporarily interfere with his insulin so you must weigh out the risk versus the benefit. Obviously having a seizure after vaccinations is very concerning. This is definitely a tough call. Call your veterinarian today and talk things out. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

If Brownie has had his rabies vaccine, then the main risk is simple infection. You’ve already taken the first step but cleaning the wound and your vet will probably prescribe antibiotics. Other than that, there is not much to worry about. Best of luck to you and Brownie!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Roy. Rabies is vaccination that is required by law and as you mentioned his lifestyle included exposure to wildlife. I would recommend that he has this vaccine at the veterinary hospital. He can be given an injection ahead of time to keep him from suffering the allergic reaction that he did last time. This will be a safer option for him. I hope this information helps!

Hello, and thanks for your question. I'm wondering if the rabies vaccine product or protocol is a bit different in India vs the United States. Our typical protocol with a previously vaccinated (up-to-date) dog who may have been exposed to a rabid animal (such as a wild animal or unvaccinated dog) is to booster the dog immediately with another rabies vaccine - just once....and then get back on the standard vaccine schedule of every 3 years. We don't typically do the multi-dose PEP you're describing, although that protocol would be given to people with exposure. However, rabies is much more endemic in your area - so I would defer to the advice of your local vet who treats far more rabies exposure cases than we would. If the original plan (prior to your dog's second altercation with another stray) was to give the two additional shots on the 4th and 5th, then I would probably stick with this plan. All vaccines can carry a small risk of reaction - but there's no "overdose" per say. And any risk of vaccine reaction is negligible compared to the risk of actual rabies exposure, in a rabies endemic area. So it is always best to err on the side of protection from rabies. I hope this helps!