Comments on Life and Death and Out of Date Rabies

Recently moved from ny to pa and arranged to have my two cats to see one of the only two vets that are near me. Based on recommendations from some of the locals I have met, I went to the one best recommended by everyone. One cat is 16 and has had malignant mammory tumor surgery in the past year and may have to undergo another procedure for the same issue. The other cat (a male) who is 10 is healthy other than a watch-see approach for UTI. I add additional water to his organic chicken diet to keep his kidneys flushed in order to maintain a normal ph and prevent any crystals. Well, upon their initial checkup, I was informed that in the state of pa rabies vaccines are mandatory even if the cats are strictly indoor cats. Due to the wildlife ( I moved to the rural countryside) she pointed out that if a rabid bat gets into the house and bites, my cats lives would be compromised. We would not have to vaccinate the senior cat because she is already with health issues, but the male cat would have to be vacinnated. Asking what the ramifications would be if I didn't vaccinate, she said by law she would not be allowed to continue his health protocol. I am a very hands on pet owner, have been involved in TNR and both my cats were fully vacinated as kittens. In ny my vets respected my decisions. My cats are 100% indoor kitties. I know there are some herbals that I can administer and wanted your opinion as to which ones and when if I have to vacinate the male. Or should I just forego his wellness visits....ugh! Thank you for your wonderful insiteful newsletters. I read them immediately when they arrive...

Hi,
I am hoping to get some advice about a stray male cat that I have been feeding for a few months now. I have 2 cats that are indoor / outdoor & have concerns to protect all involved in the best way possible. There is a trap & release program that will take care of neutering the stray cat, Bob, & I feel it may be good to get a rabies vaccine since he is so exposed & is also around my other 2 cats. I have taught him to use my kitty doors to come in & get food & water, but he still stays wherever he stays aside from his brief visits.
I am not sure that I can get him in without going this route....but do not want to cause more harm than good either.
Any suggestions are much appreciated.
This is copy & paste of what the program entails......
SURGERY:
During surgery, each cat will have their ear clipped. This is mandatory and a universal TNR sign that identifies the cat as a sterile feline. Additionally each cat will receive:
· Ivermectin injection (for worms & mites)
· Rabies vaccination
· FVRCP vaccination
· Penicillin injection
· Time-released pain med injection
· Flea Prevention

Oh my goodness thank you for this valuable information...I have been doing titers for years and always afraid of what might happen if my dog bit someone.
Thank you thank you thank you!

Dr Falconer,
So I just had my first scare.. I found something on my dog's stub/tail. It is hard to see because of all the hair but it wasn't on the bone and felt fatty. Called my new vet who is pretty great and understands me not wanting to vaccinate for rabies again so doesn't say anything. They could not see me today because I noticed it and called them too late. They are closed tomorrow and I have work and other commitments I can't get out of Friday. They are closed this weekend too so they can't see me for a week. I called my old vet Dr Whitecoat (mistake?) to see if they could just look at it and tell me what they think, because in the last 2 weeks, one of my friends dogs died from cancer and also my neighbors dog has a few weeks to live because they found a tumor, they took a wait and see approach, it spread and now it's too late. So I wanted to get this thing looked at asap and not wait a week. So when I got there, the first thing out of the vets mouth was they noticed that she is out of date for rabies and would need proof from the new vet, they offered to call the new vet but I said no, I didn't want to disclose what new vet I am using, and I would bring them paperwork later (lie). They wanted to give her a booster shot right there and I said no she is not getting one and that I just vaccinated her (lie). The vet ended up giving up and looked at her tumor anyway which she said she wasn't concerned about and felt fatty. But I had said to them it was no big deal if they couldn't look at it and I would leave and gladly pay them for whatever time they gave me. Honestly going there felt like a huge mistake and now I feel like they are suspicious and are going to call AC to come check and get verification that she is up to date. My plan is take her to daycare for a couple days so she's out of the house. I'm very lucky that my daycare (where I also work part time) only believes in 1 rabies shot for life and they accept a Titer from me but only me, no other dog. Other daycares won't do that.
Bryan

