Please note the post that I posted earlier. This may not help your particular situation,but a good talking point in why it is dangerous. Storm States consider controlling rabies vaccination intervals Posted by: "Stormy Hope" stormy435@xxxxxxx fairhope711Sat Aug 13, 2011 9:00 am (PDT) FYI http://news.vin.com/VINNews.aspx?articleId=19501 States consider controlling rabies vaccination intervals August 12, 2011 By: Edie Lau For The VIN News Service Spurred by consumer concerns about over-vaccination of pets, authorities in Delaware and Minnesota separately are considering rules governing the frequency with which companion animals are immunized against rabies. In Delaware, state Sen. Karen Peterson has introduced legislation that would subject veterinarians to disciplinary action if they vaccinate animals more often than is recommended by vaccine manufacturers. In Minnesota, advocates for rules on rabies vaccination intervals are scheduled to address the state Veterinary Medical Board at its next meeting on Sept. 27. In its present form, Delawares SB 147 covers all veterinary vaccinations. However, Peterson told the VIN News Service in an interview last week that she is likely to narrow its scope to rabies vaccination, as that is the only veterinary inoculation mandated by law. Proposals in both states have caused a stir among practitioners, many of whom believe the issue is a medical matter to be decided between doctors and their clients. The veterinarian is a professional, said Dr. Heather Hirst, Delaware State Veterinarian. A veterinarian is a source of medical expertise and they need to be allowed to use clinical judgment to make decisions about how they use vaccines. Hirst and the Delaware Veterinary Medical Association (DVMA) oppose the legislation. Manufacturer recommendations are just that recommendations, said DVMA Executive Director Lynn Appel. Were not in favor of taking the ability to practice veterinary medicine out of the hands of the practitioner. Peterson acknowledged that such opposition could be significant in the Legislature. She said she would take the time while lawmakers are in recess to retool the bill so it garners more support while maintaining the principle that over-vaccinating pets would violate state professional licensing code. The legislative session resumes in January. Concerns in Delaware and Minnesota about over-vaccination center around the practice by some small-animal veterinarians of administering every one or two years rabies vaccines that have been proven to be effective for three years. Peterson said her attention was drawn to the issue by Diane Meier, whose 5-year-old apparently healthy beagle, Molly, died in January shortly after a routine checkup at Savannah Animal Hospital in Lewes, Del., where the dog received shots for rabies and distemper. Shortly afterward, Molly became lethargic, unresponsive and glassy-eyed, according to Meier. I took Molly back to the vet twice and was told that they could not tell from the exam, blood work or X-rays what was wrong with her, Meier said. I asked if it could be the rabies shot and was told no. Within about a week, she said, Molly died. Later, after examining Mollys medical record with a veterinarian in a different clinic, Meier said she became aware that Molly had been given a three-year rabies vaccine IMRAB 3 TF made by Merial each year for the past two years. I was shocked, Meier said. Molly was vaccinated at Savannah for rabies a total of four times between 2008 and 2011, Meier said; she suspects but doesnt know for certain that three-year vaccines were used each time. Although the cause of death was not established, Meier believes overexposure to rabies inoculant is to blame. You can say we dont know, but when you put two and two together, its four, she said... ...continued Stormy On Aug 13, 2011, at 9:16 PM, Kay Springer wrote: The info in the premium list for the BC specialty the day before the National says that "A rabies certificate is required to bring a dog into Canada. Government regulations required this certificate MUST be dated at least 30 days prior to re-entry into the US". So my question is if you have given your dog a 3 year rabies shot earlier this year, you have to give them another shot 30 days before you come back to the US from the Canadian shows? I would hate to have to give my dogs 2 rabies shots in the same year.... Input please? Kay Springer www.showboatgsd.com Home of Multi BISS & Multi Group Winning Ch. Rohan's Reward TC,CGC,HT,RE,CDX CHIC (h,e,h,t) DM clear "Strider" 75 BOBs- #5 & #6 GSD 2009 ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2011. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Each Author is responsible for the content of his/her post. This group and its administrators are not responsible for the comments or opinions expressed in any post. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. 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