- Rabies is a highly feared and nearly universally fatal viral infection most commonly transmitted to humans or pets via the bite of an infected bat, skunk, raccoon, fox or other wild animals.
- The rabies vaccine is the only one that state governments mandate pets receive every one to three years, athough evidence suggests protection probably lasts for much longer.
- Today, states control rabies in the U.S. wildlife population by dropping packets of bait containing a live, weakened strain of rabies vaccine into wooded areas known to be wildlife habitats.
Anyone who has encountered a rabid animal or has seen the film “Old Yeller” for that matter knows that rabies is a serious, often deadly infection to avoid, whether in the wild or in our own pets. Though many veterinarians believe that rabies vaccines in general offer a lifetime of protection for pets and do not need to be repeated, the rabies vaccine is one that is encouraged, and state or county governments usually mandate for all pets to receive annually, or every three years, depending on the type of rabies vaccine used. Although some states allow medical exemptions for rabies vaccination of pets, because the infection itself is nearly always fatal to humans and animals without immediate treatment, laws are fairly strict.
U.S. measures to control rabies in wildlife populations have turned to dropping baited vaccine into woodlands, in hopes of attracting wildlife to eat the baited treats and the vaccine along with them. The oral vaccines used in dropped-bait programs are live, attenuated (weakened), genetically modified vaccine products.1 This has become a fairly widespread practice since it was first introduced in Switzerland in the late 1970s.2 “Bait dropping” has been used in Canada since 1985 and in the U.S. since 19953 and is generally accepted without question.
But is it effective? Is it necessary? And especially, is it safe for pets or children who might encounter the attractive bait and play with or even eat it?
What is Rabies?
Rabies is a viral infection most commonly spread to humans or pets via saliva from the bite of an infected wild animal, usually raccoons, skunks, bats or foxes in the U.S., though it is also encountered in coyotes and groundhogs. Smaller mammals including rabbits and most rodents including rats and mice, squirrels, hamsters, guinea pigs, and chipmunks, do not generally carry rabies and have not been known to infect humans in this country.4
Hawaii is the only state, and Australia and Antarctica the only other places in the world that are reportedly rabies free. Globally, more than 50,000 humans and millions of animals still die from rabies every year.5
The virus affects the brain, beginning with general symptoms of illness such as fever and discomfort, but progressing to more specific signs including insomnia, confusion, partial paralysis, hallucinations, agitation, increased salivation and difficulty swallowing, and hydrophobia, or fear of water. Once these more severe symptoms occur, whether in humans or pets, death almost always occurs within days.
Even with immediate treatment, very few victims survive.6 There are only three known cases in the U.S. of (human) patients surviving without the standard urgent therapy,7 which involves thoroughly washing the wound, flooding it with rabies immunoglobulin and following up with a series of injections of the immunoglobulin and rabies vaccine.8
There are reports that some residents of remote Peruvian villages, where infected vampire bats are common, who have been bitten and survived, as evidenced by the presence of antibodies against rabies in their blood. However, it isn’t clear whether they actually got seriously ill with common symptoms of the infection.9
With such a backstory, it is easy to understand why rabies vaccination programs, both for pets and wildlife, are so widely accepted and why the infection is so wildly feared. To keep that fear in perspective, however, it is important to keep in mind that even at 50,000 cases worldwide, infection with rabies is still extremely rare, occurring in only 34 people in the U.S. since 2003, and in only three in 2013.10
Understanding the Rabies Vaccine
Nowhere is it suggested that the rabies vaccine offers total protection against this extremely serious disease, which is essentially always fatal in animals. The most said about the vaccine’s effectiveness is that it may provide some protection, but a bite from a rabid animal always requires rapid medical attention to evaluate the type of exposure and the consequential degree of follow-up care needed.