Hello again, I left questions above on March 8th. no comments were made.
Due to a miller a few show people were trying to put out of business, she sent A.C. after me " concerned about the number of dogs I have ( 4 !!) and that I dont do rabies.!!". All the AC was concerned about was having rabies done and licensing them with town. In 10 years I have never licensed due to be totally no-vax. I had paperwork to cover them until this June, and licensed in the fall to cover my butt. I had my 2 older dogs titered last month -- the bitch is 9 y.o. and before I got her at 6 months she was vaxed with EVERYTHING at 4 months. She has always had constant allergy problems, the yeasty ear battle never stops. Her titer came back (thru hemopet/ KSU) at .2 -- titered good. My 10 y.o. male who has never had any vax (reactions in his breeder's kennel and in Canada they didnt require rabies anyway). I always thought he would pick up natural immunity thru exposed to all the vaxed dogs we come across at shows. his titer came back basically "0" ! Now, I am NOT giving this old man a needle. Can nosodes boost him enough to titer clear in 6 months or so???? If so, how do I dose him. I also have their 2 kids -- 4 y.o, and NEVER vaxed....... I do not want to titer them now because of dad's O rating. so hopefully the nosodes can help??? HELP !!!!!

Really enjoying this post. Just wanted to comment in regards to titers. I really wish they were more affordable for pets. I would so prefer that over vaccinations with a fixed income I can't so I just keep all my pets inside. (lost my dog last year) But also we, as humans, should also be getting titers done. I'm going into the nursing field and learned that my mmr was not protecting me any longer. So protect yourself along with your pets, vaccinations don't last forever. Just fyi.

Hi, First of all -- I have show dogs that are totally raw fed, always use herbal, homeopathic and holistic remedies , only see a vet if someone is injured or lame and doesnt improve with rest and natural meds, then it's pretty mich over to our vet who does accupuncture and chiro work. #1. Question on nosodes -- are they widely accepted by the "vet. community" as a safer vaccine? I totally believe in naturally immunity and my dogs are always exposed to a wide range of dogs from across the country at my local shows. My foundation dog and bitch did come down with the "dog flu" about 7 yrs ago (?) when it first appeared, treated at home, and never have been sick since, nor their offspring I have. and I do not touch them with anything else. #2. - has there ever been any kind of reactions from the rabies nosodes? I would rather use these as proof of "vaccination" instead of injection, due to previously serious reactions in the past. and #3 -- while I recall previously reading something you wrote suggesting actual vaccine injections at 4 mo (?) then a year, and nosodes thereafter, WHY cannot the nosodes offer the same "so-called" protection boosting immunity??? Can you post a link to that suggestion again?? Thanks !!

A friend's vet (in Comal County, Texas) told her that she needed to have her dogs vaccinated for rabies YEARY bc of the large bat population. I told her that he just wanted to make a buck. What do you think?

Dr. Faulconer, I believe the one thing we can all agree on is that is that we do not have all the answers, especially where immunity is concerned. Specialists can only make educated observations based on the results of tests and studies; yet at the end of the day still do not know the full workings of immunity. I believe so many variables affect immunity, i.e. breed, immune system, diet. Wonder if that was taken into account in the challenge? But when it comes to vaccines, we do know with absolute surety that they are dangerous to the health of the dog (as to people). My course of action is to be diligent - about where my dogs roam, not vaccinating annually, titering smartly, and certainly not allowing strangers to haphazardly approach my dogs when out. Education on this topic is also of the utmost importance to me which is why I am taking your nosodes, tautodes and titers seminar right now. Ultimately, it is the health of my dogs that concerns me, not whether my vet is able to pay her rent. Thank you for this article. I am so relieved and hopeful by the results of the KS "out of date" research. It shows that even with my best efforts, if one of my dogs is bitten by a rabid animal, it is not a death sentence. Best to you!

