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2/29/2016 <br />When it comes to <br />vaccinating either people or <br />animals, they don't just all of a <br />sudden on a predetermined <br />date have zero protection or <br />loss of priming." <br />Dr. Michael C. Moore, <br />Kansas State Veterinary <br />Diagnostic Laboratory <br />New guidance for pets exposed to rabies <br />"The initial results were pretty outstanding, we felt, so we <br />proactively started recruiting people," Dr. Moore said. <br />Between 2010 and 2014, the researchers obtained serum <br />samples from a total of 74 dogs and 33 cats that, according to the <br />study abstract, "had been exposed to rabies and brought to a <br />veterinarian for proactive serologic monitoring or that had been <br />brought to a veterinarian for booster rabies vaccination." <br />Results: "All animals had an antirabies antibody titer >_ 0.5 IU /mL 5 <br />to 15 days after booster vaccination. Dogs with an out -of -date <br />vaccination status had a higher median increase in titer, higher <br />median fold increase in titer, and higher median titer following <br />booster vaccination, compared with dogs with current vaccination <br />status." <br />According to the report, "Because of the small number of cats in the study and the fact that most cats ... had a titer ? 12 <br />IU /mL 5 to 15 days after booster vaccination, proportional hazards analysis could not be used to analyze the response <br />to booster vaccination in cats with current versus out -of -date vaccination status." <br />The authors concluded, "Findings supported immediate booster vaccination followed by observation for 45 days of <br />dogs and cats with an out -of -date vaccination status that are exposed to rabies, as is the current practice for dogs and <br />cats with current vaccination status." <br />Dr. Moore said, "When it comes to vaccinating either people or animals, they don'tjust all of a sudden on a <br />predetermined date have zero protection or loss of priming." <br />The Rabies Laboratory at the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory receives several calls every month <br />regarding cats and dogs exposed to rabies and overdue for a vaccine. Dr. Moore said the only recourse has been <br />euthanasia or a six -month quarantine at a cost of thousands of dollars. <br />"We are very excited that people might have an additional option if their cat or dog is out -of -date and exposed to <br />rabies," he said. <br />https: / /www.avma.orglnewsljavmanews /pages /160301a.aspx ?utm_ source = javma- news &utm_ medium= email &utm campaign= gen &PF =1 3/ <br />