Do you use inactivated, non adjuvanted rabies vaccines? How is the one year “safer” than the three year and does the latter meet the county requirement for the period it is effective?

We utilize an inactivated, non-adjuvanted rabies vaccine for cats because this vaccine is less likely to stimulate an inflammatory response at the site of the injection that could, in rare cases, trigger the development of a potentially life-threatening fibrosarcoma tumor. This vaccine is only available in a one-year duration form.

All of the three-year rabies vaccines are highly adjuvanted which causes additional concern about stimulating a greater inflammatory response at the site of the injection that could trigger the development of a fibrosarcoma tumor.

Each of the vaccines mentioned above should be effective at providing protection from rabies if utilized properly and are all accepted by state and county law if administered by a licensed veterinarian.

Link V. Welborn, DVM, DABVP
Board Certified in Canine and Feline Practice