Such is the level of concern about the infection that any pet that has been bitten or scratched by a wild animal not available for testing is considered to have been exposed to rabies, and is treated accordingly. If mandatory vaccination records are not up-to-date, the pet will be subjected to a long quarantine period (six months) or, in most cases, will be euthanized. Even if the pet has been vaccinated as required by law, it will be subjected to rigorous treatment including immediate revaccination, isolation and a 45-day observation period to account for the possibility of “overwhelming viral challenge, incomplete vaccine efficacy, improper vaccine administration, variable host immunocompetence, and immune-mediated fatality.”11
U.S. laws mandate that pet dogs, cats and ferrets be vaccinated once at three to four months of age, again a year later, and then either annually or every three years, depending on type of vaccine used. Multiple sources indicate that the three-year rabies vaccine is actually the same dose and active agent as the one-year vaccine; the difference is solely in the manufacturers’ labeling, which will indicate whether that specific brand and formulation has been studied over time and found to retain its immunologic activity for at least three years.12
In a series of interviews with veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker, veterinary vaccinations expert Dr. Ronald Schultz noted that a three-year rabies shot may give rabies protection that in fact persists beyond three years. He emphasized that the schedule he recommends for the rabies vaccine for pets is out of respect for the law and not because he believes the vaccine is immunologically necessary every three years.13
Protecting People and Pets From Rabies Exposure
By far the biggest carrier group of rabies in the U.S. currently is wildlife, which accounts for 92% of rabies cases according to the most recent CDC surveillance data available.14 15 In those reports, raccoons continued to be the most frequently reported rabid species encountered in the U.S., followed by skunks, bats and foxes.
Until relatively recently, control of rabid wildlife depended on such measures as education of the public and medical personnel, avoiding exposure, post-exposure preventive treatment and “selective population reduction” of animal species at high risk of infection.16
The “Vaccine Drop” is a relative newcomer in the war against rabies, but in 2010, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated that it distributes approximately 6.5 million baits per year in selected areas, specifically to contain the spread of raccoon rabies from the eastern states.17 Vaccine drops also target coyote and fox strains in other areas of the country.
According to public health officials,18 there is no danger to people or pets from accidental contact with or ingestion of the dropped live genetically engineered rabies vaccine, but the authorizing agencies caution that the bait should not be touched. However, they caution that, if a child does come in contact with it, or eat any of it, the product should be carefully removed and wrapped up, the child’s hands should be thoroughly washed, and health authorities should be contacted.
References:
1 Merial, Material Safety Data Sheet. RABORAL V-RG® with Bait. Apr. 15, 2005.
2 Mähl P, et al. Twenty Year Experience of the Oral Rabies Vaccine SAG2 in Wildlife: A Global Review. Veterinary Research Aug. 19, 2014.
3 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Oral Rabies Vaccine Information. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service June 17, 2015.
4 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Rabies. CDC Fact Sheet July 2, 2015.
5 The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Pet Care: Rabies. 2015.
6 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Rabies. CDC Fact Sheet July 2, 2015.
7 Carollo K. California Girl Only Third in U.S. to Survive Rabies Without Vaccine. ABC News June 14, 2011.
8 Dyer JL, et al. Rabies Surveillance in the United States, 2013. Vet Med Today: Public Veterinary Medicine (JAVMA) Nov. 15, 2014.
9 Fox M. Can People Survive Rabies? Some Vampire Bat Victims May Have. NBC News Aug. 1, 2012.
10 Dyer JL, et al. Rabies Surveillance in the United States, 2013. Vet Med Today: Public Veterinary Medicine (JAVMA) Nov. 15, 2014.
11 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, 2011: National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc. (NASPHV). CDC Nov. 4, 2011.
12 EnlightenMe.com. Is the 3 Year Rabies Vaccine for Pets Different From the Yearly Vaccine? DexMedia 2015.
13 Becker, K. Does Your Pet Really Need That Rabies Shot? Mercola.com June 21, 2011.
14 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Rabies Surveillance Data in the United States. CDC Fact Sheet Nov. 15, 2011.
15 Dyer JL, et al. Rabies Surveillance in the United States, 2013. Vet Med Today: Public Veterinary Medicine (JAVMA) Nov. 15, 2014.
16 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, 2011: National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc. (NASPHV). CDC Nov. 4, 2011.
17 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services. Preventing the Spread of Raccoon Rabies. August 2015.
