Single rabies vaccination doesn't give protection?

[BabyElephant]

Kris's post on trying to change the rabies law in certain states in the US got me thinking about something that is happening more and more frequently over here in the UK. As you know you don't need a rabies vaccination for dogs in the UK unless you want to get them a passport so that you can take them overseas and bring them back again without quarantine restrictions. More and more people are deciding to do this so more and more dogs are having the vaccination.

The rules are strict and when Poppy was vaccinated I found a number of vets would routinely give 2 vaccinations 2 weeks apart as they had had a number of dogs who had failed the blood test and didn't have a sufficient titre result. Our vets didn't do this, they only gave one, did the blood test and then if the results weren't good did another. Thankfully Poppy was fine (and I was grateful for that as we'd already booked our holiday and didn't have enough time for a second vaccination and blood test!).

BUT I am now hearing from an increasing number of dog owners that their dogs have failed the blood test and that their dog did not have the correct titre levels so they had to be revaccinated. Now I know we have members on here who titre test rather than routinely vaccinate but was wondering why it should be happening that these dogs aren't getting the protection they should have from a single vaccine? Does this mean that other vaccinations aren't giving the protection they should as well? Titre testing (other than for rabies) is not common in the UK so I just wondered how things were where you are?

[Dax]

Considering that rabies does not have any cure and is transmittable to humans, I can not justify taking a chance with the health of my dogs or the public.

If the UK is rabies free that is a good thing. We are not so lucky where I live.

[Deb's Tiny Dogs]

Originally Posted by BabyElephant

Kris's post on trying to change the rabies law in certain states in the US got me thinking about something that is happening more and more frequently over here in the UK. As you know you don't need a rabies vaccination for dogs in the UK unless you want to get them a passport so that you can take them overseas and bring them back again without quarantine restrictions. More and more people are deciding to do this so more and more dogs are having the vaccination.

The rules are strict and when Poppy was vaccinated I found a number of vets would routinely give 2 vaccinations 2 weeks apart as they had had a number of dogs who had failed the blood test and didn't have a sufficient titre result. Our vets didn't do this, they only gave one, did the blood test and then if the results weren't good did another. Thankfully Poppy was fine (and I was grateful for that as we'd already booked our holiday and didn't have enough time for a second vaccination and blood test!).

BUT I am now hearing from an increasing number of dog owners that their dogs have failed the blood test and that their dog did not have the correct titre levels so they had to be revaccinated. Now I know we have members on here who titre test rather than routinely vaccinate but was wondering why it should be happening that these dogs aren't getting the protection they should have from a single vaccine? Does this mean that other vaccinations aren't giving the protection they should as well? Titre testing (other than for rabies) is not common in the UK so I just wondered how things were where you are?

I use titres for parvo and the other big one (old brain is having a cramp here). Since I started using titres - four years ago, I have never had to revaccinate. But, my vet doesn't even offer titres for rabies. So, I just opt for the three year vaccine.

[Dauxside]

If one titres too early (before 21 days) the results can lead to the titer level being low. It may be that one (lived modified vs killed) type of vaccination does not give as full a range of titer level or results. For new adults I used live modified, for puppies first vac always killed.

We're running titer on the new puppy - he's over the 21 day mark for his first rabies jab. Not sure which type they gave him (would assume killed) but I'll ask.

[BabyElephant]

Hmm, I'll have to check the type of vaccine they give in the UK. We HAVE to titre at exactly 28 days after the vaccine was given.

[saluki-sue]

Also don't forget puppies here in the US get antibodies from their mum while nurseing, so they little immune systems will reconise(sp) the rabies vac faster then a pup or dog from the UK who's mum has never had a rabies vac to share with her pups.

[BabyElephant]

Originally Posted by saluki-sue

Also don't forget puppies here in the US get antibodies from their mum while nurseing, so they little immune systems will reconise(sp) the rabies vac faster then a pup or dog from the UK who's mum has never had a rabies vac to share with her pups.

That's a point, I'd never thought of that.

We use an inactivated vaccine (whatever that is). Info from the Intervet website www.intervet.co.uk

Presentation
Inactivated vaccine containing >2 I.U. Rabies virus strain Pasteur RIV per dose. Also contains Aluminium phosphate as an adjuvant. 0.1 mg/ml Thiomersal are added as a preservative.

Uses
For the active immunisation against rabies to reduce clinical signs and mortality.
Onset of immunity: an adequate serological response (>0.5 I.U.) has been demonstrated 2 to 3 weeks after vaccination.
Duration of immunity: 3 years.

Pet Travel Scheme (PETS):
Animals intended for vaccination under the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) must be identified by a permanent numbered microchip. This microchip number must be recorded on the record of the dog, cat and ferret vaccination at the time of rabies vaccination.
Experience has shown that a proportion of vaccinated animals, while protected, may not show the 0.5 I.U. antibody titre on blood testing required by the PETS scheme. Veterinary surgeons may wish to consider two vaccinations, particularly in young, naive animals. Blood sampling for antibody titres should ideally be carried out three weeks after the last vaccine injection.

Interesting the datasheet says 3 weeks after vaccination for titre test, not 4 as prescribed by DEFRA.

[BratBoxers]

Originally Posted by saluki-sue

Also don't forget puppies here in the US get antibodies from their mum while nurseing, so they little immune systems will reconise(sp) the rabies vac faster then a pup or dog from the UK who's mum has never had a rabies vac to share with her pups.

As far as I know even if mom had a rabies shot before breeding the puppies would not at any time get that immunity.

We don't rabies titer her as its not recognized but I do try to push pretty far on waiting to give this vaccine.

[saluki-sue]

I don't mean they get immunity, I just mean that the pups grow in a body and drink the milk of a body that has been vacced for rabies and they get a cell memory of what rabies is. There for thier bodies understand what the vac is and doesn't work to fight it off and remove it from the body. It's been a lot of years since dogs bodies in the UK had to learn what rabies is so they are going to take longer to build an acceptible titer value to it.

[BratBoxers]

Originally Posted by saluki-sue

I don't mean they get immunity, I just mean that the pups grow in a body and drink the milk of a body that has been vacced for rabies and they get a cell memory of what rabies is. There for thier bodies understand what the vac is and doesn't work to fight it off and remove it from the body. It's been a lot of years since dogs bodies in the UK had to learn what rabies is so they are going to take longer to build an acceptible titer value to it.

No I don't think so. I may be wrong but rabies doesn't work the same way as Parvo or distemper. Rabies wont build the cell memory unless actually vaccinated and I mean each individual puppy. In the body of some animals Parvo and distemper if not vaccinated for still can fight off and build its own immunity which doesn't happen the same way with rabies. I may be wrong though its been a while.