Many vets have begun to embrace progressive ideas about vaccination in recent years and finally those of us who believe we over-vaccinate too much might have some scientific evidence to support our instincts. The problem is that there have been no clinical trials to prove the rabies vaccine provides immunity beyond three years - or as much as five to seven years.

That is about to change.

Rabies is the only vaccine mandated by law for dogs and cats - primarily because it is transferable to humans. Many states require pets to be revaccinated at three-year intervals (such as New York), but others (like Alabama) still require annual boosters. Along with some states which have not moved forward with new research and knowledge in practice, some vets still prescribe annual shots for canine diseases such as distemper and parvovirus when three years is considered to be the minimum interval between boosters, or giving vaccines that are not recommended at all, such as the coronavirus. The American Animal Hospital Association has updated their canine vaccination guidelines at http://www.aahanet.org incidentally.

Which brings us to the Rabies Challenge Fund and why it's so important for us to support this project... Kris Christine, Jean Dodds of Hemopet in Garden Grove, CA and Ronald Schultz at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine in Madison have joined forces to start clinical trials. To fund the first year of the study, $177,000 was needed, and thanks to the contributions of concerned owners, veterinarians and many dog clubs, they can now start.

Next month, the concurrent 5- and 7-year challenge studies will begin under the supervision of Ronald Schultz who is volunteering his time as the principal investigator; the University of Wisconsin will donate all the overhead costs. And five years from now, this study will provide the proof what many have long believed - that the rabies vaccine provides long-term immunity.

Although the Rabies Challenge Fund has its first year budget in hand, there is an annual $150,000 annual budget that must be met for it to continue each year to completion. The Rabies Challenge Fund is as grass roots as you can get. Individuals can and do make a difference.

Send donations to:

Rabies Challenge Fund, c/o Hemopet
11330 Markon Drive
Garden Grove, CA 92841

For more information on The Rabies Challenge Fund, visit http://www.RabiesChallengeFund.org

Why challenge the life of the rabies vaccine?

By validating the 'true' life of rabies virus immunity and moving to five and hopefully seven years, we will decrease the risk of adverse reactions in our animals and minimize their repeated exposure to foreign substances. Killed vaccines like those for rabies virus can trigger immediate and delayed adverse vaccine reactions (termed "vaccinosis") While there may be immediate hypersensitivity reactions, other acute events tend to occur 24-72 hours afterwards, or up to 45 days later in the case of delayed reactions. Reactions that have been documented include:

• Behavior changes such as aggression and separation anxiety
• Obsessive behavior,self-mutilation, tail chewing
• Pica - eating wood, stones, earth, stool
• Destructive behavior, shredding bedding
• Seizures, epilepsy
• Fibrosarcomas at injection site
• Autoimmune diseases such as those affecting bone marrow and blood cells, joints, eyes, skin, kidney, liver, bowel, and central nervous system.
• Muscular weakness and or atrophy
• Chronic digestive problems

(Courtesy of http://rabieschallengefund.org/page4.html)