The Rabies Vaccine Recall: What Pet Parents Need to Know
A rabies vaccine manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim was recalled after vials from a single lot were found to contain sterile water instead of vaccine. The result? Clinics across the country had to make hundreds of calls telling pet parents that their pet’s rabies vaccine, the one they just had just received, was no longer legally valid. In this episode, holistic veterinarian Dr. Angie Krause and veterinary nurse JoJo pull back the curtain on what actually happened, what clinics had to do to reconcile these vaccines, and the very real emotional weight this placed on guardians who approach vaccine decisions thoughtfully.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
— What the Boehringer Ingelheim IMRAB 3TF recall actually was and why it happened
— Why only a few affected vials triggered a recall of an entire lot
— What “recalled vaccine” means for your pet’s legal rabies status and license
— Why rabies titers aren’t a straightforward solution in this situation
— The hidden cost clinics carried: phone calls, appointments, records, follow-up
— Why this recall hit holistic pet parents especially hard
— Whether the current news cycle around rabies reflects a real outbreak or fear
— What to do if your pet was vaccinated during the affected window
Check your rabies certificate: if it shows IMRAB 3TF, Serial 18665, expiration March 12, 2027, and your pet was vaccinated between September 29, 2025 and January 8, 2026 please contact your vet for next steps.
Dr. Angie Krause is an integrative and holistic veterinarian at Boulder Holistic Vet in Boulder, Colorado. JoJo is a veterinary nurse and co-host of Tails of Truth. Every week they tell the truth about veterinary medicine.
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Key Takeaways from this episode:
— The recalled product is IMRAB 3TF, Serial 18665, expiration March 12, 2027, distributed to vets between September 29, 2025 and January 8, 2026.
— Only a small sample of vials were found to contain only sterile water but that triggered a recall of the entire lot.
— Any pet vaccinated from this lot is considered legally unvaccinated regardless of whether their specific vial was affected.
— Dogs, cats, and ferrets are all included in the recall and revaccination recommendation.
— Rabies titers are not a recognized substitute in this situation as most jurisdictions do not accept titers in place of a valid rabies certificate.
— Revaccination is considered safe. A second rabies vaccine does not pose a significant health risk for most pets.
— The recall placed a disproportionate emotional burden on holistic-minded guardians who made the vaccine decision carefully to begin with.
— The hidden cost of the recall fell largely on veterinary clinics with phone calls, lost appointment slots, follow-ups, and re-entering rabies certificates.
Soundbites:
“It’s its own class of vaccine because it’s protecting against a disease that kills people uniformly.” ~ Dr. Angie
“It is the vaccine that every pet should have.” ~ JoJo
“And, I have one case in particular that I used this recalled vaccine for that just breaks my heart.”~ Dr. Angie
“Because it is rabies and it kills people too most places don’t support titers and we don’t know how long they last and there’s not enough evidence.” ~ Dr. Angie
“It’s not just dogs. In case you’re listening and you have ferrets, they get this vaccine as well. And so can cats.” ~ JoJo
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