9 facts about rabies vaccinations for pets

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

The earliest rabies vaccine was given to dogs in 1885, and by the 1940s, routine rabies vaccination of owned dogs against the fatal virus gradually led to elimination of the canine rabies strain in the United States and Canada by 2008.

Today, rabies in humans is rarely seen in the U.S. and Canada and is primarily transmitted by wild animals. Elsewhere in the world, some 59,000 people die annually from rabies, most frequently transmitted by dog bites.

Getting pets vaccinated for rabies (and other deadly diseases) might seem like a no-brainer, but a study published last month in the journal Vaccine found that of 2,200 people who participated in an online survey, a large minority of dog owners consider vaccines administered to dogs to be unsafe (37%), ineffective (22%) or unnecessary (30%). A slight majority (53%) of dog owners agree with at least one of these positions. Their beliefs have a name: canine vaccine hesitancy, or CVH.

Vaccine hesitancy risks pet lives, especially when it comes to deadly diseases such as rabies, distemper and parvovirus. No vaccine -- human or animal -- offers 100% protection against disease, but vaccinations greatly reduce the risk of disease and improve the chances of survival. With World Rabies Day coming up on Sept. 28, we thought we’d explore the must-know issues related to rabies vaccination.

Rabies vaccination law varies from state to state. Most states mandate rabies vaccinations for dogs, cats and ferrets. In New Jersey, only dogs are required to be vaccinated for rabies, but vaccinations are strongly recommended for cats and ferrets. Kansas, Minnesota and Ohio are the only states that leave rabies law to the discretion of cities and counties.

Not all states mandate rabies vaccination for cats, but all cats, including indoor-only pets, benefit from rabies vaccination. Cats can slip out open doors, and it’s not unusual for bats to fly in through open windows (ask me how I know this).

Hybrid animals, such as dog-wolf crosses or domestic cat-serval crosses, can be vaccinated, but most states don’t recognize them as such. If they’re exposed to a rabid animal or they bite a person, they can be subject to euthanasia rather than home quarantine, which can be 10 days or longer.

Whether for a domestic or hybrid animal, the definition of “exposure” is determined by each state’s public health authority.

Unvaccinated domestic animals exposed to rabies typically must undergo a strict four- to six-month quarantine and vaccination within 96 hours of exposure. The cost of that long quarantine period can be several thousand dollars.

In most cases, euthanasia and testing are not required if an unvaccinated pet bites a person. Typically, exposed animals are subject to home quarantine for a specific period with revaccination on release. However, a person who is bitten by an unvaccinated pet can demand that the animal be euthanized and the brain tested immediately. No blood test or other diagnostic can determine if an animal has rabies.

No states recognize age or health conditions as reasons to discontinue rabies vaccinations. Nor do they recognize rabies titers as proof of vaccination. The only time a rabies titer is required is when a pet will be traveling overseas.

Rabies vaccines can be given annually or triennially (every three years). Generally, the only difference between the one-year and three-year rabies vaccines is how they are labeled. But if a pet is given a rabies vaccine labeled for one year, you can’t argue that you should be allowed to wait three years to revaccinate.

Animals are not considered vaccinated until 28 days after the initial inoculation, but once they receive rabies booster shots, they are considered immunized immediately.

Find more information on your state’s rabies laws at rabiesaware.org.

Q&A

Real talk on

hypoallergenic pets

Q: My kid really, really wants a dog, but my husband has allergies. He says we could get a hypoallergenic breed. Do they exist?

A: One of my pet peeves as a veterinarian is that certain breeds and cross-breeds are described as “hypoallergenic,” meaning they don’t cause allergic reactions. While some dog breeds and crosses (cats, too) may cause less severe reactions, it all depends on the sensitivity of the individual person and the level of allergens produced by the individual animal. Here’s what to know.

Poodles and other curly coated dogs, including doodles, are often said to be hypoallergenic because their coats have a long growth cycle, which means it takes longer for dead hairs to drop off and form dust bunnies in your living room. But it’s not hair that causes allergies, no matter what kind of dog or cat we’re discussing. Whether they’re furry or hairless, wirehaired or single-coated, all dogs and cats produce dander (dead skin cells), saliva and urine, all of which carry allergens.

Some animals produce more allergens than others, which is why people so often say that they’re not allergic to their own dog but they have reactions to the neighbor’s dog. And it may be that so-called hypoallergenic breeds are groomed frequently, so dander is removed on a regular basis. But licking can still set off a reaction because of the allergens in saliva.

Reputable dog and cat breeders, as well as shelters and rescues, never claim that their animals are hypoallergenic and often won’t sell to families if one person has an allergy. If someone tries to sell you a hypoallergenic pet, they’re simply making a money grab.

