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Can a vet verify my adopted puppy's rabies vaccine without records?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Labradoodle | Male | unneutered | 7 months and 4 days old

I'm adopting a 7 mo old puppy. He has had two previous owners. The first one told the second that they had gotten the dog all his vaccinations, but had lost the records. I need proof of the rabies vaccine to get a dog license in my city and to enroll him in training classes. Is there anything a vet can do to verify that he's had this vaccine? I don't want to vaccinate him twice for the same thing in such a short period of time. I have no way of contacting the original owner.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on February 22nd, 2019

If you can’t get ahold of the original owner, then no there’s nothing a vet can do to verify Charlie has had his rabies vaccine. To be honest, if they are claiming they lost the records, I would assume he hadn’t gotten any vaccines at all. The vet who gives the vaccines keeps records, so the original owners could have contacted the vet to get their copy. I would advise getting Charlie his DHPPi as well as rabies. I hope this helps.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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