Your dog is an important member of your family that you want to keep in the best health possible. In addition to high-quality food, clean water, and regular exercise, medication and vaccines are critical to your dog’s vitality.
While a regularly scheduled rabies shot is essential to your dog’s overall health, the costs can add up. Many dog parents look for ways to save money on expensive rabies shots. Maybe you’re like them and have asked yourself, “Can I give my dog a rabies shot at home?”Â
As a North Richland Hills vet, we understand how important your pet is to your family, and we want you to make the best decision and avoid mishaps. We’ve put this blog together to give you more information so you can weigh your options. You’ll understand the dangers of rabies and the factors involved in giving your dog rabies shots vs. letting your vet administer them.
Why Is Rabies Dangerous?
Rabies in dogs can cause serious issues. Wild animals like bats, coyotes, possums, and skunks and domestic animals like cattle, cats, horses, and other dogs can spread rabies to your dog through breaks in the skin and open wounds.
People can also contract rabies if they eat an animal that has it or if they’ve been bitten by an animal infected with it. These hazards make rabies vaccines even more important because unvaccinated pets put other animals and people at risk.
Understanding the different stages of rabies is important so you know what symptoms to look for in your dog and other animals. It’s equally critical to note that legal requirements dictate all pets get the rabies shot. While there are some multi-way vaccines that are included in one shot, the rabies vaccine is always separate and never combined with other vaccines.
Because animals with rabies cause health hazards, it is critical for every dog to get a rabies vaccine to enforce public health mandates and keep people and animals safe. Each state and county has specific rabies laws that your local vet stays abreast of for your pet’s overall safety.
Why Some People Vaccinate Their Pets Themselves
Below are several key reasons people may choose to vaccinate their pets without a veterinarian:
- Saving money: People’s economic situations are the main reason they try to administer their pets’ vaccines. When they purchase medicine for their pets over-the-counter, they save time and money by avoiding trips to the veterinarian’s office and not having to pay the appointment costs. This situation is even more relevant for pet owners with more than one pet.
- Avoiding vet visits: Often, people will vaccinate their pets on their own to avoid uncomfortable vet trips with multiple pets. It can be a hassle for pet owners to have to deal with multiple pet appointments at different times or have to take all of their pets to the veterinarian’s office at the same time. Not all pets get along well, take well to car travel, or behave well in unfamiliar environments.
- Controlling their pet’s medication: Sometimes, pet owners do not agree with the dosage amounts prescribed by a veterinarian. They may also look to avoid fees if they think their pet doesn’t need all of the vaccines recommended by their veterinarian team. In these instances, the pet owners will administer the vaccines themselves as a means of controlling the types and frequencies of medicine for their pets.
Should Your Vet Administer Your Pet’s Rabies Shots?
While the decision of “Can I give my dog a rabies shot at home?” is up to you, now that you’ve learned a bit about rabies shots overall, you should consider the benefits of letting your veterinarian team administer your dog’s rabies shots.
Your Vet Knows How To Properly Administer Vaccines
It is key to understand where to place your pet’s vaccine shot. The needle has to be inserted subcutaneously between the skin and the muscle. Giving the shot in the wrong place can cause infections, skin outbreaks, and pain.
Your Vet Understand Dosing Schedules
Proper administration of vaccines is also essential. Vaccines must be given on schedule to ensure vaccine efficacy. If you fail to follow the correct vaccine protocol, your pet’s immune system can become weak, making it easier for your dog to contract rabies and other illnesses.
Your Vet Knows How To Handle Adverse Reactions
Ineffective vaccine dosing can lead to adverse reactions in your pet, and your pet can become injured or die. Even when taking your dog to the vet for vaccine shots, your dog might experience the following symptoms within 24 hours:
- Bumps or hives
- Difficulty breathing
- Facial swelling
- Vomiting
These symptoms are more common in pets that weigh less than 20 pounds, especially when multiple vaccines are administered simultaneously. In these instances, getting your dog a veterinary examination and letting the professionals handle it makes sense because they know how to treat your dog’s condition during an adverse reaction.
Your Vet Can Properly Store Your Pet’s Rabies Vaccine
Another key consideration is vaccine storage. If you purchase a rabies vaccine over the counter, there are risks involved if you do not adhere to the recommended temperature — between 35.6°F and 44.6°F. Improper storage can lead to less protection for your dog because the vaccine will stop working.
When your vet purchases vaccines, they are packed correctly, shipped overnight, and opened right away upon receipt. Next, your vet stores them in a refrigerator and monitors them closely.
We Offer First-Class Service for Your Pet
So, you’ve wondered, “Can I give my dog a rabies shot at home?” The choice is yours, but we strongly urge you to consider trusting a professional veterinarian team with the skills and experience to administer your dog’s vaccines properly.
At Penny Paws, when it comes to rabies shots, we follow safety regulations and protocols to keep your pet safe and protect your community. We also understand the stages of rabies and when to take prompt action for potentially infected pets.Â
To learn more about our services and multiple locations, or to schedule an appointment, contact us online or call us at (817) 284-7297 today.