Colorado Passes Rabies Medical Exemption Clause
 

COLORADO PASSES RABIES MEDICAL EXEMPTION--EFFECTIVE MARCH 2, 2010 http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/dc/zoon...%20Statute.pdf (copy & paste into browser if clicking on link doesn't work)

"(2) A veterinarian, with the written consent of an animal's owner, may issue a written waiver pursuant to the rules of the health department, exempting an animal from a rabies vaccination order if the veterinarian, in his or her professional opinion, determines that the rabies inoculation is contraindicated due to the animal's medical condition."

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This is absolutely fantastic news. I own two dogs who can no longer receive the rabies vaccination due to near fatal reactions and am very fortunate that our county accepts this type of statement in lieu of the actual vaccine. Unfortunately, a titer was not sufficient in another county one of our dogs was moving to. He had a fatal reaction in January. Our hearts are still broken. Thank you for continuing to bring this topic to everyone's attention. It is not only near and dear to my own heart, but it is a very serious one.

You're welcome, and I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. My own lab, Butter, suffers from autoimmune hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and kidney disease, we are so fortunate that Maine has a medical exemption so he didn't have to have a booster this year, it would have killed him immediately.

The following states have medical exemptions: Maine, Connecticut, New York, Alabama, Virginia, Florida, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Colorado, Wisconsin, and Oregon

CORRECTION: It has just been brought to our attention that a Colorado medical exemption was actually passed in 2008 and became effective on July 1, 2008. On January 19, 2010 substantial revisions were made to the rules and regulations, which became effective March 2, 2010

We nearly lost Emma to AIHA (10% chance of survival) and just as in the case of your lab, the medical exemption in our county (Washoe in Nevada) prevented her from having a booster that would most likely kill her. Niles is afflicted with a genetic disorder where we nearly lost him each time he was given a rabies vaccination. He also uses the exemption and has lived 8 years past his expiration date. It is crucial that veterinarians can perscribe a medical exemption for dogs such as these who risk death.

Absolutely! My Butter is battling AIHA, thrombocytopenia, and kidney failure from anaplasmosis -- fortunately Maine passed a medical exemption in 2005, a rabies booster at this point would kill him.