Case of the Month - June 2025
What happens at the vet when my dog’s Rabies vaccine has expired?
I am a licensed veterinarian in three states: California (my home state), Washington, and Hawaii. Last week, I was up in Washington and saw a case of a middle-aged dog that the owner brought in for a laceration recheck on the ear. The laceration was healing fine, but the dog’s Rabies vaccination was overdue. In the state of Washington, current Rabies vaccinations are required for all dogs, cats and ferrets.
I checked the dog’s temperature, as I normally do for vaccinations, and it was fine, so I allowed the technicians to administer the Rabies vaccine. I was asked, Is this vaccine good for one year, or three? Remember, she was overdue for the vaccine.
The answer to this question is quite complicated.
In the state of Washington, they have 1 year and 3 year labeled Rabies vaccines. The manufacturer makes the label. So, one must determine: Was the last vaccine given labeled for 1 year, or 3? A pet is overdue for a Rabies vaccination if: it is 1 year + 1 day or more past when they had a 1 year-labeled vaccine, or 3 years + 1 day or more if it was a 3 year-labeled vaccine.
When is a dog protected, after being vaccinated a second time, for Rabies?
a pet is considered immediately current after a 2nd vaccination.
If a dog is overdue for their booster and gets their vaccine, are they are considered immediately current on their vaccine? The answer, for the state of Washington, is yes. The second the needle injects, the pet is considered current on the Rabies vaccination—even if the vaccine given is YEARS past the due date of the booster.
But how about when they are first getting their Rabies vaccine? After a pet’s first vaccination for Rabies, the state considers them “currently vaccinated” after 28 days of that initial injection.
Let’s circle back to my original question now. Will the Rabies vaccination given today, in a dog already vaccinated earlier in her life, be current for 3 years or just 1?
The veterinarian can decide if the pet can receive the 1-year or 3-year labeled version.
The dose then lasts 1 or 3 years, depending on what is indicated on the label.
Ultimately, this dog patient was given a 1-year vaccine. This decision was based on the records of the pet and hospital policy. She will have to come back in a year, and at that time she can be given a 3 year vaccine.
Wow, this is a lot of information. It can get complicated, because each state has their own laws. As a veterinarian, practicing in different states, I need to know these differences or at least know where to look them up!!
And as a pet owner myself, I wanted to share this vaccination information regarding Rabies, because it is important to know the law. Rabies vaccinations are required for pet licenses, travel, boarding, and grooming. The vaccine protects your pet against this fatal disease, and all mammals including humans are susceptible to infection.
To learn more about your state’s vaccination requirements, please visit
www.rabiesaware.org