How to Get Rabies Shots for Dogs

Only Stephen King can take one of the sweetest large breed dogs and turn it into the stuff nightmares are made of. I read that book and then watched the movie when I was much younger and for weeks afterward I would eye my dog a little warily if she was out of my sight for more than a few moments. What if she was infected too?

Rabies is a devastating disease caused by a virus. The older generation called the disease "hydrophobia" and lived in mortal fear of any sign of it. There was no second guessing for even the most beloved of family pet, show any sign of rabies and they put that animal down, right now.

Thankfully, vaccines are more widely available now, and more people are educated to animal care as well. Rabies vaccines come in a one year and three year variety and your veterinarian can tell you which is best for your pet based on its lifestyle, (how much time it spends outside or in wooded areas, for example) and the rabies prevalence in your immediate area. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) issues rabies warnings for different areas each year and these will tell you which animal to especially be watching for. An outbreak can strike virtually any animal, so be aware of the warning signs and monitor your pets and children when they are outdoors so that they do not come in contact with an infected animal. Symptoms can include: nocturnal animals appearing in the daylight, lethargy, unusual aggressiveness, drooling or even the classic foaming from the mouth. (That does not usually happen until the later stages of the disease, so if there is any question that you might be dealing with a rabid animal, get away as quickly and safely as you can.)

If the risk of contact is minimal your vet may recommend the three year vaccine, but for breeds that are at increased risk, the one year shot is the safer bet. Animal control laws vary from state to state and area to area, so if you are planning a move, check with the new locale to find out what their rules are.

One last fact and it's a dozy: once the actual symptoms appear in a human infected with rabies, the disease is usually fatal. Prevention is key, but if there is a chance that you were bit or scratched by an infected animal, immediate treatment is necessary. Go at once to a local emergency medical center and tell them that you have been exposed to a case of suspected rabies and begin the series of shots right away. Have someone else try to hunt down the animal so that it can be brought in for examination and confirmation. The disease itself is far more dangerous and painful than the series of shots can be, so do not try to put if off. This is not the time for a wait and see attitude, you need help and you need it now!

Keep your pets safe. Limit the amount of time they spend in wooded areas, or in unsupervised outdoor areas. Make sure that there is nothing in the yard to lure in wild animal visitors, including pet food left out over night and finally, make sure that your dog's rabies vaccines are kept up to date.