Category: legal

145 Blog Review of Texas laws on Rabies Vaccination

I have been getting quite a few hits on my blog website about rabies vaccinations, and it’s been a while since I have written about it. Here is an updated review of Texas laws concerning Rabies.

All dogs and cats in Texas must be vaccinated for rabies by 4 months of age by or under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian using a vaccine licensed by the USDA. The vaccine must be approved for that species and given after the minimum age requirement and by the right route of administration. There are no exemptions to this requirement, even for medical reasons or by demonstrating measurable rabies antibody titers.

Animals should be boosted according to the recommended interval as established by the manufacturer, unless limited by local ordinances. Most rabies vaccines are boosted at one- or three-year intervals. For a USDA licensed triennial (3 year) vaccine, the typical interval is booster 1 year after initial vaccination, and then every 3 years. For a 1-year vaccine, boosters are given annually. As far as I know, all the local cities and counties recognize the 3-year vaccine interval.

What is the minimum age for dogs and cats to be vaccinated for rabies?This is usually regarded as 12 weeks. The sweet spot is to vaccinate for rabies between 12-16 weeks of age.

What vaccines does Garden Ridge Animal Hospital use? For dogs, I use Defensor 3 by Zoetis, approved for dogs, cats, and ferrets, has a 3-year label, and have use it for over 20 year with no problems. But for cats, I currently use Purevax Feline Rabies by Merial  since it is adjuvant free, but it only has a 1 year label. The non- adjuvant vaccine is recommended to reduce inflammation at injection site and prevent injection site sarcomas. No one wants their cat to get cancer because of a vaccine, but it can rarely happen. For ferrets, the Defensor 3 is approved with annual boosters.

What about very old pets or “inside only” cats? The law is clear that they must be vaccinated and stay vaccinated. Realistically, an inside only cat isn’t going to spontaneously get rabies, but if they bite or scratch a human a series of events will happen that puts your unvaccinated cat in rabies quarantine for 10 days, usually at a shelter. If a vaccinated pet bites a human, the quarantine time can often be served at home. All rabies vaccines are killed, dead, not alive. They seldom make pets even run a fever. The human rabies vaccine that I have been given is so safe I could get boosted even when I was pregnant. (Yes, vets are vaccinated against rabies)

What if my pet was vaccinated over 3 years ago, and overdue a booster? Upon receiving a single dose of vaccine, they will be considered current, and assigned the maximum vaccination interval based on the license of the vaccine.

Why does the state care about rabies vaccination and no other diseases like parvo and distemper? Rabies affects humans, is 99.9% fatal, no cure, and the other diseases don’t. We vaccinate pets to protect humans.

How does the state test for rabies in an affected animal that is euthanized? The head (brain) is sent off to the state laboratory. There is no blood test to confirm rabies for pet, livestock or wildlife.

How can I find out if my pet’s rabies vaccines are up to date? If you pet was vaccinated at Garden Ridge, we have record. You can access your pet’s vaccines history online through our Pet Portal, found on our website. You do have to log in the client number that is on your receipts, and then create a password. Many clients who board their pets elsewhere or use doggie daycare find the online portal convenient and always available.

For more information:
https://www.dshs.texas.gov/idcu/disease/rabies/vaccine/pets/
Actual legal state regulations; https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.ViewTAC?tac_view=5&ti=25&pt=1&ch=169&sch=A&rl=Y

111 CBD for Pets

Hardly a day goes by when a client doesn’t ask me about CBD products. Many companies are marketing CBD oil for pets, mostly dogs, to manage pain, arthritis, seizures, and anxiety. Clients want their pets not to hurt, nor seize, and not to get high. So What’s Up with CBD?

CBD is short for Cannabidiol, one of several cannabinoid compounds naturally produced to the Cannabis plant. CBD isn’t THC (the one that is psychotropic), and does have many medicinal properties that we are trying to figure out. Unfortunately, we have only recently discovered the naturally occurring endocannabinoid receptor in our body, just like we have natural opioid receptor that react to derivatives of opium, another plant based compound.

