Comments on Your Dog Bit Someone and Out of Date on Rabies Vaccine?

My vet charged me $153 for the rabies titer in early 2012. I wanted it done prior to the three-year mandatory vaccination coming up that May. They sent it to KSU from Albany, NY and gave me some babble about it had to go through IDEXX or something and that's why it cost so much - plus KSU was the ONLY place performing this titer. I was not aware of Hemopet at that time so I had no argument.
The titer came back with good ratios, however, my vet said of course I knew that this did not prevent my dog from being required to get his vaccination and that this did not warrant a medical waiver. Oh, of course, go right ahead - why should this result that nobody else has ever asked you for outside of traveling make you think that there's an issue with vaccinating immunized dogs?????

That medical waiver will not prevent the local authorities from taking your dog and quarantining it just the same in the event of a bite. It only allows you to keep licensing your dog without a current rabies certificate. It's their call. All you can do is calmly present the evidence as stated above that your dog has had at least one rabies vaccine or has been titered and shows immunity.
Keeping the Compendium handy is an excellent idea.

I have to also say in my job I respond to calls of sick wild animals, and in my 18 years of this I have only seen distemper in wild animals, however I have heard that some states do have a problem with rabies.

One of my dogs years ago had a reaction which destroyed her immune system, 7 years ago I switched all my dogs to a raw diet against my vets advice and stopped vaccinating. Since then my dog made a full recovery that was a long road. I did do the titer which is very expensive, for my four dogs it would be for titers and licensing over 1,000.00. I find this ridiculously over priced possibly to discourage you from going a different route. I choose to not do either, someday the local animal control will catch up with modern ideas.

I had Sadie's Titers done at Barton Creek Animal Clinic in Austin with Dr Van Winkle. More expensive than sending it off yourself, but less than anyone else I found calling around town. She also does the Distemper/Parvo Titer. She mails them out to labs. Let me know if you find anyone cheaper. I still have another dog to do. Also, there's something called a VacciCheck that does them in house, but I haven't found anywhere in town that does it.

Hello, I am going to be vaccinating my 7 month old Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppy with his first rabies vaccine to comply with the law. There is no family history of adverse reactions that I am aware of, BUT I want to be cautious. Should I use Lyssin and if so when? Does Lyssin help prevent damage caused by rabies vaccine? Also is there a specific brand of rabies vaccine and/or dose I should ask for OR avoid ? Any information you have is GREATLY appreciated….Thank you .

You were lucky, over the years I have gone to urgent care on 2 occasions because of a dog bite, both times the wound was showing signs of infection and I knew I needed antibiotics.
Both times the injury was caused by my own small breed dog who was up to date on vaccinations.
I suppose if you accidently hurt yourself trying to hang a picture on the wall with a hammer and nail, the same type of injury could result.

I also got bit breaking up a dog fight. Don't know which dog bit me. My dog was not up to date the other dog was. It bled profusely and someone warned me to get a tetanus shot, but I didn't go to a Dr or get a tetanus shot and I was fine.

@Shama, proceed with caution. My 10 pound dog developed severe allergies after getting her 2 rabies shots. Never again. She is stable now, but will probably need treatment the rest of her life. I just pick my dog up if I sense any trouble ahead, it's easy with the little ones :)

You can't be too careful. And especially with all the press that the Disney Measles issues are getting currently - antivax and provax terms are being thrown around like sharp daggers. Best to get your ducks in a row PRIOR to any issues.
Here's what I do because we visit the public space (dog parks, walks to market) daily. I keep hard copies of the following in my car and in an online folder that can be easily viewed and emailed from my phone. My only caution is to mind your personal data on the docs.
1. last rabies certificate (out of date)
2. waiver letter from vet (even though I live in a non exempt state - this is valuable)
3. latest titer results (JDodd)
4. copy of statute or rabies law in current county/state - with highlighted portions
5. full articles with highlighted portions
a. AVMA update that waivers are sometimes necessary
b. Rabies Challenge fund - R. Schultz summary on lifelong immunity
c. I am going to add this Compendium that Dr. Falconer outlines.

After my dad died his Brittany Spaniel, "Nick" underwent a personality change. This gentle dog that had spent his first five years sleeping on Dad's feet, bit a nurse who lived nearby who walked past the yard one day. I was at work when it happened so I was not there to protect Nick from the gestapo Animal Control people who seized him and euthanized him almost immediately. They were in the wrong, clearly, but this is what we have to deal with when bureaucrats are allowed to think they have authority over us. The nurse threatened to sue me, even though she had no serious injury and hadn't required stitches. The really horrible thing was that Nick was up to date on Rabies shots, there was no reason for them to even remove him in the first place. He was protecting his yard, which was way down a marked, "dead end" road, and a stranger was trespassing despite the private property warning. In my opinion Nick was killed for doing his job, and the "authorities" should be deprived of theirs.

