Rabies vaccination is required for which species?

• Rabies vaccination is required for dogs, cats, and ferrets. 

Who is legally authorized to administer a rabies vaccine?

• A licensed veterinarian only.

How long must a copy of the signed rabies certificate be maintained by the practice?

• For as long as the vaccination is current.

What are the age requirements for rabies vaccination in Nevada?

• MINIMUM Age: 3 months of age.
   
  MUST BE VACCINATED BY: Nevada does not specify a mandatory age for an animal to receive its initial dose of rabies vaccine.

Following administration of the initial dose of rabies vaccine, when is an animal considered to be "currently vaccinated"?

• 28 days following administration of the initial dose of rabies vaccine. This applies regardless of the animal’s age at the time the initial dose is administered.  

  For animals imported into Nevada that have documentation of rabies vaccination prior to entering Nevada, the State considers that animal to be immediately “currently vaccinated” at the time of entry. In the event an imported animal is exposed to rabies after entering the State, the determination of rabies “exposure”, and the consequences for the animal, would be determined on a case-by-case basis.

What criteria constitute "currently vaccinated" against rabies?

• The term “currently vaccinated” is commonly used within the context of state laws affecting rabies vaccination and control.  Within the US, an animal that is “currently vaccinated” must meet EACH of the following criteria. 
   
  The animal must be vaccinated:

  • …with a USDA licensed rabies vaccine.

  • …with a vaccine that is within the labeled expiration date.

  • …by an individual who is authorized to administer rabies vaccine. 

  • …at the appropriate age, interval, and dose (ie, the FULL dose, as stipulated on the manufacturer’s label, must be administered)

• (NOTE: requirements vary significantly among states-see FAQ #2 for the requirement in this state).

Is there an extended-duration (beyond 3 years) rabies vaccine available today? (see also Question #10)

• NO.

  USDA licensed rabies vaccines available for administration to animals residing with the US are only 1-Year or 3-Year labeled vaccines.  4-YEAR labeled rabies vaccines have been discontinued and are no longer recognized in the US.  

  In Nevada, a veterinarian has the discretion to administer a 1-Year or 3-Year labeled rabies vaccine as THE INITIAL DOSE. However…re-vaccination (booster) is required 1 year following the initial dose…regardless of the animal’s age and regardless of the vaccine administered as the initial dose.  

  RE-VACCINATION of DOGS and CATS: When re-vaccinating (booster) against rabies, the duration that a dog or cat is considered “currently vaccinated” is strictly determined by the product label of the last vaccine administered (ie, either 1 year or 3 years).  

  RE-VACCINATION of FERRETS:  When re-vaccinating (booster) against rabies, the duration that a ferret is considered “currently vaccinated” is only 1 year.

What are the rabies vaccination requirements for a dog/cat imported from another state or country?

• Any animal that is 3 months of age or older must be vaccinated against rabies. A Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) must have been issued within 30 days before entry into the State of Nevada. Rabies vaccination status has to be documented on the CVI and must be current if the animal is 12 weeks of age or older. 

Can a 3-year labeled rabies vaccine be substituted for a 1-year labeled rabies vaccine when administering the initial dose?

• YES. Regardless of the vaccine used at the time of initial vaccination (ie, 1-Year or 3-Year), the animal must be revaccinated not later than one year later. Thereafter, a veterinarian has the discretion to administer a 1-Year or a 3-Year labeled rabies vaccine. The duration of immunity is determined by the product label of the vaccine used, ie, either 1 year or 3 years. 

What are the re-vaccination requirements for a pet that is overdue for a required rabies booster? (4 parts)

• When is an animal considered to be "overdue" for a rabies booster?

  • An animal is considered “overdue”, and NOT currently vaccinated, if just one day beyond the labeled duration of the last rabies vaccine administered (1 year or 3 years).  

  • The exception to this rule is that an animal is considered “overdue” after just one year following the initial rabies vaccine dose, regardless of the vaccine labeling.

