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pregnant dog rabies shot jenc123 asked this question on 6/20/2002: should pregnant dogs receive rabies shots?

beainsc gave this response on 6/20/2002: Pregnant or lactating dogs should NOT be vaccinated against rabies !! Rabies vaccines can otherwise be given from 4 weeks of age, and a second dose is given at 12 weeks of age. If vaccinated for the first time after 12 weeks only one dose is needed. Booster vaccinations are needed every 2 years. Avoid the multivalent vaccines and vaccinate for one or at most two diseases at a time. Do not worm or otherwise medicate your dog at the same time as you vaccinate Do not dip, spray or otherwise treat your dog or home for fleas or ticks If possible, do not vaccinate during periods in which environmental allergens are high. The more stress we apply to a dog's immune system, the more likely it is to react negatively. Rabies vaccine should be separated from the multivalent shot by at least three weeks. Never vaccinate a sick animal. Delaying vaccinating puppies with diarrhea for a few days won't hurt them, vaccinating them might make them very sick, or even kill them. Be aware that modified live vaccines will be shed in the dog's stool for several days. Keep susceptible individuals- the immune compromised; young, unvaccinated puppies; pregnant and lactating bitches - well away from the vaccinated dog. Be selective in the vaccines you give. Only vaccinate against those diseases for which your dog is at risk. For the most part, this means rabies, parvo and distemper. Giving unnecessary agents may increase the risk of negative reaction. The current leptospirosis vaccines for example do not contain the serovars (varieties) of lepto which dogs are clinically experiencing, and they only produce antibodies for a few months. Leptospira bacterins are among those most frequently implicated in vaccinosis reaction. There are new vaccines being tested against the clinically important serovars of the disease, but it is unclear whether they will prove to have a longer protective potential than current vaccines. The necessity for, and efficacy of other vaccines is also debatable. Certainly, it is not recommended to vaccinate (or prophylactically medicate) against diseases to which your dog is not going to be exposed. • beainsc recommends buying a book with the title, author, or subject: Dog Owner's Guide

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