Hesitancy around vaccines has spilled over to pet owners in recent years, sparking concern about the resurgence of rabies, a virus that’s nearly always fatal.

Some pet owners argue against vaccinating dogs – over concerns that vaccines shorten the canines’ lifespans or beliefs that vaccines can cause autism in dogs. But autism’s spectrum of symptoms is uniquely human and experts say anti-vaxxing campaigns among dog owners are especially dangerous considering the public health consequences of rabies.

“While, thankfully, we don’t see a lot of rabies, the consequence is disastrous,” Dr. Rena Carlson, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, told USA TODAY. “It’s essentially 100% fatal. So having a rabies vaccine for your cat and dog is really, really important on many levels.”

  • Baggins@piefed.social
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    3 months ago

    I thought was a spoof post - then I saw it was USA. And now those morons will push it onto FB and even more morons will pick up on it. And animals will suffer because of human stupidity.

    • AA5B@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      Seriously, this is the first I heard f such idiots. Of course, I’ve heard of people who don’t vaccinate their pets but that’s based on cost, and paperwork to register. Are there really people fearing casing autism in dogs? Wtf?

      Now that someone wrote about it, I’m sure it’ll make the rounds of the gullible and uneducated. It’s a thing now, whether or not it was before

      • Baggins@piefed.social
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        3 months ago

        The autism in dogs part got me as well.

        I know what you mean about some people and the cost though, vet bills are $teep!

        Thinking back to when we had pets when I was a kid (1960s) we never took them to vets etc. unless ot was absolutely necessary. We couldn’t afford it and we didn’t know better. Now, I spend more on my cat’s teeth than I do my own!

        • evranch@lemmy.ca
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          3 months ago

          Veterinary cost is insane in Canada. At least in the USA you can order rabies shots and administer them yourself. Here there’s no way to acquire them except via a vet, which means you’re usually in for $200+ for a shot that’s worth $5.

          I’ve heard of people close to the border hopping across with their dog to slam a couple shots into them.

          I’m so glad to run a farm as I have access to basics like penicillin and some mid-grade vet knowledge. When the dog bashes himself up and gets infected I can just dress it myself instead of bringing him in to pay $500 for the same thing.

    • Son_of_dad@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      Oh there’s already a bunch of people on there who are anti vac/anti medicine and are pet owners. It’s pretty abusive if you ask me, to take on a pet but not provide them with the health care they need. And these people not only endanger their pets but everyone else’s.

      • Baggins@piefed.social
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        3 months ago

        Totally agree, but like I said, years ago we didn’t know any different. no excuse now though. Can’t afford the pet? Don’t have one. There are questions being asked about vet prices here in UK at the moment. £25 for a couple of pills etc. There were some drops I was advised to put on my cat’s food - £45 from the vet, under £10 online :-(

    • pop@lemmy.ml
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      3 months ago

      Unintended side effects of too much propaganda, your population really begin to think they are invincible and also smart.

      “tHiS iS aMeRiCa”

    • Cuttlefish1111@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      What I find hilarious is people who think their population of gullible/ignorant wouldn’t fall for everything Americans do and probably much more

  • SteefLem@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    Rabies scares the shit out of me. Ive seen some youtube videos and that shit is no fun i see why zombies are based on this disease. My pets get the vaccine every 2 years (how long they last).

    Wife said every 3 years :)

    • AA5B@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      It depends on whether you’re establishing immunity or maintaining it, and probably differed in where you live.

      Like every other medical action, I hire an expert, listen to their recommendations, ask enough to understand them, and generally follow through

  • Diplomjodler@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    I hope some of those dumb fuckers get bitten and then refuse the vaccine until it’s too late.

  • zephorah@lemm.ee
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    3 months ago

    Vaccines are medical marvels. 1-3 and done on debilitating conditions. Love it. I personally like not having to worry about things like Polio and Diptheria.

    Sure, tetanus, but one in 10 years isn’t bad. That shit is everywhere. No it doesn’t originate on rusty nails, that’s simply a delivery system with a next level surface area on it. Breaks in the skin, by any means, are what gets tetanus in.

    Flu is a science prediction of the three most likely strains of the year. Usually it’s solid, but predictions are just that so sometimes life throws a curve ball and the mix doesn’t include what’s going around. Flu is ever mutating and there are many. If two flu strains meet in the night a third will be born. So, the yearly flu shot can in no way include them all. As such, they don’t do too bad on flu shots.

    Rabies is scary as fuck and fatal. There’s a tiny window of time to get the shot once you’re exposed then you are fucked. And you may not show symptoms for a year. The Milwaukee thing was a bit of an outlier, it’s not a viable treatment.

    I don’t get these crunchy motherfuckers and their need for not just self destruction but endangering everyone around them with their little crusades.

    • LaunchesKayaks@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      I got jumped by raccoons last summer and had to get the post-exopsure rabies shot series. It sucked, but was better than getting rabies

  • RizzRustbolt@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    It’s been around longer than homonids.

    Rabies has a tangible effect on our political systems.

    Rabies is why computer generated movies sucked for decades.

    Rabies is fucking evil.

  • Treczoks@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    Maybe humanity is lucky: When their dog catches the rabies, those idiots “go down with the ship”.