• Following re-vaccination of an "overdue" animal, when is the animal considered to be "currently vaccinated"?

  • A dog or cat that is overdue for a rabies vaccine is considered “immediately currently vaccinated” at the time the animal is re-vaccinated.

  • This rule applies despite the time that has lapsed since administration of the previous dose of rabies vaccine.

• When re-vaccinating the “overdue” patient, which vaccine must be used (1-Year or 3-Year labeled vaccine)?

  • A veterinarian has discretion to administer a 1-Year or a 3-Year labeled rabies vaccine.  

• When is the NEXT dose due?

  • The next rabies vaccine dose is to be administered based on the product label of the last dose administered: either 1 year or 3 years.

Can a "positive" rabies antibody titer substitute for a required booster dose?

• NO. Within the United States, a “positive” rabies antibody titer is NOT recognized as an index of immunity (or protection) in lieu of vaccination and therefore does NOT substitute for a required vaccination.  

  NOTE: A “positive” rabies titer from a certified laboratory only means that the animal (at the time of travel) has been “adequately vaccinated” against rabies and meets the rabies vaccination requirement of that country/region at the time of importation.

  For a current list of importation requirements by country see:

  https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel

• or

• Search: APHIS Pet Travel

What constitutes rabies "exposure" in a pet?

• An animal that has been bitten, mouthed, mauled, or closely confined on the same premises with a known or suspected rabid animal is considered exposed.
  In Nevada, the examining veterinarian may make the determination of exposure…in the event the examining veterinarian is unable or unwilling to declare an animal as “exposed”, the State or local rabies control authorities will do so.

Who has the authority to determine if a pet has been exposed to rabies?

• Response Pending State review.
  In Nevada, the examining veterinarian may make the determination of exposure…in the event the examining veterinarian is unable or unwilling to declare an animal as “exposed”, the State or local rabies control authorities will do so.

What are the consequences of rabies "exposure" in a pet that is "currently vaccinated"? (see also FAQ #6 and #13)

• A 45-day confinement (at the discretion of the rabies control authority this can be an in home quarantine) is required. The animal is to be immediately (within 96 hours of exposure) vaccinated against rabies on entry into quarantine.

What are the consequences of rabies "exposure" in a pet that is not "currently vaccinated"? (see also FAQ #6 and #13)

• Three variations must be considered in determining management of the exposed animal.

  • Unvaccinated (ie, has NEVER been vaccinated against rabies):

    • The animal is to be quarantined for 180 days within a professionally supervised quarantine facility. The animal, if still healthy, is to be revaccinated against rabies 150-days after the exposure (ie, 1 month prior to release).

  • Is OVERDUE for a booster, and has documentation of prior vaccination:

    • State Response Pending

  • Is OVERDUE for a booster, but DOES NOT HAVE documentation of vaccination:

    • State Response Pending

Does Nevada recognize the results of Prospective Serologic Monitoring (PSM) as valid documentation that a dog/cat has been previously vaccinated against rabies?

• State Response Pending

• Prospective Serologic Monitoring (PSM) is a defined testing protocol specifically indicated for use in dogs & cats (ONLY) that have been determined (by public health or rabies control authorities) to be “exposed” to rabies (See also FAQs #12 and #13 in this section) yet, the owner is unable to provide valid documentation of recent rabies vaccination.  

  NOTE: the PSM testing protocol and submission requirements are strictly defined and must be adhered to. The PSM testing protocol is available at:

  http://www.nasphv.org/Documents/NASPHVSerologicMonitoring2016.pdf

• Indications for PSM: Applies ONLY to dogs and cats.

