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Fla Mom's avatar

You can always ask your vet to test for antibody titers as an alternative to vaccination. It provides alternative documentation of immunity, if the level is adequate.

Based on the rules I operated under as the equivalent of a county health director, but for a military post instead, if your unvaccinated dog bit a person, it would be held under observation for 10 days. If it were still healthy and symptom-free then, it's cleared for release. If it had rabies virus in its saliva at the time of the bite, it would have developed signs and symptoms within 10 days. Not doing so = no transmissible rabies at the time of the bite. And you'd likely pay a fine in addition to the kennel fees

for the observation period and be placed under extreme pressure to vaccinate before release, possibly even refusal to release your dog without it, or a threat to put the dog down if you refuse.

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Karen Bandy's avatar

Thanks, good explanation of what could happen. Question, don’t you have to do titers every year? They are so expensive, but, yep so is boarding.

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Fla Mom's avatar

Probably, re the titers. My sister's small dog's seizure disorder disappeared when she stopped vaccinating her, and her rabies titer was way high the first time it was done. It can be worth it. I'd be most worried about a totalitarian public health dept deciding that your dog either dies or gets vaccinated in order to be released after a bite.

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Karen Bandy's avatar

Yes, it would not be a fun battle sadly.

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