Legally, cannabis is tricky too. The FDA has classified it as Controlled Schedule I, the most dangerous category, which has stifled legitimate testing for decades. The climate is changing, and it is now legal to grow industrial hemp in several states. Hemp by legal definition produces less than 0.3mg THC, but it looks identical to the marijuana plants that do make THC. So Hemp makes CBD in different amounts and wonderful other compounds, called terpenes, which are the aromatic essential oils which also have effects on living systems.

There are several well-constructed completed University run therapeutic drug trials with CBD for dogs with specific diseases, and many more on going. Eventually, we want to know the ideal dose of CBD (and other terpenes) for different disease conditions, which form is best absorbed (oral chews, sublingual tinctures, or even topical), how often to give, can it be given with other medicines (like for arthritis & seizures dogs that are already on meds), side effects, and most importantly—-Which product is the “best”?

I have just completed a six hour online course to learn more about this new category of medicine, and I don’t have the answers, but I am learning what questions to ask at least.

If you are looking at a pet CBD product, ask for the Certificate of Analysis. It should come from an independent lab, show all the different cannabinoid compounds, but especially CBD, and THC. Ideally, it would include terpenes. And it should be recent and on this specific batch or lot, not something done 18 months ago. “Organic” is also preferred due to less pesticide residues. Look for grown in America, not overseas. Keep a log of your pet’s response and dose. If it is helping, keep using it and try to use the same product next time, knowing that CBD is derived from a plant, and each batch could be slightly different. Just like wine, a bottle of Cabernet this year will be different than one last year, even from the same vineyard, even on the same vines. The wines may have the same alcohol content, but may taste slightly different. For CBD and terpenes, those variations could make all the difference in the medical response.

Stay tuned for more CBD updates as they occur.

For more information and terminology: https://www.veterinarycannabis.org/guidelines-for-pet-parents.html
https://www.fda.gov/news-events/public-health-focus/fda-regulation-cannabis-and-cannabis-derived-products-questions-and-answers#approved
veterinarynews.dvm360.com/cornell-takes-lead-cannabidiol-research
https://www.akcpetinsurance.com/blog/cbd-oil-for-dogs
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2018.00165/full
https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/terpenes-the-flavors-of-cannabis-aromatherapy
https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/understanding-cannabis-testing

59 Emotional Support Animals and Flying

This week, American Airlines, based in Dallas, has changed their rules for flying Emotional Support Animals. This won’t apply to true Service dogs, which have been credentialed. And it won’t take place until July 1, 2018. The flying public had been really pushing the limits of the previous rules by claiming nontraditional animals like peacocks and goats were Emotional Support Animals. Here are the new rules:

They must be able to fit by your feet, under the seat, or on your lap (smaller than a 2 year old child)
They can’t protrude or block the aisle
They can’t occupy a seat
They can’t eat from tray tables
They must be trained to behavior properly in public.
They must be on leash or harness and under your control at all times
They can’t display disruptive behavior (that can’t be corrected) including: growling, biting, or jumping
It now excludes nontraditional pet species like reptile, insects, livestock, and water fowl

If you want to fly with your Emotional Support Animal on American after July 1, you have to do some paperwork. There are 3 forms that must be submitted 48 hours before the flight. One has to be completed by a Mental Health Professional stating that you have a need, you will need it at your destination, and documenting their credentials. There are quite a few international destinations with many more restrictions.

These seem like common sense rules for animals inside the cabin.  I would certainly love to take my little Sheltie with me at my seat, but I don’t “need” him there with me.  And if I did need him for emotional support, I am sure my health provider would provide the documentation necessary.  I am not sure I want 25 pounds on my lap, and he won’t fit under the seat. I traveled once with my 18 month old son on my lap and he was squirmy.  I wish I had paid for the extra seat.

