Why Does My Dog or Cat Need a Rabies Vaccine?
Key takeaways:
Rabies is a fatal viral disease that affects mammals like cats, dogs, and humans.
Rabies vaccines can protect your pet from this disease.
Even indoor-only cats need to be vaccinated for rabies.
Rabies causes terrible symptoms in animals and humans. Because we don’t have a treatment for this fatal disease, there’s no way to save cats’ and dogs’ lives if they become infected. But the good news is that it’s easy to prevent rabies with a simple vaccine.
In this article, we’ll cover what you need to know about rabies, why vaccines are so important, and when you should vaccinate your dog or cat.
What is rabies, and how do dogs and cats get it?
Rabies is a viral disease that affects an animal’s central nervous system, ultimately causing death. It only affects mammals, including cats, dogs, and humans. Wild mammals like skunks, bats, raccoons, foxes, and coyotes can also get rabies.
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The saliva of an infected animal contains the rabies virus. If that animal bites another animal, it can transmit the virus. Your cat or dog may also get rabies if they are bitten by an infected wild animal.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) collect information about both animal and human rabies cases each year. According to the CDC, in 2018, 63 dogs and 241 cats got rabies. Human rabies cases are rare, with just one to three cases reported each year.
Rabies is a frightening and fatal disease, but there’s a simple way to protect your pets: Get them vaccinated. A rabies vaccine is available for both cats and dogs. The vaccine can protect them from the virus if they’re ever bitten by a rabid animal.
When should puppies and kittens get their first rabies shots?
Different states have different laws and recommendations about when puppies and kittens should first be vaccinated for rabies. Most states require cats and dogs to be vaccinated when they’re 3 to 4 months old. Some states also require that a licensed veterinarian administer the vaccine.
What are the potential side effects or risks of the rabies vaccine for cats and dogs?
Rabies vaccines are largely safe. However, there’s always a small risk of your pet experiencing side effects from any vaccine.
Dr. Sara Ochoa, DVM, is a small animal veterinarian at Whitehouse Veterinary Hospital in Texas. Dr. Ochoa explains that some cats and dogs may have swelling and pain at their rabies vaccine injection site. They may also be a little lethargic the day after they get their vaccines.
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On rare occasions, puppies, kittens, cats, and dogs could experience a serious side effect from a vaccine. These reactions include symptoms like:
Facial swelling
Hives
Vomiting
Itching
Trouble breathing
According to Argyle Veterinary Hospital, up to 10 cats out of every 10,000 that receive a vaccination will have a serious reaction. Out of every 10,000 dogs that receive a vaccine, approximately 13 will have a reaction.
Your vet will monitor your pet for any side effects immediately after giving the rabies vaccine. If you notice any of these symptoms once you’re home, immediately call your vet.
Do indoor cats really need the rabies vaccine?
While cats and dogs can both get rabies, cats get the disease more often. Some cat owners don’t vaccinate indoor-only cats, assuming they won’t come into contact with wildlife. But, if rabid bats get into the house, for example, they can infect cats with rabies.
Dr. Ochoa supports all cats — including indoor-only cats — getting rabies vaccines. “Legally, all animals need a rabies shot in accordance with your state and local laws,” she says. “Your indoor cat could accidentally escape and get bitten by a rabid animal.”
What happens if my dog or cat gets rabies?
If your dog or cat is bitten by a rabid animal, the virus will travel through your pet’s nerves to the brain. This can take some time. In cats, this takes between 28 and 42 days. In dogs, this period lasts 21 to 80 days.
As the virus progresses, you may see common rabies symptoms. These include:
Aggression
Fearfulness
Trouble swallowing
Drooling
Staggering or uneven gait
Seizures
Paralysis
Once you see these symptoms of rabies, there is no treatment. “Once your pet starts to show signs, they will usually die within 10 to 14 days,” says Dr. Ochoa.
“Many animals who are suspected to have rabies are euthanized and tested for rabies,” says Dr. Ochoa. “There is no test to test for rabies while an animal is alive. Your vet will have to submit brain tissues to be examined for the presence of the rabies virus.”
If your pet is bitten by a rabid animal, or a suspected rabid animal, it’s important to seek veterinary treatment right away. If your pet’s rabies vaccination is current, your vet will likely give your pet a booster shot and observe your pet for 45 days.
If your pet’s rabies vaccination isn’t current, your vet may vaccinate your pet for rabies right away. Following up with booster vaccines 3 and 8 weeks later can help to prevent rabies symptoms in pets. During that time, your dog or cat needs to be kept in isolation to prevent them from potentially transmitting rabies to humans or other pets.
The bottom line
Rabies is a frightening disease that’s transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. While there’s no cure for rabies, a rabies vaccine can help to protect cats and dogs. Even indoor cats need to be vaccinated, since you never know when one could escape or be exposed to wildlife. When you vaccinate your pets for rabies, you’ll be protecting both them and the human members of your family. State vaccination requirements vary, depending on the rabies prevalence in your area. Check with your veterinarian to see what’s required in your area.
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References
American Animal Hospital Association. (n.d.). Core vaccines for pet cats.
American Animal Hospital Association. (n.d.). Rabies vaccination.
American Animal Hospital Association. (2020). Feline vaccination schedule for general practice.
American Veterinary Medical Association. (n.d.). Rabies and your pet.
American Veterinary Medical Association. (2021). Administration of rabies vaccination state laws.
Argyle Veterinary Hospital. (n.d.). Cat & dog vaccine side effects and what you should know.
Brooks, W. (2020). Rabies in animals. Veterinary Partner.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Is rabies in your state?
North Dakota Health. (n.d.). Rabies FAQs.
Whitehouse Veterinary Hospital. (n.d.). Whitehouse veterinary hospital.
