City wants updated Rabies shot

Given Ginger's health profile I am reluctant to subject her to any shots. We recently moved here and I do not know of a competent and highly regarded vet nearby.  My car was badly damaged by movers and I can not transport her to vet (She is 90 lbs). Can I opt out of Rabies with note from her old vet sent by mail if she will agree to do so? Is that a reasonable and logical request?  Surgery will cost$1200-$1400 and I do not have the money.  Need any resources for funding assistance if you know of any. She is on Theophaline for breathing.  Also having apparent muscle cramping in backright leg helped by massage...it is infrequent. I have started her on Vitamins and Dasiquin. Signs of arthritis as well I think.  She has a very strong constitution, still looks like a young dog, no grey hair...some coughing and mucus helped significantly by lots of (I'm serious) homemade chicken broth and cough med as needed, also give her Famodine as needed.  Rarely give her .25/250Hydrocone for pain.  Can I give her Piroxicam or Soma or that Mucinox product made for people?  I am paying off a $600 boarding bill for my German Shepherd from when I moved so do not feel I can go back to Gingers vet until that is paid. They had cleared her for surgery and it was scheduled for June 2011 just after my disasterous move and I had to cancel. Thank you and so sorry for all the questions.  There is a woman who volunteers at a shelter here who said she would come and take Ginger to a vet here but I need to find one and ask what they would charge.  For now I need to know what I can do...I was walking Ginger every morning a little but she would get a cramp in her leg, it would flex back and forth and she would sit for a few minutes, I would massage it and we would make out way home but because she is 90 lbs I could not carry her if I needed to...but she needs to use her muscles and move her bones...please help her if you can.

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

You will have to find out if your town will accept a note in lieu of a Rabies vaccine.  Some towns will and some won't.  All your vet would need to say is that she has a tumor in her spleen and that should be acceptable.  A rabies titer showing adequate protection would also suffice, but this would be costly.

Rabies vaccines are really fairly safe as compared to other vaccines (I am a holistic vet) so even if you had to have her vaccinated it should not affect her too adversely.

If your dog is taking any steroids she can't take Piroxicam.  Piroxicam in combination with Omega 3 Fatty Acids is very effective for arthritis, but Piroxicam is very irritating to the stomach.  Famotidine should be used every time she is on Piroxicam if your dog can have it.  Mucinex is guaifenesin and is acceptable, but can cause dryness so you would have to make sure your dog is will hydrated while on this medication.