Vaccination against rabies in a dog or cat - what do you need to know about it? How much does it cost?

Rabies is an infectious viral disease that is dangerous to both animals and humans. Infection occurs through a bite, and the virus then enters the next organism through contact with the infected animal's saliva. It attacks muscles and nerves before reaching the brain, causing acute inflammation and eventually death. For this reason, it is a disease that requires a special control program worldwide. The mainstay of rabies prevention is vaccination of both domestic and wild animals, as well as humans in some cases. Cats, dogs, foxes, rodents, and bats are among the animals that can transmit rabies.

When should cats and dogs be vaccinated against rabies?

Dogs must be vaccinated against rabies at the age of three months (12 weeks). A 3-month-old pet's owner is required to vaccinate his dog within 30 days. If the vaccination was given to a younger dog, it should be repeated at 12 weeks of age. A second dose may be administered 2-4 weeks after the first vaccination in areas where there is a high risk of rabies virus. A booster dose should be administered 12 months after the previous vaccination. Each vaccination is documented in the pet's health book. According to the Act on Animal Health Protection and Control of Infectious Animal Diseases, rabies vaccination is valid for 12 months, and it is the responsibility of every dog owner to administer subsequent booster doses on time.

Cats can be vaccinated, but it is not required by law. It is worthwhile to vaccinate outgoing cats. This vaccination can be administered after 12 weeks of age, with booster doses administered every 12 months.

Vaccination against rabies for dog and cat - contraindications

Vaccination is prohibited due to the animal's questionable immune status. If the pet is depressed, weakened, or has a confirmed infection, such as urinary, digestive, or respiratory system infections, or has been diagnosed with immunological deficiencies, vaccination should be avoided. In this case, contact your veterinarian to have your pet examined and a new vaccination date set. Vaccination should not be administered before the child is 6-8 weeks old. Most animals are protected by maternal antibodies during their first few weeks of life. These antibodies neutralize the antigens in the vaccine, preventing the development of vaccine immunity. The first vaccinations should be administered to the pet after 6-8 weeks of age. Animals with low maternal immunity may be more susceptible to infections, so each case should be discussed with a veterinarian individually. If you have observed an abnormal reaction to medication in your pet or have a suspicion that it may occur, please notify the vet during the visit.

What is the procedure for rabies vaccination in dogs and cats? 

A pre-vaccination visit, the vaccine, and its administration are all part of the vaccination process. During this visit, the veterinarian will perform a clinical examination and assess your pet's immune status. If no contraindications exist, the doctor will administer the appropriate dose of the vaccination. The doctor may use any commercially available preparation. This service does not include vaccine administration for infectious diseases other than rabies. Your doctor will ask you to stay at the clinic for the next 15 minutes after the vaccination to check for any possible allergic reactions. Swelling, which may or may not be in the area of the body where the preparation was administered, redness, scratching, or sudden weakness of the pet may indicate an incorrect reaction to vaccination. If any of these symptoms occur, please notify your veterinarian as soon as possible. 

The visit should conclude with the veterinarian entering the following information in the pet's health book: 

• the date of vaccination; 
• the identification data (name, initials, or code) of the person administering the vaccination; 
• the vaccine label, batch number, expiry date, producer’s name
• and the location and route of vaccine administration. 

Please keep in mind that protective immunity develops approximately 21 days after vaccination!