Cynthia T.
Hello Dr. Falconer,
I'm really confused. My husband and I recently purchased an Airedale puppy (who just turned nine weeks old.) I was lucky enough to convince the breeder to not vaccinate him at six weeks, when she vaccinated the other pups in the litter. However, she did worm them. My husband and I have decided not to vaccinate, with the exception of his rabies.
I am so torn up and am almost to the point of having an anxiety attack over whether or not to vaccinate for rabies. On one hand my head tells me no. But then my husband (who is against vaccines as well) brings up the fact that if the dog bit one of our children (and he unknowingly had rabies), we could not live with ourselves! We live in north Arkansas in the Ozark Mountains. We live in the country on 306 acres.
I have read all that I can find regarding rabies and vaccinating (or not) for rabies (both on your site and others.) I'm ok with the idea of letting him be exposed to it in our woods for natural immunity, however, what if he is never exposed to it on our land? I just want him to be as healthy as he can be.
Also, I read in one of your rabies articles (I don't remember which one...possibly part one) regarding dogs that lick (or even attempt to chew) concrete and drinks all the time being abnormal dog behavior. My husband has wondered if our puppy has a mineral deficiency because he does these things as well as other things (like trying to eat rocks, grass, leaves, or anything else that catches his attention. I've never had a dog do this. Should I be concerned? Could he have been exposed to something from his mother or another dog at the breeders?
Blessings,
Cynthia T.