Is a rabies vaccine still required for my 13-year-old indoor pug?

Yes, it is recommended and in most places it is actually required by law. You will have to check your local laws to know if it is required in your area. Some clinics have a 3 year rabies vaccine that only needs to be updated every 3 years. You an ask your vet about that. I am not sure if it is available in your country. Even though the dog is indoors most of the time, bats and other animals can get into your yard and/or in your house. In the United States most animals get infected when bats get into the house. The rabies vaccination is also important if your dog was to bite someone that comes into your house. It is for everyone's protection. Easy thing to do and inexpensive.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Abby. The rabies vaccine is required by law so this vaccine is absolutely necessary. I recommend keeping her current on her other vaccines as well. The annual exam is just as important to ensure that she stays healthy especially as she ages. I recommend a scheduling an appointment with her veterinarian to discuss risk factors in your area based on her lifestyle. From there, you can decide together on vaccinating her. I hope this information helps!

That is a great question. Vaccinations and the benefits and risks should be discussed with your veterinarian. This is best because your veterinarian knows your pets medical history and whether all the vaccinations are still ok to do based on your pets immune system and current health. Another thing to take into account is your pets exposure to certain diseases. Most pets at least go outside to potty, so that scenario can expose your pet to certain diseases like leptospirosis (found in rainwater and the soil) and distemper (mimics rabies symptoms). And if your pet gets groomed periodically or goes to doggy daycamps or parks, then the Bordetella vaccination would be recommended to protect them from upper airway infections. Rabies however is the only legally required vaccination by law for pets to get. I hope that this information is helpful. Best of luck moving forward.

You are correct, the first rabies vaccine is only good for one year. After that, depending on where you live, the next rabies vaccine could be good for three years. Some cities/states still require the rabies vaccine to be given every year though so you need to check what the law is in your area. Your vet will know. All, that being said, with her rabies vaccine being overdue - you need to update it as soon as possible and it may only be marked good for one year because you are overdue. Again, you must check with your vet regarding your local laws. Regardless, you need to get her rabies vaccine booster as soon as you can. Hope this answers your question. Best wishes!

Hello, and thanks for your question. The ultimate decision will need to be made by your primary vet - but I would absolutely keep them both current on their rabies vaccinations, even if they have chronic health concerns. The rabies virus is 100% fatal, and can be spread to people, so it's just not worth the risk of letting their vaccine status lapse. In many states the law requires a current rabies vaccine. The rabies vaccine is very safe, so it is very rare that I will stop keeping a patient of mine current on the vaccine. Hope this helps! I can tell you're trying to make the best decisions for your dogs!

Here is a link that you may find helpful. https://www.aaha.org/guidelines/canine_vaccination_guidelines.aspx Typically we booster puppies, then they get a booster a year later, and then every 3 years. This is typically for rabies and distemper-parvo. But different counties/states may have their own rules regarding rabies as it is required by law. A titer for distemper-parvo can also be performed instead of just routine vaccination. Lepto and bordetella are based on the pets risk and not core vaccines. Dogs that are on heartworm prevention do not need to be dewormed unless they have tapeworms or another parasite is suspected. I hope this helps and thank you for using PetCoach!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I understand your concerns. The costs of tests depend on what the lab charges your Vet. I know that we charge about $150 for a Rabies titer (PA). I would call practices in your area. California has a higher standard of living than other areas. Your vet has little control over lab prices. Your Vet was probably trying to just be honest and up front that it is just cheaper to vaccinated and meant no harm. For what it’s worth a high rabies titer is not valid as proof of vaccination according to the law. It will not protect your dogs from quarantine at your cost if they bite someone. Rabies is deadly in humans and the law sadly doesn’t care about titers or over vaccination. I wish you the best!