Rabies | Princeton Veterinary Hospital

When most people think of rabies, they think of Old Yeller or Cujo. While these are striking examples of what this disease can do, rabies is more common than most people think. Rabies can infect any mammal, including dogs, horses, and people. Rabies is common in wild animals, especially wild dogs, foxes, raccoons, skunks, and bats, but can be seen in any mammal. In the United States, most rabies exposures are from bats.

Friday, September 28 is World Rabies Day. Are your pets vaccinated?

What is rabies?

Rabies is a virus that can infect any mammal. The rabies virus is transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal. If an animal infected with rabies bites or scratches another animal (or a person), the rabies virus in the saliva gets into the body through a break in the skin. The virus travels up the nerves and infects the brain. Once in the brain, it starts a chain reaction that results in the ability to infect other animals, clinical signs of the disease, and eventually death.

What are the signs of rabies?

The first change you see in animals is usually a change in behavior. Animals may become either more aggressive (more likely to bite) or may appear to become more friendly (these animals will typically bite when you get close). A change in vocal sounds can also be an indication of rabies infection. Animals may stop eating and drinking or start chewing at the site of the original bite. Many of these signs can be caused by other illnesses as well, so if you notice changes in behavior or appetite, it is important to get your pet to a veterinarian right away.

How is rabies diagnosed?

Unfortunately, the only way to definitively diagnose rabies is by looking at sections of the brain under a microscope. Obviously, this cannot be done while the animal is still alive.

Rabies is a very quickly progressing disease. If an animal is suspected of having rabies, it must be kept under strict quarantine and observation for 10 days. If the animal shows progressive signs that are consistent with rabies, it must be euthanized and tested to confirm the diagnosis so appropriate precautions may be taken for any other animals or people that may have been exposed. If, after 10 days, the animal is not showing signs of rabies, it is released from quarantine.

How is rabies treated?

If a person is bit or scratched by an animal that is suspected to have rabies, there are a few treatment options available. Call your doctor immediately, and then thoroughly wash the wound with soap and water for 15 minutes. Your doctor can administer antibodies directly into the wound, and then you should receive a post-exposure rabies vaccination.

Once clinical signs of rabies are noticed, in people or animals, rabies is not treatable. It rapidly (over 10 days in animals or 14 days in people) leads to worsening behavior and neurologic (brain) changes, resulting in paralysis and death. Prevention is the best treatment for rabies.

How can we prevent rabies?

The best prevention for rabies in your pets is to get them vaccinated against rabies. In Indiana, dogs, cats, and ferrets must all be vaccinated for rabies when they are young, and then get a booster every 1-3 years. In other states where rabies is more common, domestic animals like horses, cattle, and sheep are also vaccinated against rabies. If your pet is bitten by an animal with an unknown vaccination history, call your veterinarian immediately. Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water. Your pet should also have a booster vaccine. Your pet may need to go into quarantine for 10 days.

People who are at risk for rabies exposure (like veterinarians, veterinary staff, or animal shelter employees) can also be vaccinated against rabies.

Check out the World Rabies Day website or the American Veterinary Medical Association for more information on this deadly, but easily preventable disease.

We have seen bats infected with rabies here in Gibson County. Are your pets up-to-date on their rabies vaccination? Call us, or check your pet?s medical records in ePetHealth to find out when their last vaccinations were. If your pet is overdue for vaccines, come on in and get them caught up today!

ePetHealth is a free service we offer to our clients. Through this service, you can access your pet?s medical records online, view educational articles and videos, sign up for email reminders, and more! Check out this article to learn more about what ePetHealth can do for you. It?s easy to sign up ? all you need to do is call or email us to add your email address to your records.

Source: http://princetonvet.net/2012/09/rabies/

the tree of life movie academy award nominees 2012 2012 oscar nominations kyle williams florida debate rand paul mark kirk