Rabies = Gonner?

Oh, a rabies vaccine for pets cost a lot? That's not right. I think rabies vaccines should be pretty affordable. I don't know any vet that would rather put an otherwise healthy animal to sleep, rather than just give in and give it a vaccine that could save it's life. I could never put a pet down just because something would cost me money...it costs money to euthanize too, and I'd rather HAVE my pet after paying money for it.

My bad, I misstated that. There's a vaccine that's given yearly to animals to keep them from getting it. The vaccine isn't very expensive. If the animal does catch rabies however the treatments are rather costly.

I misspoke! lol. I know what you meant :P Is vaccine not the right word for the rabies treatment? I still think the treatment should be more affordable, and everything i said above is still true :)

I didn't know that rabies vaccines were 100% garunteed that an animal would never get rabies if it got into a fight with a rabid animal...I thought it was kind of like the flu shot--it lowers the chance and might help with recovery chance. Yeah, I wouldn't want to have to put a dog to sleep that protected me like that! I wouldn't worry about cost, especially in a situation like that! Thanks! :D

After reading the above: In NY State, in my area, there were free rabies shots every fall. Now there is a co-pay of $5.

OK, maybe I didn't write it right. Either way, the dog should be taken to a vet and evaluated. No shots are 100% guaranteed for anyone. But if they've had their shots, more than likely, will be given a booster or something like they do with people and more than likely, you will get your pet back. If a person can't afford a rabies shot for an animal, esp. since they had free and now have cheap clinics, then they shouldn't have an animal. Puts the owner and everyone in contact with that animal in danger. I'm trying to get that through a thick-headed person up here.

okay - lets explain - the rabies shot that all states require pets having prevent them from getting rabies because they are inoculated against it... That's WHY pets should get them now, since most humans don't get involved with wild animals, when they get bit, they have to go thru the shots to keep them from getting it and dying I've never heard of anyone surviving rabies - but it might be possible... here in Texas, they have a program where they air drop bait with rabies inoculations in them in parts of the state for the coyotes and gray foxes, just because rabies is so prevalent and coming in from Mexico, so most of the programs are in south and central Texas. I used to work at the Health dept who ran it (they would actually borrow planes from the Canadian government to do it) because when they needed the air drops, the Canadians needed the planes the least... Don't remember the season tho