So, what about the results of the most recent Rabies Challenge Fund results? While many of us had wished for the results we wanted-- that rabies vaccinations lasted for a long time, possibly for life-- the studies showed they DON'T. While 80% of the 5 years post vaccination dogs lived after the challenge (and 20% did not- they got rabies), 80% of the 7 year dogs became AFFECTED WITH RABIES post-challenge! So, who is willing to let your dog be the 1 in 5 dogs who will die from rabies once they are 5 years out from their last vaccination... Or the 4 in 5 who will die when exposed 7 years out from vaccination? While many people let their dogs go a few months, a year "overdue", with the knowledge we now have- given to us by the leading veterinary immunologists who WANTED to see the span between rabies vaccination to be increased- how wise is it to both break the law and risk your dog's life (and possibly your own)? While I don't vaccinate past puppyhood, and only enough then until they pass a titer test (and continue them periodically to ensure immunity), I won't be skipping my dogs' rabies vaccinations now that we know they don't last as long as we anticipated. What really frightens me is that 1 in 5 of those 5 year post vaccination dogs DID become rabid post exposure; coupled with that these "rescues" are seeing it fit to bring in dogs from out of the country (meanwhile crying overpopulation here and that breeders are bad) with 1) unknown vaccination status, or 2) forged vaccination papers, who are being placed into homes with NO quarantine periods and becoming rabid in those homes.... Nah, I'll just not risk the life of my animal companions and my service dog who gives me my freedom to live. I owe them that much in return!

Hey Doc! I'm an 8 1/2 yr old terrier due for his rabies vaccine this may.
my old man & old lady have finally wised up to this poop, and wanna skip . I got allergies, and live in your neck of the woods. Can I be exempted from Dr. Whitecoats needle? I'm an inside dog, always on a comfy short leash outside. What are the laws around here in Austin / Cedar park?
Thanks
Rrrrrufff!

Dr. Falconer,
We just returned from the closest Holistic veterinarian we could find near Denton, Tx. Our puppy is an Affenpinscher and is18 weeks old and has never had any vaccinations by request. Today our Vet did an exam and did a titre test for Parvo and Distemper. We want to see where he is at in immunity after some neighbors yards and sidewalks of frequent dogs to see if he has developed any. He will need to have a Rabies shot before we leave to Europe in June...we did not want to do this to him, but we have no choice. I read some of your material about homeopathic medicines to give before and after. I also want to ask you about Microchips---He just had one implanted---we are required to have this also, and I am concerned that we should be giving him something ---maybe the Transfer Factor for the dog? How much possibility does he have of getting cancer and then having a Rabies shot when he is 6/12 months old ? Should we do nosodes for the Parvo and Distemper if he has a good immunity? And if not? We are worried parents in need of your important advice.
Sincerely,
Kristina

One of my dogs is coming up on expiration this year, and I'm leaning towards not updating (I know that she doesn't need it, and for several reasons it is a real risk to her physically and mentally, the only thing that is keeping me indecisive is the law). I have until September, but this has been stressing me out for months. I'm not at all worried about her biting a person, but she is a risk for biting another dog. In fact, I'm almost positive the RV is why she is so reactive to her own species (among other things). If it weren't for her risk of biting another dog, I wouldn't be concerned about any liability where the laws are concerned and I wouldn't have any issue with not vaccinating. Would the same rules apply as with biting a person?

Two years ago...I had two of my dogs get into a fight in my backyard. A neighbor I had never met heard me yelling and "came to help." She picked up a stick and went at a dog that was not involved in the dog fight. She said she did it to distract him....he bit her on the ankle. She sued me. My dog had just been vaccinated two weeks prior and he still had to be quarantined by the county for 10 days. BS all the way around.

Thus is not what you asked for but...This is a step in the right direction BUT! If these are the findings then make it a manditory change across the board that all must comply with. Not left up to governing bodies or vets to accept or not. One step at a time right?

I moved to California from Hawaii 10 months ago where rabies vaccination is not required.
I had taken her off all poisens and was trying to clean her blood of toxins.
I find I can not even have her nails clipped without rabies vaccination.
Do you recommend a rabies shot, or is there any homeopathic version?
HELP....
Pat/owner of Bullet (Boxer Staffie mix)

I have two new very energetic puppies (raw fed) and am planning on getting their rabies vaccinations at 6 mo of age. I'm hoping that what I remember and read that this is not too early or late and would actually like to push the date of vac out later into the future. Am I correct?