18 See Reference #1.
4 Responses
Every vaccinated animal I’ve ever known, owned or seen suffers from vaccine damage. They are having the same horrible health problems and diseases we vaccinated humans have. Their lifespan is about half of what it was prior to vaccines and pet foods. Obviously, we need to stop this nonsense and get back to quality, natural pet rearing. Juliette de Bairacli Levy cured distemper, parvovirus and rabies in animals who were never vaccinated, were fed a raw meat and bones diet with herbs and other natural, species correct foods. She states in one of her books that she knows of no vaccinated and pet-food-fed animal who was ever able to be saved from these same diseases.
I agree whole heartedly.
I am the manager of a dog sanctuary. Virtually every dog who comes here with a prior hostory of vaccination shows evidence of immune mediated disorders.
If a dog comes here with no history of vaccination it will never be vaccinated. In the nonvaccinated dogs here tnere is no evidence of immune mediated disorders…..not any.
I applaud you and your work. I bought the one and only dog I’ve ever owned at a pet store and she’d already been ‘chipped’. I took her to a vet and had the bloody thing removed. I also have only had her shot up with rabies vaccine twice, simply because NY State required it when I had to bring her to the vet those 2 times for reasons which were unavoidable. Vets are agents of the state just as are most other doctors.
Thanks for your information and concern. I lost my former dog in September of 2023 to cancer which I believe was aggravated by over vaccination. When she came down with mange at 4 years, I refused to allow my veterinarian to vaccinate her for anything else. And I am almost certain that it was the 3rd live Lymes vaccine which caused the mange which my veterinarian refused to officially diagnose as mange! Because of COVID, I watched her suffer further neglect due to lockdowns. Everyone in my city who owned a pet was logjammimg the veterinarian’s offices getting their pets long overdue vaccines. I couldn’t get my dog seen when she was having an acute outbreak of mange for well over a week! So I had no other choice but to use ER veterinarians. But over time, even they kept putting me off! And much of the crowding of animal ER’s was due to dog fights breaking out because owners weren’t paying attention to their dogs! I am still livid obviously. My precious little dog died 2 weeks after her 7th birthday. She was the only joy I have ever known recently! And she wouldn’t have died so young had I had access to a veterinarian who bothered to keep current. I started researching cancer in dogs. And there’s a huge correlation between vaccines in dogs and cancer. And this was discovered initially through people! After 4 months, I decided to get another dog. I live alone and I just couldn’t stand the isolation any longer even though I feel I am still working through the grief. I have been numb and unable to even cry over this loss. And there is no support anywhere for someone like me who knows the truth about vaccines and the high rate of cancer in dogs and In people. My current dog was vaccinated for Parvo with a modified live virus twice. She was due for another shot in February which I didn’t get for her because I felt it would do far more harm than good. She’s only 7 months old, and seems healthy for her age and breed. I am also not spaying her until at least 2 years of age if I ever do. And I don’t plan on breeding her. She’s inside with me, except when I take her out on a leash. And it’s sad because I live on 2 fenced off acres in the country, but she will eat fecal matter from deer, and rabbits which come inside the yard. So I keep her on the leash, but I am giving serious thought to moving back to the suburbs and having an electronic fence installed to keep wildlife out while I am here. We also have coyotes and I am almost positive that’s how my former dog acquired mange, but most animals who have healthy immune systems can fight off mange. Unfortunately, more and more wildlife are being spotted with mange. And there are various reasons for this also. But suffice it to say, the romance of having dogs in the country has died for me. My former dog loved it here! And she used to love to run on the 2 acres I have. But I can’t let this puppy run free. And it’s because she will try to escape the fence and she’s succeeded several times. But there are also too many things that she will try to eat from wild animal dung to any kind of insect, grass, and even snakes should we encounter one. And I am dismayed to see that our government is attempting to “vaccinate” our wildlife! I don’t believe they have good intentions and I don’t believe that giving any mammal a live vaccine whether it’s “modified” or not is a very bright or ethical way to prevent any disease! I know I could go online and research this modified live Parvo virus vaccine. But I am afraid I will get too upset! In fact, I think I read on this website about a breeder who lost a whole litter of puppies to the Parvo vaccine. When she had it checked by a virologist, he found it was a live virus. I hope she held the company where she bought the vaccine liable. I have studied and worked