Does anyone know of a safe and effective rabies vaccine for dairy goats? If so, can it be administered to pregnant does and is the milk okay for human consumption? Thanks!

-- Marcia E. Webber (HrMr@webtv.net), February 17, 2001

Answers

I haven't heard of Rabies vaccines for goats, but this is maybe something you would have to check with your vet about. I don't know about other places, but in Texas, Rabies is the one shot you cannot give yourself. Are you having a lot of concern about Rabies in your area?

-- mary, texas (marylgarcia@aol.com), February 17, 2001.

In NYS all animals, including goats, that leave your property, ie. go to shows, etc. have to have a rabies certificate from a Vet. So, although I give my own shots I can't give rabies or have Coggins bloodwork pulled for the horses because you need an actual paper certificate verified by a Vet.

Stacy Rohan in Windsor, NY

-- Stacy Rohan (KincoraFarm@aol.com), February 17, 2001.

Linda Campbell an ex president of ADGA is working on this, might want to visit her site and see the latest news. Obviously since this would be considered extra label, their is no goat rabies vaccine, you would have to have a vet give this.

http://www.khimairafarm.com/

Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), February 17, 2001.

As Vicki mentioned there is information on linda's site about this. i belive Linda spearheaded a auction cmapaign a few yrs ago to raise money for a rabies vaccine via Cornell. i have not heard any more about it. I have not vaccinated for this yet. I wouldn't thjink it would be safe to give such a vaccine to a pregnant doe or to drink the milk afterwards. , but then i'm no expert either.

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), February 17, 2001.

My vet wouldn't vaccinate my goat for rabies because he said there was no acceptable vaccine available yet. He insisted on doing the horse, though, because there was rabies in the area. By the way, I have my barn cat done every year because he is more likely to be bitten then any other animal on the place.

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), February 18, 2001.

I'm having the Vet out to do Rabies vaccinations on Fiona the naughty Nubian and the horses next month. I'll ask him what vaccine it is and let everyone know.

Every animal on the farm has a rabies and tetnaus shot. It's not as common as it was 4-5 years ago but I'd rather be safe than sorry. I also vaccinate the dogs (4) and cats (3) for distemper, the horses get a 5 way (VWE, rhino, tet, and flu). Fiona will get her goaty shots too. The horses get their teeth floated too. Should I have the equine dentist look at Fiona's teeth, or do goats wear them done smoothly? I sweet talked my farrier, well actually, I had to take two of his baby hamsters, but he said he'd trim Fiona's feet when he does the horses.

Stacy in very cold Windsor, NY

-- Stacy Rohan (KincoraFarm@aol.com), February 18, 2001.

Thank you everyone for your responses to my question about rabies vaccine for goats. I have several barn cats that I have always administered rabies vaccine to over the years til the state of Maine was put on the "hit" list several years ago! But,thanks to an out of state friend, I can still get rabies sent to me in order to protect myself, my family and my livestock at a reasonable price! I would like to protect my goats also. Rabies is not a Major problem here yet, but I prefer to be safe! I have visited Linda Campbell's site about the work at Cornell and will wait for more feedback on that. Also I would be interested in the type of vaccine that Stacy's vet uses (Stacy from N.Y.). Thanks again! By the way, the robins are back here in central Me. Spring and gardening are not far off!!!!! Marcia Webber

-- Marcia Webber (HrMr@webtv.net), February 19, 2001.

Jeffers (800-JEFFERS) carries a rabies vaccine. Says it is for cattle, sheep, dogs & cats. However, they will not ship to the following states: AK, AL, AR, CA, CT, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, KS, MD, ME, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NV, NJ, NM, NY, OR, RI, SC, TX, UT, WA, WV & WY (and list may not be inclusive). Those states have laws which says rabies vaccine can only be administered by a licensed vet. Cost would be about $2 for a large animal and $1 for a small one.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), February 24, 2001.