Healthy Pets and People: All About Vaccinations

Written in Collaboration with Eau Claire County Health Department

During 2025 in Eau Claire County, there were 174 animal bites that were reported to the Health Department – do you know if your four-legged family member, dog AND/OR cat, is up to date on their rabies vaccine? Dogs and cats should be vaccinated when they are five months old, one year later, and then every 1 to 3 years for the rest of their life, depending on the longevity of the vaccine. Vaccinations do not last the lifetime of your pet.

The ASPCA says, “Vaccines help prepare the body’s immune system to fight the invasion of disease-causing organisms. Vaccines contain antigens, which look like the disease-causing organism to the immune system but don’t actually cause disease. When the vaccine is introduced to the body, the immune system is mildly stimulated. If a pet is ever exposed to the real disease, his immune system is now prepared to recognize and fight it off entirely or reduce the severity of the illness.” Vacinnations do not only include rabies for dogs, but also for sicknesses like canine parvovirous and kennel cough. Think of them just like we do the flu shot for us – it may not keep you from getting sick, but it makes the sickness less impactful to your health.

In Wisconsin, all dogs are required to be vaccinated and in Eau Claire County, cats must also be vaccinated. Your pets are part of the family! Vaccinate and license them to keep the whole family safe. It’s the law. If your pet is lost and comes to ECCHA, the reclaim fees are higher if your pet is not vaccinnated.

Keeping your dog or cat current on rabies vaccination also helps avoid extra vet costs if they are involved in a bite. If a dog or cat bites a human, the animal will be placed in a 10-day quarantine. If your dog/cat is current on rabies vaccination, you can keep your pet quarantined at home and take them in for required vet checks. If your dog/cat is not current with their rabies vaccine, they will need to be boarded at a vet clinic for the 10-day quarantine after the bite so they can be observed for any signs of rabies.

Rabies is fatal. These measures are in place so we can all keep our family and community safe from rabies.

Talk to your veterinarian today to make sure your pets are up to date on all their vacinnations!

Learn more about vaccines on the ASPCA website.