as an RN and I guess I expect everyone else to have at least as much of a sense of wariness as I do, especially in light of what we’ve seen with COVID-19. The only comfort I can give myself is that I if I was brainwashed into thinking that vaccines were helping my dog then I can’t hold myself responsible. And the good thing I will say about COVID-19 is that I started to question all vaccines even before Tulla came down with mange. Aside from the vaccines, I tried to give her a good life. And because her parents were both vaccinated, she was probably born with a predisposition towards cancer. I am going to have to pray more frequently about this because not enough people are seeing the light quickly enough. I love this little dog I have now but I am living in a state where the rabies vaccine is required by law. And I can’t see the sense in it! This little dog would have to catch and/or corner an infected animal! It’s just so ridiculous and demoralizing as well! I worry enough about what this live Parvo virus might be doing to her now! And I am grateful for your website. When I read the article about how other dog owners are questioning the rabies vaccine, I realized I wasn’t the only person who was questioning this. It really feels like an assault on my dog and therefore it’s also an assault on myself as well. I would rather suffer an assault against myself than to have to watch my dog suffer another unnecessary assault on her divine little body! And that’s the other aspect to all of this. I believe that our creator makes most of us perfect and whole from the minute we’re born! His design is perfect and doesn’t need to be altered! And this whole vaccine thing was started a long time ago in an attempt to exterminate the Native Americans. And it’s been going on ever since. As much as I miss Tulla, at least I feel she is out of danger from man’s evil ways! But my current dog is showing symptoms and needs looking after by a licensed vet and I don’t trust anyone to not insist on vaccinating her against rabies!
If you have any recommendations about raising a puppy who’s breeder vaccinated her with a live Parvo virus, I would be very appreciative. I am using homeopathy. And I know there’s a website where I can buy homeopathic vaccines but Google is censoring it because I can’t access it. I would gladly pay as much to use homeopathy in a veterinarian’s office if the money is so important to the veterinarians and the pharmaceutical companies! I just want to feel like my dog is safe! And now I am forced to refuse a vaccine mandated by law in order to keep Noelle from any further harm. I really wanted an unvaccinated puppy but the only breeders with unvaccinated puppies are in Texas and Florida. And I have not been able to access their websites either.
It is to Tulla’s credit that she made a point of letting the vet techs know that she had forgiven them. While paying my bill, she slipped away from me and ran back to where the vet technicians were. I think she was saying “Goodbye” And perhaps letting them know she’d forgiven them. At least they expressed that to me. I still have not forgiven my former veterinarian! And perhaps I could if he would own his part in creating Tulla’s illness and death! He essentially killed my dog and I don’t believe he didn’t know what he was doing! And if he would only apologize, I could start to forgive him! But he’s been very arrogant and blamed my high anxiety level for contributing to Tulla’s illness. And then they shunned me for refusing chemotherapy for Tulla! And that’s the only thing I feel good about in allowing them to essentially slowly kill her, is that I refused to let them further assault her and cause her further suffering by subjecting her to chemotherapy! I tell you the truth, I am 66 years old and I don’t feel that old. But I don’t fear death as I once did. Because I know I will be reunited with Tulla in heaven. And I am looking forward to it! I hope that before I die, I can have some kind words to express to my God regarding the evil that’s been done to Tulla and to myself. I wish I could stop being bitter. I don’t love Noelle as much as I ever loved Tulla and I try not to show it. And I am being overprotective of her. Tulla was truly a divine being! Noelle doesn’t always try to behave or to please me. And that’s OK. I know she’s frustrated. All healthy dogs want to run and I feel sad that I just can’t let her do that right now. Thanks so much for your time and for your website and your courage.
Sincerely,
Laura Dorman
PS:
Due to the length of this email and the sensitivity I am feeling around it, I am hesitant as to whether I want you to post this. I think other pet owners need to know about the risks involved with vaccines. There are some books online which speak to this phenomenon. For the sake of their health and their pet’s health, people need to be willing to educate themselves. It’s time consuming and I wish I had known before Tulla was diagnosed but at least I know now. I will never be an advocate of any kind of vaccine for any child, or adult, or any animal for as long as I continue to live! Thanks again for daring to question and for Thinking! I have a bumper sticker which reads, “Think! It’s not illegal yet!”
Blessings to you!