title: Adverse reactions from consumption of oral rabies vaccine baits in dogs in Finland.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oral rabies vaccination of wildlife has effectively reduced the incidence of rabies in wildlife and has led to the elimination of rabies in large areas of Europe. The safety of oral rabies vaccines has been assessed in both target (red fox and raccoon dog) and several non-target species.
  
  
  METHODS
  Since 2011, the competent authority in Finland has received a few reports of dogs experiencing adverse reactions that have been assumed to be caused by the consumption of baits containing oral rabies vaccine. The dogs usually exhibited gastrointestinal symptoms (vomiting, inappetence, constipation or diarrhoea) or behavioral symptoms (restlessness, listlessness and unwillingness to continue hunting).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nevertheless, these adverse reactions are transient and non-life threatening. Even though the adverse reactions are unpleasant to individual dogs and their owners, the benefits of oral rabies vaccination clearly outweigh the risks.
authors.affiliation: Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira, Mustialankatu 3, 00790, Helsinki, Finland. tiina.nokireki@evira.fi.
authors.forename: Tiina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nokireki
authors.affiliation: Finnish Medicines Agency Fimea, P.O. Box 55, 00034, Fimea, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Martti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nevalainen
authors.affiliation: Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira, Mustialankatu 3, 00790, Helsinki, Finland.|Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 66, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Liisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sihvonen
authors.affiliation: Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira, Mustialankatu 3, 00790, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Tuija
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gadd
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D005387:Finland; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011819:Rabies Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D014611:Vaccination / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D011819:Rabies Vaccines
keywords: Adverse reaction; Hunting dog; Oral rabies vaccine; SAG 2