According to a new study, more than half of U.S. dog owners have expressed concerns about vaccinating their dogs. The survey of 2,200 dog owners suggests that mistrust in human vaccines is causing similar feelings about vaccinating their pets, even when it comes to deadly diseases like rabies. Highlights of the study include:
- 40% of dog owners think dog vaccines are not safe
- 20% think pet vaccines are not effective
- 30% think pet vaccines aren’t medically necessary
- 37% of dog owners believe that vaccinating dogs could cause them to develop autism
According to the study’s authors, canine vaccine hesitancy may inspire vaccine refusal, which can also facilitate the spread of disease in both animal and human populations, as well as contribute to health risks in veterinary professionals.
For more information on canine vaccine hesitancy trends, access the study here.