Hi all, My 11 yr old westie had a bad allergic/digestive reaction to hi 6 mo. rabies booster so he hasn't had any vaccs since then. I lived in Europe until recently and travelled internationally with my westie all the time with only a rabies titer paper. We did annual titers in Europe, cost was about $65. Coming to the USA was a non-issue with this rabies titer document.
I also now have a non-vaccinated Scotty puppy who was with her mother until 12 weeks old. I will get her titered soon and believe the mother's immunities will be present in her pup.

Love this article. Thanks so much!! My 4 year old Westie has been totally over-vaccinated, so this year will be different. Titers and Heartworm check, and NO rabies vaccination (this is supposedly her year for the shot).
My question is about puppies. I am thinking of getting another Westie, but without all the shots and vaccinations. If the Rabies 'out of date' option may be a get out of jail card free... would it make sense to get ONE shot to get the certification and proof?? Plus, if we travel to the U.S., I have been told (perhaps incorrectly) that a Rabies Vaccination is required.
Kymba and I say Thanks!!

My dog bit my husband about 6 months after we adopted him. He was up to date on his rabies because the shelter had made sure of it. So we were able to do a 10 day "quarantine" at home. That was back in 2002 in a different county. They did not make us go to a vet - just observe and document his behavior daily and then talk to the county animal control again in 10 days. Then in 2013, he bit my husband again in the same place - his nose - and he required stitches again. This time we are in a different county. The hospital reported the bite and the county called us 5 days later and told us if we didn't get him checked immediately by a vet, they would come and get him for "quarantine". So we took him to the only vet open at that time of night (they called 4pm, so by the time we argued and they threatened us, only one was still open). So we took him in to have a vet check and were supposed to come back in another 5 days for a final. Since we had to go back to the same vet, that's what we did. Our dog was so afraid of the people and the commotion that he showed his bad side and he is no longer with us because we were forced to go to a vet rather than do a home quarantine. I failed my dog because I didn't push back hard enough that we could do a home quarantine and he didn't legally need a vet "check". This is no joke folks. Have the information printed out so you have your ammunition. Even though titers are expensive, if your pet has a reaction to the vaccination, have the Titer done and keep those records with you always. I now have a binder with each of my pets records and the printout of the cdc and county requirements. I will go to jail next time over them saying my pet has to be euthanized. It's been 2 years this month and it still shocks me that this is how he died. He always had some behavioral issues which were documented by us, but that wasn't good enough. According to the county we are now in, a dog should never bite (even if teased by a stupid person). Thankfully our dog had a good life and we managed his quirky behavior for 10 years, but I miss him every single day.

In the quote above it says, "Any stray or unwanted pet..." Laws are specific to the verbage. It does not say 'any pet'. It says STRAY or UNWANTED. I spoke with Texas Vector Control at length over this, because I have a condition that makes it harmful to me, to have my service dog vaccinated. The head of the rabies program said they are most likely to quarentine the animal, if its behaving rationally and with a responsible owner. Though he won't guarentee every officer's response. I'm planning on getting the titer, since we've been out in the woods a couple of summers now, where she could have picked up immunity.

My traditional vet said he would do a titer (rabies) and if the level was high enough, then maybe he would sign the waiver for my dog that has a medical condition.
I declined.
Titers can be expensive, so make sure it will be worth your while. Any vet can draw a blood sample and have it sent out for a titer.
If you go to the home page, I believe you will find a link to homeopathic vets located in your area.
Keep in mind that if the results come back low you will be pressured to comply with vaccines.

Thanks for the head's up and the ammunition! As I'm in Canada, I'd like to add this link for anyone from Ontario, Canada. http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/publichealth/oph_standards/docs/rabies_prevention.pdf Although it doesn't appear to reference lapsed vaccinations, it offers background and details low-risk (family pet) vs high-risk (bats, foxes).
Ironically, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency references the US compendium but leaves it at that. :( That tells me animal control MAY be aware of the US practices.
Three years ago, I did experience a bite from a newly-adopted dog who was overly excited. Animal control was very helpful in our initial phone discussion -- and busy -- as they just looked in the window on Day 1 and then again on Day 10 as this wasn't a high-risk situation. Kuhl was "up to date" on rabies vaccine from his previous owner but I haven't vaccinated in the three years I've had him. After reading this I am motivated to find a vet that will titre him and my other adopted dog Jack. Both were vaccinated the first three and five years of their lives so it's my belief they should be covered.
My only concern is that I like to travel to the US with them and haven't been able to do so without "current" paperwork.
Knowledge and information is great ammunition to have at hand should a bite occur.

I would like to know where to have a titer done since I do not know any holistic vets in my neck of the woods. Do you have any suggestions?

Okay, so what are our choices?
1) Fly under the radar, worry about what might happen...
2) Comply with the law and give the rabies shot as dictated by your town, city or state.
3) Find a homeopathic or traditional vet that will agree with you that your dog meets the requirements for a medical waiver, and will sign it.
4) Have titers done in the hope that your town will accept them?
Any other ideas? All dogs bite, this has been my experience.