Comments on Duration of Immunity and Rabies Vaccination

I have a rescue dog that has extreme allergies, both food and environmental. I first eliminated all the foods that her testing revealed. I had already added pre and probiotics and Salmon oil. No relief. I then added Gut Soothe, medicinal mushrooms and CBD, She is not taking any steroid or immune suppressants and is holding her own in peak pollen season. I live in a community that is very strict about licensing, and thus Rabies vaccines. I called the Animal Services department. I was told that as long as my Vet writes a letter saying the vaccine is a health issue for her (which it most certainly is, as all this started about 8 wks after the rescue agency had all of her vaccines given at one time), that she can be exempt from the vaccine.

I get my Aussie titered every year, then I lie and say that she is having seizures, but so far they are managable without meds. This gets me an annual exemption. I opt for a licience.

I stopped getting vaccs for my 2 dogs. Told my town I don't have them any more. I got both of them titered for parvo/distemper and rabies through Dr. John Robb and PROTECTTHEPETS.COM He uses the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Labs. Very reasonable rates through Dr. Robb's website. My vet drew the blood and centrifuged it for me, no need to keep chilled. My groomer accepts titers. I support Dr. Robb's efforts to get the rabies laws changed.

If they remind you to re-license, just tell them the dog has passed or you gave it away.

I simply stopped registering my animals the last time I moved. If you've already registered or licensed your animals and you wish to stop, just tell them the dog has passed or you gave it away.

For 13yrs I had a Westie who became immune compromised by the puppy vaxx he’d received. Incessant itching, scratching, gnawing at paws, and hair loss as well as digestive issues were the result.
At nearly one year old and all vet options exhausted I was told to put my dog on steroids and to keep doing elimination diets. That’s when I started doing my own research and discovered rawfeeding and homeopathy. That took care of it all!
No more vaxx and only titer testing - which showed “sufficient” (legally) antibodies the rest of his life. Only one time was his “legal minimum” insufficient. I asked my vet to indulge me in a test - he put on gloves and broke a small vial of rabies vaxx on a cotton ball. He held the ball very close to my dog’s nose for a full minute then threw it away. A week later we re-tested his titer and it boosted to well over the minimum!
No vaxx the rest of his life and he traveled to over 8 countries and internationally on planes 10 times!

My west highland terrier developed Myasthenia Gravis 2 weeks after having a rabies shot. She was 7 years old at the time. She nearly died before she was diagnosed because many vets never even see this in their lifetime of practice. She is in remission now and is excluded from having any shots via a written letter from her neurologist. In my humble opinion there should be closer attention paid to the dogs that are not healthy and receive rabies shots. My friends schnauzer was dying of cancer and the vet gave her a rabies shot weeks before she passes and she had the cancer for 3 years. SHAMEFUL WHAT THEY WILL DO FOR MONEY...

If the rabies vaccine is connected to DM why is it that only the large breeds as you noted get my DM? My German shepherd ended up getting this and I had to have him vaccinated about every three years. I could have gotten away with not having to do this if I didn't have to show proof of this at the groomers or boarding places. I won't ever get a dog vaccinated more than once in their life again.

I live in Florida, and I got an exemption for my dog. Fortunately, I have a vet that practices alternative medicine and he agreed with not giving the rabies vaccine gave me the exemption.

Wonder if several of your dogs have been licenced through the City, and to do that they had to get the rabies vaccination...When it comes time to renew, they will send out a reminder to Licence your pet again..How do you avoid more rabies Vaccinations??..I

My springer developed hypothyroidism as a result of over-vaccination. Once we figured it out, we had her titered for Parvo/Distemper and Rabies and she was given an exemption based on the fact that it is illegal to vaccinate an immune challenged animal. Our vet wrote the exemption letter and we still received a license from the city. :-). I have her letter/titer information with me at all times and also in the car.

I have an epileptic vizsla dog likely due to rabies vaccine. Seeing a neurologist at local veterinary university teaching hospital. I have asked 3 of their neurology staff if they still recommend vaccines in dog with epilepsy. They all look at me like I'm crazy and say YES OF COURSE. We have always recommended them, even more so for epileptic dogs. What the heck does that mean? WHY? I asked why would you vaccinate them for anything if they already have a messed up neurologic system. They say there's no reason not to. And refuse to write an exemption.

No more rabies vaccines for my ten year old Aussie! Here's how I stopped them.

