More than half of U.S. dog owners expressed concerns about vaccinating their dogs, including against rabies, according to a new study published Saturday in the journal Vaccine. The study comes as anti-vaccine sentiments among humans have exploded in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pets are now often considered to be a member of the family, and their health-care decisions are weighed with the same gravity. But the consequences of not vaccinating animals can be just as dire as humans. Dogs, for example, are responsible for 99% of rabies cases globally. Rabies, which is often transmitted via a bite, is almost always fatal for animals and people once clinical signs appear. A drop in rabies vaccination could constitute a serious public health threat.
In the new study, the authors surveyed 2,200 people and found 53% had some concern about the safety, efficacy or necessity of canine vaccines. Nearly 40% were concerned that vaccines could cause dogs to develop autism, a theory without any scientific merit.
I know several people who don’t vaccinate their pets. I don’t hang out with them if their critters are around. It’s not worth the risk.
I had half my face ripped off by a dog when I was a kid, so I take rabies very seriously. I got jumped by 3 raccoons a while ago and went through the rabies vaccine process as a precaution.
I get my animals every vaccine that my vet offers. Gotta protect their furry lil dumb asses
My cats are 100% indoors, and I still got them all their vaccines. It would be ridiculous not to.
Exactly. My cats don’t go outside at all and they have everything. Who knows what I or my dogs could drag inside on our feet.