You can still fly your pet in cargo, and most airlines require a health certificate from a veterinarian 10 days before the flight.  Only American Airlines has published their new Emotional Support rules, but I imagine other airlines will follow suit and be similar. Stay tuned.

For more information:
https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/special-assistance/service-animals.jsp

55 What is a “Dangerous Dog”?

After the recent attack of a woman in South Dallas by 4 dogs, I have heard this phrase being used. Legally, Texas defines a Dangerous Dog as one that “makes an unprovoked attack on a person that causes bodily injury and occurs in a place other than an enclosure in which the dog was being kept and that was reasonably certain to prevent the dog from leaving the enclosure on its own.”
https://www.animallaw.info/statute/tx-dangerous-subchapter-d-dangerous-dogs
In the recent attack, there were 4 dogs outside their fence: 2 pit bull terrier mixes, 1 boxer mix, and a Queensland heeler mix. None were current on rabies vaccination, not spayed or neutered, and not microchipped. (But the neighbors knew whose dogs they were). Certainly, 4 medium to large dogs “at large”, or roaming the neighborhood can be hazardous. Dogs in a pack can behave very differently than individual dogs, just like teenagers. I see lots of pit bulls, and don’t believe they are more aggressive to humans than other breeds, but they can be dog aggressive. I also caution my pit bull owners to always have the best behaved and well trained dog on the block because they will always get blamed because of the breed’s “reputation”.
When a human gets injured, especially in this case, they seek medical attention. The doctors often are the first to report that a bite has taken place. That triggers the local Animal Control to investigate, ensuring proper management of biting animals, and enforcing local and state rabies laws. Usually, if the pet is current on rabies vaccination, they can be quarantined at home for 10-14 days, and then released. If the rabies vaccination is not current, they will have to be quarantined at Animal Control. If the animal is suspected to be rabid, euthanasia might be recommended, and the head will be sent to Austin to be checked for rabies. There is no “blood test” for rabies. Sometimes after the pet completes the rabies quarantine, the owner does not want the dog back. Or they can’t afford to fix the fence, get all their vaccines, etc. It doesn’t always end happily. In the South Dallas case, the owner authorized euthanasia on all 4 so they could be tested for rabies so the victim wouldn’t have to go through rabies treatment while waiting the 10 days of quarantine.
If owners elect to keep a dog that has attacked a person, a judge might legally deem the dog “dangerous”, and that triggers another set of rules to follow. Those owners must register their dog, keep them vaccinated for rabies, provide proof of homeowners insurance, have them microchipped, keep the fences locked and childproof, and have their fences inspected regularly. They can’t go out in public without a muzzle.
https://www.cityoflewisville.com/about-us/city-services/animal-services/animal-services-ordinances
So a legal “dangerous dog” has to have an unprovoked attack on a human (not a pet), that causes bodily injury, outside the pet’s normal enclosure. If a person comes into your home or fenced yard, and the dog bites them, this doesn’t apply since they were in their normal enclosure. If two dogs “fence fight” and one gets injured, this doesn’t apply. If a dog on leash bites a stranger that wasn’t provoking it, it might be deemed a “dangerous dog”. I worry about some of my canine patients that just don’t like children, are out on a leash, minding their own business, when a child runs up to it and tries to hug them. Those dogs feel provoked, and might bite a child in the face or hands.
The bottom line is keep all your pets (cats too) vaccinated against rabies for your legal protection, and make sure they can’t get out of the yard, or off leash. You are legally responsible for any damages that your pet causes, including injuring another human. Fortunately, most home owners’ insurance policies cover this. If you see a dog “at large”, call Animal Control. They are trained to handle lost, scared, fearful dogs and cats. They can scan them for microchip and identification. And they will be the first place a concerned owner will call to find them.
https://www.animallaw.info/statute/tx-dangerous-subchapter-d-dangerous-dogs