What should you know about rabies veterinary vaccine?

Veterinary rabies vaccines are given to eligible animals according to their species, age, health and local veterinary advice. Vaccination trains the immune system to recognise rabies virus. It does not treat an animal that already has rabies, and it does not remove the need for professional assessment after a bite or scratch.

A vaccinated pet can still need observation or veterinary testing after contact with a potentially infected animal. Keep the vaccination record available, because the product used and the date given help a veterinarian decide what should happen next.

If an animal is bitten, scratched or exposed to saliva from a suspect animal, separate the animals safely and contact a veterinarian urgently. Do not handle the mouth, saliva or nervous system of a sick animal with bare hands. For a person exposed to saliva or a bite, wash the area thoroughly with soap and running water and seek urgent medical advice about [Rabies Post-Exposure Prophylaxis](/treatments/acute-and-urgent-care/rabies-post-exposure-prophylaxis/).

Ask the veterinarian whether the animal needs a booster, quarantine, examination or reporting. Do not delay care while trying to identify the animal or wait for symptoms.

Seek veterinary help promptly for unusual aggression, marked fear, unsteady walking, difficulty swallowing, excessive drooling, weakness, paralysis or sudden behaviour change after a possible exposure. Avoid close contact and keep children away. These signs can have other causes, but suspected rabies is an emergency because saliva and nervous tissue can transmit infection.

Ask which vaccine schedule suits the animal, when the next dose is due, what exposure history matters, and how to handle the animal safely while advice is arranged.