  WHERE PSM is ALLOWED BY THE STATE or LOCAL JURISDICTION, all the following criteria must apply:

• the dog/cat has been exposed to a confirmed or suspected rabid animal (as determined by public health or designated rabies control authorities); and,

• the owner cannot provide valid documentation of previous vaccination (with a USDA Licensed vaccine); and,

• the owner of the dog/cat that is determined to have been “exposed” to rabies (see questions #12 and #13) wants to avoid euthanasia or the expense of strict quarantine (usually 4 months or 6 months, depending on the state); and,

• the animal can be managed by a veterinarian who is able to conduct the PSM protocol.

• NOTE:Please check the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians website at www.nasphv.org for the most current guidance on the testing protocol prior to any sample collection.

  NOTE: properly labelled, paired specimens are required.  Do not send samples separately.  Both serum samples should be received by the laboratory at the same time.

What action is required if an animal that is "currently vaccinated" bites a person? (see also FAQ #6)

• The animal causing a bite injury to a person is required to be quarantined for 10 DAYS.

  DO NOT VACCINATE the animal prior to beginning the 10-day confinement.
    
  REASON:  an adverse reaction to the vaccine could be confused with early signs of rabies and could result in a decision to euthanize and test.

  NOTE: This requirement is the same whether the biting animal is currently vaccinated or is not vaccinated. See FAQ #18. 
   
  (NOTE: THE LOCATION IN WHICH THE ANIMAL IS QUARANTINED MAY BE DETERMINED BY LOCAL RABIES CONTROL AUTHORITIES).

What action is required if an animal that is "not currently vaccinated" bites a person? (see also FAQ #6)

• The animal causing a bite injury to a person is required to be quarantined for 10 DAYS.

  DO NOT VACCINATE the animal prior to beginning the 10-day confinement. 
   
  REASON: an adverse reaction to the vaccine could be confused with early signs of rabies and could result in a decision to euthanize and test.

  This requirement is the same whether the biting animal is currently vaccinated or is not vaccinated.  See also FAQ #17.

  (NOTE: THE LOCATION IN WHICH THE ANIMAL IS QUARANTINED MAY BE DETERMINED BY LOCAL RABIES CONTROL AUTHORITIES).

As a licensed veterinarian, do you have the authority to exempt an animal from the legal requirement to be vaccinated against rabies? (eg., for medical reasons)

• Yes. Documentation requires cause for exemption (permanent or temporary) and a description of the animal.

  Exemption approval does not imply the animal is immunized. In the event the exempted animal is exposed to known/suspect rabid animal and is overdue rabies vaccination, the animal is subject to a 180-day quarantine within a professionally supervised quarantine facility.

At what age is it no longer necessary to vaccinate an animal against rabies?

• Within states that require rabies vaccine be administered, re-vaccination is required throughout life at the appropriate interval for the species as required by State or local laws/regulations.  Exemption is not authorized on the basis of age.

Is rabies vaccination of a hybrid or exotic pet allowed or recognized?

• No. 

  Nevada does not specifically prohibit veterinarians from vaccinating hybrid animals against rabies (extra-label use), but the State does not recognize the vaccinated hybrid pet to be “currently vaccinated” or immune to rabies. The reason: rabies vaccines are licensed specifically on the basis of challenge studies in defined species. The efficacy of rabies vaccination administered to a hybrid dog/cat is unknown. There are currently no rabies vaccines licensed for use in hybrid dogs or cats.

  A hybrid dog/cat that is exposed to a known or suspected rabid animal is subject to euthanasia and testing regardless of its rabies vaccination status.

At the State level, what authority does the Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control carry?

• The Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control is published by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc.  Recommendations outlined in the latest version of the Compendium serve as a basis for animal rabies prevention and control programs throughout the United States and facilitate standardization of procedures among jurisdictions.  As published, the Compendium is not a statutory document.

  NOTE: many (but not all) States have recently revised rabies laws/regulations by citing designated recommendations outlined in the latest version of the Compendium.  Where cited in law, published recommendations do serve as the legal basis for patient management decisions made in practice as they concern rabies and rabies vaccination.  

  Compendium recommendations, if included as legal requirements for this state, are reflected in the FAQs listed within this section.