Now for the good news. If your husband’s allergies are mild, it’s possible to live pretty comfortably with pets. Here are some tips: uexpress.com/pets/pet-connection/2017/02/27. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Saints contribute

to dog love, lore

-- “Love me, love my dog.” What dog lover hasn’t said that at some point? The saying originated with St. Bernard of Clairvaux, who said it in Latin: “Qui me amat, amet et canem meum.” But the Saint Bernard dog is named for a different cleric, St. Bernard of Menthon, who founded a hospice for travelers in the Great St. Bernard Pass of the Italian Alps. The dogs would go out to help find lost travelers, but it’s a myth that they carried small casks of brandy around their necks. That was a bit of artistic license by Sir Edwin Landseer, in his iconic work “Alpine Mastiffs Reanimating a Distressed Traveler,” painted in 1820. You can see it at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

-- Cat lover Julia Child wrote the following: “We had a cat named Minette Mimosa who came with our first Paris apartment. On our first evening in the apartment, we were having dinner in our Louis XVI dining salon when three mice appeared. We brought in Minette, who caught them and ate all three in three minutes. We both adored her.”

-- Dealing with hairballs -- fur ingested as cats groom themselves, then vomited back up in clumps -- is not the best part of living with a cat, but it can be managed. Adding canned or fresh pureed pumpkin -- not pumpkin pie filling -- is a good way to increase fiber in your cat's diet and help hair work its way through your cat's digestive system. Many cats enjoy a teaspoon of pumpkin daily if it's mixed with something yummy, such as canned food or the water from a can of tuna or clams. Daily brushing can help prevent hairballs as well, by reducing the amount of hair a cat swallows. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts. Veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker is founder of the Fear Free organization, co-founder of VetScoop.com and author of many best-selling pet care books. Kim Campbell Thornton is an award-winning journalist and author who has been writing about animals since 1985. Mikkel Becker is a behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/Kim.CampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

How to create a home environment that will keep cats content and comfortable

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Is your cat happy? September -- Happy Cat Month -- is a good time to find out what makes cats purr and ensure that you’re meeting their needs.

Cats have a reputation for being mysterious, aloof creatures, but if we look beneath the surface, we find that what makes them happy isn’t so different from what makes us happy. They enjoy companionship with people and other animals, play and activity, good food, proper care and an interesting environment. None of those things is difficult or expensive to provide.

Contrary to popular belief, most cats enjoy spending time with their people. A 2017 study at Oregon State University’s Human-Animal Interaction lab found that half of the 38 cats in the study sought out the company of humans -- even when food and toys were alternatives. Make it a priority to spend time with your cat in a way they enjoy, whether that’s a few minutes of lap time or play with a favorite toy.

Cats also can enjoy the companionship of other animals. When adopting a kitten, current advice is to get two from the same litter so they can be lifelong friends. Cats can also learn to love dogs, especially when introduced at an early age. The idea that cats and dogs are sworn enemies is a myth, a truth borne out by the many cat-and-dog friendships in thousands of households.

Watching a kitten or cat play is often more entertaining than any television show. Kittens, especially, will leap and spin and chase until they collapse for a nap. And you don’t have to spend a lot on toys for them. An empty box (uexpress.com/pets/pet-connection/2016/12/26), a wadded-up piece of paper or a paper bag with the handles cut off are all feline favorites.

Zazie Todd, author of “Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy,” says that rather than sturdy toys that hold up for a long time, cats may prefer paper or cardboard items they can shred. “Cats sometimes like when their toys start to disintegrate because it’s more like if they had actually caught something.”

Cats like variety and novelty, too. It’s a good idea to rotate toys regularly. When you bring them back out a few weeks later, they’re new again.

Cats have a reputation as fussy eaters, and that may be partly related to their status as obligate carnivores, or hypercarnivores, meaning they must have meat in their diet. That’s because cats lack the enzymes needed to produce the essential amino acids arginine and taurine; vitamins A, D and niacin; and some essential fatty acids. They have a genetic mutation making them indifferent to sweet flavors, plus at least seven functional bitter receptors, which may also influence what they’re willing to eat.

According to a 2019 study, cats appear to prefer diets containing about 30% of calories as protein, 27% as fat and 43% as carbohydrates. Always choose a food with a statement on the label saying the diet is complete and balanced and has undergone feline feeding trials.

One common misconception is that cats don’t need to be groomed because they clean themselves. Not so! Brushing is important to help remove dead hairs, distribute skin oils and make sure medium- and longhaired cats don’t develop mats and tangles. Most cats love the feel of being brushed, and it’s a great way to spend time with them.

What makes an interesting environment for a cat? Places where they can perch high, ideally in front of a window; places where they can hide; some safe, tasty and easily accessible potted plants to nibble on, such as tender grasses, parsley, thyme, valerian and of course catnip (no lilies!); an assortment of toys that will stimulate their hunting and pouncing instincts; a great scratching post (uexpress.com/pets/pet-connection/2017/12/18) and for cats who delight in the wet stuff, a small fountain. For more ideas, look here: fearfreehappyhomes.com/its-cat-play-fun-feline-enrichment.