She is very healthy, but in 2016 I told her vet that she was showing symptoms of seizures. When I was offered Rxs, I said I wanted to observe her a while longer and would get them if needed. Armed with the knowledge that the vaccination is not recommended for a canine in poor heath, I was successful getting a letter to disqualify her. Although she does not seize, I have continued to report seizures to her vet and continued to be successful exempting her from the vaccine.
However, I have needed to make adjustments to her(our) life. Instead of hiking with her off leash, which was great fun, she is always leashed when on the trails. When in town and people ask if they can pet her (cause she's really cute) I tell them she is too shy with strangers for that. Once a toddler broke away from his parent and came running over to us. Although Haily is very friendly to everybody, I got between them.
Also, I titer test her annually and so far, she is protected. I hope she will stay this way from one test to the next because there is a rabid fox in the next town over that hasn't been caught. It has already bitten two children and one adult. This is a real threat, not to be taken lightly and you need to be well armed with a plan that works. However, the lies I need to tell and the changes I have made have been very much worth it!
I am sharing this information in the hope that it may be of help, but for obvious reasons I need to stay anonymous, so I am trusting that my email address will not be posted anywhere. Thanks!

I have a very good holistic vet, my pups do get their puppy shots through 16 weeks and, annual titers after that. I live in a very rural location and, these are wolfdogs so, vaccines can work a bit differently for them anyway. So far all have tested good to go, no more vaccines needed.

I'd rather pay for titering than over vaccinate my canine companions. I don't board my dogs or, take them to dog parks. I do travel with them occasionally but, except for rabies, we can buy the 5 way and 7 way OTC at the feed store here - I buy them, get the receipt and stickers for the vet record book. My vet gives me the rabies tags at their checkups but, not the vaccine.

I feed a raw, prey model diet with a small portion of quality kibble - just to insure they will eat kibble if they ever need to eat only kibble for a few days. I also have a plant called chocolate mint (contains no chocolate) and rosemary planted in and around the dog run. They roll in and, nibble on both plants - pest control for them.

No fleas, ticks or mosquitoes, not even flies bother them. A little natural preventative and, a strong immune system for the dogs does the trick. A good vet that understands the legal issues tops it off perfectly.

Have you heard of nosodes?

I'm happy to report that I never vaccinated my Icelandic Sheepdog and she is now 11 yrs old. Before I received her, the breeder had done the first round of puppy shots. I did do nosodes (although they are supposed to be irrelevant if already vaccinated). I had her titre tested a couple months ago and her immunity is good.

Dr. Will,
Do you believe in any vaccinations at all? How dangerous is feline leukemia? Can a cat fight this off? At what age is a kitten out of the danger zone of viruses etc. My kitten is on a raw diet and so far no vaccines.

I live in Colorado in a rural area with 6 dogs. None of the dogs are vaccinated. I asked my Western vet to remove my name from the "reminder" list for vaccines which he did. He did tell me that if any of my dogs contracted leptospirosis he would not treat them because it would put him and his staff at risk. My holistic vet is my go to guy.

Dr. have you seen this? Titering for some diseases made easier and cheaper:
http://vaccicheck.com
At least it mentions vaccines have dangers. Still some of the typical distortions and no rabies test but could be a helpful tool and step in the right direction to at least less vaccinations.
I am amazed that we have this understanding about immunology and prevention of disease but we still don't have the wisdom to correctly apply the knowledge to a solution that doesn't cause problems similar in severity to the disease itself. I have hope. If we truly ask and seek for wisdom, we shall receive it.

Thanks for the passionate stance on animal (and even human) health. Interesting page.
I have recently gotten a stray dog, estimated to be 10-12 months old, seems happy, healthy dog. And am considering whether to get any vaccinations. Dr. do you give rabies vaccinations when requested by clients? I live in south Texas 2-3 hours from Austin. I see a lot a references to one shot is most likely good for life but that one shot can have devastating effects. So, I am in a dilema as to which way to go and trying to learn all I can. I am on the edge of a small town and have wanted a dog to guard our fruit trees from varmints eating the fruit. Just the fact of him being around has and will probably continue to discourage anything from coming around anymore, unless maybe it is rabid. So, he may have a somewhat dangerous job. Regarding Texas law what is the required timing of rabies vaccinations? All the vets I have asked say after the first shot, 1 yr later a second shot, then it is legally valid for 3 years. Is it the same shot? Is the series required by law or the vaccine manufacturer or merely standard practice by vets? From what I read of the law, it just puts the protocol on the manufacturer.
Maybe before he had some vaccines. I believe I will have him tested for antibodies first and then make decisions on any vaccine(s). And maybe have blood tested, other lab work, to check general health, any hidden issues, as well? Any recommendations?