I've read through the previous topics and I'm still a little confused about vaccines prior to import. If my dogs have previously had a three year rabies shot (2 years ago), can that count as the first shot they need? Or, do we need to start over with a shot, wait 30 days, get a second and blood test? Thank you--

Was that vaccine given after the microchipping?  For some reason, I keep thinking that the rabies shot has to be given within the past year.  I'm not sure if I read that somewhere online or not. 

We had the same issue with one of our dogs.  He also had a 3 year vaccine.  One of his shots was given to him prior to the microchipping, so we knew that one wouldn't count.  He also had a 3 year vaccine after his microchipping, but from what I recall, it was within a one year time frame.  So, we gave him one more rabies shot and then did the FAVN test.

If you are military, I would ask your vet on base.  You can always try to contact the quarantine office in Narita just to be sure.  I have their email address somewhere, so send me a private message if you need it and I'll forward it to you. 

Sorry I couldn't give you a concrete answer. 

"Your pet must receive a rabies shot no less than 30 days and no more than one year before they arrive in Okinawa."


I read this on the last page of the following checklist for people moving to Okinawa:

http://www.pcs-tdy.com/pdfs/Okinawa...cklist.pdf


Even though you may not be going to Okinawa, it still applies to e/one moving to Japan with pets. I pretty sure I read the same thing somewhere else. So, to answer your question.....you're going to have to get two, new shots since the last one given was two years ago.

Thanks for the info! I'm still a little confused, though. I called one of the bases near us and they were just reading off the same checklist and also weren't sure as to whether or not the previous vaccine counted! Two years ago they received a 3 year vaccine, and they were already microchipped. They got another today, which would be "a rabies shot no less than 30 days and no more than one year before they arrive" but I'd hate to get there and find out the first didn't count.

I guess we'll just get them vaccinated again in a month to be safe. I was just trying to save my inlaws from an extra month of babysitting