Why does my pet need the rabies vaccine?

Although the majority of rabies cases occur in wildlife, most humans are given rabies vaccine as a result of exposure to domestic animals. This explains the tremendous cost of rabies prevention in domestic animals in the United States. While wildlife are more likely to be rabid than are domestic animals in the United States, the amount of human contact with domestic animals greatly exceeds the amount of contact with wildlife. Your pets and other domestic animals can be infected when they are bitten by rabid wild animals.

When "spillover" rabies occurs in domestic animals, the risk to humans is increased. Pets are therefore vaccinated by your veterinarian to prevent them from acquiring the disease from wildlife, and thereby transmitting it to humans.

Show All Answers

1. When is the Middlesex County Rabies Clinic?
2. How can I protect my pet from rabies?
3. Why does my pet need the rabies vaccine?
4. What happens if a neighborhood dog or cat bites me?
5. What happens if my pet (cat, dog, ferret) is bitten by a wild animal?
6. I am moving to a rabies-free country and want to take my pets with me. Where can I get more information?