Rabies vaccination is required for which species?

• Dogs, cats, and ferrets  

  [Louisiana Sanitary Code (LSC) Title 51, Part III. Chapt 1, §103.A] 

Who is legally authorized to administer a rabies vaccine?

• A licensed veterinarian. There are currently no provisions in Louisiana statutes that allow an individual working under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian to administer rabies vaccine. 

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

• Not addressed specifically for rabies. For medical records in general, the Louisiana Veterinary Practice Act (as of Oct 2015) states that “records shall be maintained for at least five (5) years.” [LA VPA §701 A.1.b and VPA §701 B.1] 

What are the age requirements for rabies vaccination in Louisiana?

• • MINIMUM Age: 3 months of age (which is consistent with the label on all licensed rabies vaccines on the market in the US today).
    
    Louisiana State sanitary code states: “No person shall own, keep or have in his custody a dog, cat, or ferret over three months of age that has not been vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian. Every owner of a dog, cat, or ferret shall cause said animal to be vaccinated initially with a series of two vaccinations, the first to be administered at three months of age, the second to be administered one year after the initial vaccination. Dogs, cats, or ferrets initially vaccinated later than three months of age shall also be administered a series of two vaccines, the second vaccine to be given one year after the initial vaccination.”

  • MUST BE VACCINATED BY: 4 months of age. Subsequently, a single booster dose of rabies vaccine must be administered not later than 1 year following the initial dose. Subsequent boosters shall conform to the [latest version] The Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control. [LSC T51, III.1 §103.A].

     

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

• Although not specifically addressed in Louisiana statutes, veterinarians should assume that 28 days following administration of the initial dose of rabies vaccine, the animal is considered “currently vaccinated”. This applies regardless of the animal’s age at the time the initial dose is administered.  

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

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

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 Louisiana, 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 (i.e., 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?

• Cats and dogs imported into Louisiana for any purpose “must be accompanied by an official health certificate, issued by an accredited veterinarian, showing they have been immunized against rabies within 12 months prior to entry. Exceptions are dogs and cats 3 months of age or younger which do not require a rabies vaccination to enter Louisiana.  
  [USDA APHIS website, State Entry Requirements: State Regulations for Louisiana, last modified Mar 6, 2015] 

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

• Yes. A licensed veterinarian can use discretion in administering either a 1-Year or 3-Year labeled rabies vaccine. If a 3-Year labeled vaccines is administered as the FIRST dose, that animal must be revaccinated 1 year later...regardless of the animal’s age at the time the initial dose is administered. 

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)?

  • Generally, it can be assumed that a veterinarian practicing in Louisiana does have discretion to administer either a 1-Year labeled, or a 3-Year labeled, rabies vaccine to an overdue animal. However, individual parishes may impose specific vaccine requirements when re-vaccinating overdue animals.

• When is the NEXT dose due?

  • Veterinarians should assume that the duration of immunity, following re-vaccination of an overdue animal, is based on the product label, ie, either 1 year or 3 years. 

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

• No. Within the United States, a rabies antibody titer is NOT recognized as an index of immunity (or protection) in lieu of 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?

• “Rabies Exposure” is not specifically defined for animals in Louisiana. The Louisiana Sanitary Code (rabies laws) only addresses animals being “bitten” by a rabid animal. [LSC T51, III.1 §107.A] 
   
  In Louisiana, determinations of animal “exposure” to rabies are made on an individual basis by the local animal control officials. 

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

• State Response Pending

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

• “Dogs, cats, or ferrets that are currently vaccinated shall be re-vaccinated immediately (within 96 hours of exposure) and confined in a manner determined by the local animal control officials for 45 days.“ [LSC T51, III.1 §107.A] 

  “Where confinement is required under the provisions of this Code, the owner, veterinarian, animal shelter or other custodian of the animal shall confine said animal in a cage or in another manner such that the animal cannot contact any person or other animal. Tethering is not permitted.” [LSC T51, III.1 §111.A] 

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):

    • “When bitten by a (confirmed or suspect) rabid animal, unvaccinated dogs, cats, or ferrets shall be destroyed immediately unless the owner is unwilling to have this done, in which case, the unvaccinated animal shall be confined (as described in §111) for four months for dogs and cats and six months for ferrets being released. A rabies vaccine shall be administered at the time of entry into quarantine (confinement) to bring the animal up to current rabies vaccination status. Administration of the vaccine shall be done as soon as possible. It is recommended that the period from exposure to vaccination not exceed 96 hours. If vaccination is delayed the official state public health veterinarian may consider increasing the quarantine period for dogs and cats from four to six months.” 

      [Dec 2022 Louisiana Sanitary Code (LSC) [T51, III.1 §107.A] 

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

    • “Dogs and cats that are overdue for a booster vaccination and that have appropriate documentation of having received a USDA-licensed rabies vaccine at least once previously shall immediately receive a booster vaccination and shall be kept under the owner’s control and observed for 45 days.” [LSC T51, III.1 §107.A.1] 

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

    • “Dogs and cats that are overdue for a booster and without appropriate documentation of having received a USDA-licensed rabies vaccine at least once previously shall be:

      • treated as unvaccinated, immediately given a booster vaccination and placed in strict quarantine; or 

      • the official state public health veterinarian may consider use of prospective serological monitoring (PSM) of the animal to document prior vaccination by providing evidence of an anamnestic response to booster vaccination. If the official state public health veterinarian authorizes PSM, the animal shall be strictly quarantined while PSM is performed. If the official state public health veterinarian confirms that PSM provides evidence of an anamnestic response, the period of strict quarantine may be ended, and the animal may be kept under the owner’s control and observed for 45 days. If there is inadequate evidence of an anamnestic response, the animal is considered to have never been vaccinated and shall be placed in strict quarantine for 4 to 6 months.

