Rabies shot and Spay

[IvysMom]

As long as she has most of her front adult teeth, she should be fine for her rabies vaccine. Ivy had nothing but puppy teeth at 4 months. By 5 months all her front adult teeth were in except her canines, so she was ok. They don't have to have ALL their adult teeth, just be well underway to getting them.

[MalteseJane]

Originally Posted by IvysMom

Maltese Jane, my vet said something similar to yours, only he said he waits for rabies until they start getting adult teeth, not until they are finished teething. When Ivy had all her adult front teeth in, he gave her her rabies; she still was teething her canines and some in the back. It has to do with the effectiveness of the puppy's immune system, not really anything to do with their teeth. The adult teeth are one sign of the puppy's growing maturity which varies puppy to puppy, which is why it is a better indicator than just an specific age. Some pups' immune systems are ready at 4 months but many are not.

The rabies vaccine laws are to protect people. The legal system couldn't care less whether people's dogs die but they do care if a sick dog infects and kills people. Fortunately, the vaccine protects people AND dogs.

He was still teething puppy teeth. At the time I did not even know that dogs had puppy teeth before adult teeth. So this was something new to me.