Q&A

Yard-free

potty options

Q: We live in an upstairs condo with a small balcony, and it would be great to have an option for our dog to potty on the balcony during rainy or cold weather, if we’re unable to take him up and down the stairs because of our own illness or injury, or if he’s recovering from surgery or injury and shouldn’t use stairs. Do you have any tips?

A: You bring up some important concerns for people who don’t have yards. Both pet product manufacturers and clever pet owners have come up with several approaches that might work for you, depending on the size, age and trainability of your dog.

One is pee pads. Lots of people who live in high-rises use this method to housetrain their puppies or to give adult dogs a potty option if they’re gone for several hours. Start with an extra-large one so they have plenty of space to target, use a holder or frame to keep it in place or place it inside a small exercise pen or other area with limited space so it’s the only place the dog has for eliminating.

Some people place sod inside a kiddie pool or on top of a tarp so their dogs have a natural substrate where they can potty when the weather is bad or it’s too difficult to get them up and down stairs. You can also purchase squares of artificial or real grass to use on a balcony. Spritz it with water after use or change sod regularly to control odor, or purchase one with a bottom tray that captures urine and can then be removed and cleaned.

You can teach your dog to use a litter box filled with the litter of your choice, including shredded paper, paper pellets or dog-safe bark or mulch. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Be ready

for disasters

-- With the recent deadly wildfires in Lahaina and Hurricane Idalia in Florida, it’s a good time to remember that September is Disaster Preparedness Month, and that means pets, too. To be ready for a quick emergency evacuation, they need to be wearing updated ID tags and have a microchip registered with an organization so you can be contacted in the event you’re separated. Pack a storage bin or an easy-to-grab bag with a week’s worth of food, water and necessary medication for each pet (use and replace regularly so it’s always fresh); bowls, a can opener and spoon if you use canned food; a copy of your pet’s rabies certificate; an extra leash and poop pickup bags; and a favorite toy.

-- If you’re housetraining a new puppy or learning the potty habits of an adult dog, try tethering. That means the dog is leashed at your side at all times. It’s a great way to learn the signals a new dog or puppy gives when they need to go potty. It keeps them under your watchful eye so they can't get into mischief, and helps build a bond between you.

-- Have you ever looked at your cat's toes -- really looked at them? They have five toes on their front paws, but only four of them touch the ground when a cat is walking. The fifth toe, known as a dewclaw, is the feline equivalent of the thumb. While it's not opposable, the dewclaw does help the cat grasp things and climb trees. The toe anatomy makes it easy for cats to go up trees, but not so easy to come back down. The back paws have four toes but no dewclaws. Some cats have extra toes and are known as polydactyls, meaning "many fingers." -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts. Veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker is founder of the Fear Free organization, co-founder of VetScoop.com and author of many best-selling pet care books. Kim Campbell Thornton is an award-winning journalist and author who has been writing about animals since 1985. Mikkel Becker is a behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/Kim.CampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

We’re pro-kissing when it comes to most pets, but keep safety and happiness in mind before smooching them

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Do you smooch your pooch? Kiss your cat? You’re not alone. A 2021 survey by Just Food for Dogs found that 53% of its 2,000 respondents said they kissed their dog more than their partner. Another 2021 poll of 2,000 adults commissioned by cleaning product company Vileda discovered that 97% of respondents are happy to receive “kisses,” aka licks, from their pets.

Kisses between pets and people range from a soft nose-to-nose touch, kisses on the forehead between the eyes and on top of the head between the ears, and raspberries on the belly. Some pet owners avoid the muzzle, nose or mouth, but most dogs aren’t so choosy. They just give a big slurp wherever they can.

Kisses from people to pets are delivered primarily to dogs and cats, but a recent outbreak of salmonella in 11 states linked to small turtles -- ones with shells less than 4 inches -- has the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warning parents to make sure young children don’t kiss or snuggle with shelled, scaly or feathered pets.

Reptiles can carry salmonella germs in their droppings, which spread easily to their bodies, their tank water and people who touch them. It’s all too easy to acquire the bacteria simply by touching pet turtles or anything in their habitat and forgetting to immediately wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before touching anything else, especially the face or food.

Pet chickens can also carry salmonella, so the same “no kissing or cuddling” and “handwashing after handling” rules apply.

But what about dogs and cats? Is it OK to kiss them? You’ll find lots of articles online recommending against it, but that doesn’t stop most people. And some veterinary professionals are right there with you when it comes to kissing pets -- with some caveats.

Our own Dr. Marty Becker is a big proponent of getting and giving his dogs some sugar.