    • Overdue ferrets. Ferrets that are overdue for a booster shall be considered unvaccinated and shall be immediately vaccinated for rabies and strictly quarantined for 6 months.” 

      [LSC T51, III.1 §107.A]  https://www.doa.la.gov/media/j3hnpfdy/51.pdf   [link accessed Jan 2023] 

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

• The State of Louisiana DOES recognize results of Prospective Serologic Monitoring (PSM) as a means of documenting that a dog/cat has been previously vaccinated against rabies. 

  NOTE: Prior permission is required to test. Authorization to perform PSM on an individual patient is granted through the office of the State Public Health Veterinarian. 

  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 

  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. 

  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. 

  This requirement is the same whether the biting animal is currently vaccinated or is not vaccinated.  

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

  DO NOT VACCINATE the animal prior to beginning or during the 10-day confinement period. REASON: a reaction to vaccination could be confused with early signs of rabies. 

  Wording according to the Louisiana Sanitary Code (LSC): 

  “When any dog, cat, or ferret bites a human being, said animal shall be confined for a minimum of 10 days following the bite, or said animal shall be killed and the head submitted immediately to a laboratory of the Louisiana Department of Health for examination for rabies.  

  During the observation period a rabies vaccine should not be administered to the animal to avoid confusing signs of rabies with possible side effects of vaccine administration.  

  Any dog, cat, or ferret that develops any signs during the 10 day observation period shall be reported immediately to the local health authority and, provided such signs are compatible with rabies as determined by a licensed veterinarian or the official state public health veterinarian, the animal shall be killed and the head submitted to a laboratory of the Louisiana Department of Health for examination.” [LSC T51, III.1 §105.A] 

  “Where confinement is required under the provisions of this Code, the owner, veterinarian, animal shelter or other custodian of the animal shall confine said animal in a cage or in another manner such that the animal cannot contact any person or other animal. Tethering is not permitted.”  [LSC T51, III.1 §111.A] 

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. 

  This requirement is the same whether the biting animal is currently vaccinated or is not vaccinated.  

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

  DO NOT VACCINATE the animal prior to beginning or during the 10-day confinement period. REASON: a reaction to vaccination could be confused with early signs of rabies. 

  Wording according to the Louisiana Sanitary Code (LSC): 

  “When any dog, cat, or ferret bites a human being, said animal shall be confined for a minimum of 10 days following the bite, or said animal shall be killed and the head submitted immediately to a laboratory of the Louisiana Department of Health for examination for rabies.  

  During the observation period a rabies vaccine should not be administered to the animal to avoid confusing signs of rabies with possible side effects of vaccine administration.  

  Any dog, cat, or ferret that develops any signs during the 10 day observation period shall be reported immediately to the local health authority and, provided such signs are compatible with rabies as determined by a licensed veterinarian or the official state public health veterinarian, the animal shall be killed and the head submitted to a laboratory of the Louisiana Department of Health for examination.” [LSC T51, III.1 §105.A] 

  “Where confinement is required under the provisions of this Code, the owner, veterinarian, animal shelter or other custodian of the animal shall confine said animal in a cage or in another manner such that the animal cannot contact any person or other animal. Tethering is not permitted.”  [LSC T51, III.1 §111.A] 

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)

• No. The State of Louisiana does not authorize “point-of-care” exemptions for rabies vaccination. The State does, however, upon request from a veterinarian with a patient that exhibits a demonstrated reaction to the vaccine or negative health effect(s) from a vaccine, issue a letter recognizing the veterinarian’s decision not to vaccinate. 

  In such cases, a rabies antibody titer must be performed annually on these animals. (The antibody titer is not viewed as an index of “protective” immunity but is only used to determine whether or not the animal should be re-vaccinated [aka, “boostered”] against rabies during the exemption period). 

  If the exemption is approved, the terms of the exemption state that the animal is not excused from the sanitary code requirements should said animal be involved in a bite incident or be exposed to rabies. 

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 indicated by State or local laws/regulations. Exemption is not authorized on the basis of age alone. 

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

• The State of Louisiana imposes no restrictions on veterinarians regarding administration of rabies vaccine to hybrid animals. However, because there are no rabies vaccines specifically licensed for use in hybrid species, vaccination cannot be considered to immunize/protect a hybrid pet against rabies virus exposure. 

  Wolves, wolf hybrids, and feline species, other than Fellis felis/domestic cat hybrids,(eg Bengal cats), for the purposes of rabies vaccination or exposure, are regarded as “wild animals” in Louisiana. [LSC T51, III.1 §101.A] Wild animals that are exposed to a rabid animal “should be euthanized immediately”. [LSC T51, III.1 §107.C] 

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.