Ashworth Road Animal Hospital

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Rabies Re-vaccination Requirements

It doesn't pay to try and squeeze out a few more months from your dog's rabies vaccination. Rabies vaccination requirements set by Iowa law not only mandates that your dog have a current rabies vaccination, but also set laws for veterinarians to abide by regarding re-vaccination of your dog. Cats vaccinated at our clinic are not affected by this law as we use the most current and safest rabies vaccination for cats that is only approved for one year protection. What this law does affect are dogs over the age of 1 year that have been vaccinated with a licensed 3 year vaccine. As stated by the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association:

"An initial rabies vaccine should be boostered in one year. At that point, Iowa law follows the manufacturer's recommendation for booster vaccination. If a 3 year vaccine is administered, the vaccine should be boostered prior to the 3 year expiration date. There are no studies available that indicate duration of immunity after administering a vaccine to a dog that has passed the 3 year expiration date. Therefore, because rabies is a zoonotic disease and nearly 100% fatal when contracted by humans, Iowa Department of Agriculture rules require a booster vaccine in one year if the 3 year vaccine has expired. The subsequent booster vaccine would expire in 3 years if a 3 year approved product is used."

Therefore, to follow guidelines set by Iowa law, we will abide by this. If you make an appointment for your dog's rabies vaccine past the expiration date of the previous vaccine, the booster will only be good for a year at which we will then administer another 3 year vaccine. We will make every attempt to remind our clients of this when appointments are made, but ultimately the responsibility will fall on the dog's owner to make the appointment in a timely manner. Our reminders are sent out at least 2 weeks in advance to give our clients adequate time to schedule an appointment before their pet's vaccinations expire.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the clinic at 515-225-1807.