World Rabies Day

​World Rabies Day is held on September 28 every year, so today, we’re raising awareness of the importance in vaccinating domestic pets, including cats and dogs, against the disease. 💉

Rabies is a devastating and deadly disease that can affect many mammals, including dogs and humans. The disease occurs when the rabies virus infects the nervous system. Today’s rabies vaccines for cats and dogs are extremely safe—and incredibly effective—as long as they’re administered before the rabies virus has a chance to enter the nervous system.

Keeping your pets current on their rabies immunizations doesn’t just protect them; it also protects the entire public from rabies. That’s why in the U.S., most states have laws requiring companion pet owners to keep their cats and dogs current on their rabies vaccines.

Alarmingly, the increase in vaccine hesitancy over the past few years may be keeping dogs from receiving life-saving immunizations. New research published in the peer-reviewed journal, Vaccine, found that more than half of the dog owners in a nationally representative study sample expressed some level of vaccine hesitancy—that is, skepticism or concern about vaccinating their dogs against deadly diseases, including rabies. (You can access the study at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.08.059.)

The bottom line is: Vaccination against rabies keeps pets and people protected from the disease. It’s safe, it’s effective, and it saves lives. 💉

Please do your part in protecting your community from rabies by making sure that your pets receive their rabies shots on schedule, and encourage others to do the same.

​__________________________________________________________________________

Click here to schedule your pet for their rabies vaccine and other immunizations!

For more information about rabies, including signs and symptoms, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/location/index.html