Veterinarian Tony Johnson, an internal medicine and ER specialist, says if dogs and humans are healthy, it’s an acceptable risk.

“If someone is immunocompromised or has just had an organ transplant, then probably no. Or if your dog has MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), probably best to avoid it.”

Licensed veterinary technician Colleen Clemett, who has kissed a lot of animals over the years, believes there are few zoonotic diseases of concern that could be spread by kissing or getting kisses from a pet.

To be on the safe side, however, therapy animals in particular are trained not to give kisses because they frequently encounter people who are immunocompromised.

Of course, it’s important to kiss only animals you know well. Never encourage children to go face-to-face with pets, who can be startled into a bite by the close interaction. Make sure you’re familiar with your animal’s body language and that they’re not expressing “get-away-from-me” signals such as turning their head away, flattening their ears, lowering their tail, crouching or closing their mouth.

Whether you kiss pets depends a lot on how they respond to it, too. Do they appear to welcome that smack between the ears, or do they cringe like a junior high boy whose mom just kissed him in front of his friends?

“I often wonder if they recognize it as a sign of affection,” says bull terrier owner Elizabeth Anderson Lopez of Lake Forest, California. One dog -- Maybelene --seems to enjoy head-top kisses, but her other dogs Tosh and Dexter merely tolerate them, so they get fewer.

Pet lover Daleen Comer knows some of her pets are unpredictable -- her cats have been known to go from purring to biting in a split second -- so she keeps her face a safe distance from them.

ER vet Johnson says two of his dogs love to give kisses -- and he’s not going to swipe left on that.

Q&A

Teaching cats

a touch cue

Q: I’ve heard of teaching a cat to touch a target stick. Why? And how?

A: Teaching “touch” has lots of great uses: asking your cat to move to or away from a certain spot -- the kitchen counter, for instance -- or to go into a carrier or hop on the scale at the vet. And it’s the foundation for tricks such as spin or sit. At its simplest, target training is a way to communicate with your cat.

To teach this skill, hold the target -- which can be something like a chopstick or the handle of a wooden spoon -- at the side of your cat’s face, just out of sight. Slowly move it into your cat’s field of vision, with the goal of catching her attention but not startling her. Using your voice (“Good!”) or a clicker, mark any interest your cat shows in the target, whether that’s a glance, a slight move toward it or a touch with nose or paw, and reward with a treat. Move the target away and repeat. Try holding it higher or lower if your cat doesn’t show interest. If your cat is fearful of anything unusual, start at a distance and reward for glancing at it or not running away. Practice for brief periods -- a minute or two at a time -- so she doesn’t lose interest.

For cats who need more encouragement, smear a small amount of a soft treat on the end of the stick. If she reaches out to sniff or lick the treat, mark and reward. Gradually offer the treat less often or remove it altogether, continuing to mark and reward for touching the target.

When your cat readily touches the target with her nose or mouth, add a verbal cue like “touch.” Say it just as your cat moves toward the target. -- Mikkel Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Maintain shelter

pet health

-- If you work or volunteer at a shelter, the following tips will help animals in your care stay healthy until adopted. Handle every animal who comes in as if they’re diseased. Wear disposable gloves, and change them frequently. Use paper towels instead of individual fabric cloths when cleaning cages, and discard them after each cage is cleaned. Make hand sanitizer readily available; apply it to wet hands and rub it in for one minute to ensure effectiveness. Use appropriate pet-safe disinfectants. Avoid spraying harsh chemicals in the presence of animals. Use disposable litter trays and food and water dishes.

-- Communicating with hand signals is one of the most important things you can do if you live with a dog who’s hearing-impaired. In addition to traditional training cues, such as a raised hand for “sit” or a downward hand motion for “down,” dogs can also learn American Sign Language to understand such words as “dinner,” “walk,” “play” or “outside.” A flashlight is another visual signal that can attract your dog’s attention when you flash the light toward them -- though be sure to avoid their eyes! Give verbal praise, too. Even if your dog can’t hear you, they can read your facial expression.

-- A survey by Chewy of 500 pet lovers found that 65% say trips are more enjoyable when pets come along. Since the pandemic began, 31% say they travel more with their pet. Most often, pets go on road trips (96%), while only 12% accompany owners on flights. Top challenges include finding pet-friendly lodging and making sure pets are comfortable away from home. What do they pack for pets? Portable bowls (53%), carriers (17%), calming aids (12%), backpacks (8%) and first-aid kits (5%). Preferred destinations have beaches or open spaces. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts. Veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker is founder of the Fear Free organization, co-founder of VetScoop.com and author of many best-selling pet care books. Kim Campbell Thornton is an award-winning journalist and author who has been writing about animals since 1985. Mikkel Becker is a behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/Kim.CampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.