No matter where you live, be it an urban, suburban or rural setting, if you are outside a lot – or your animals are – you need to be concerned about rabies.
According to the CDC, rabies is a fatal but preventable viral disease. It can spread to people, pets and livestock if they are bitten or scratched by a rabid animal. In the U.S., rabies is mostly found in wild animals like bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes.
The rabies virus infects the central nervous system. If a person does not receive the appropriate medical care after a potential rabies exposure, the virus can cause disease in the brain, ultimately resulting in death. Rabies can be prevented by vaccinating pets, staying away from wildlife and seeking medical care after potential exposures before symptoms start.
Obviously, the best thing you can do if you or one of your animals has been bitten or scratched by a wild animal is to seek medical care immediately. Timely care is critical because the period between contracting the disease and the start of symptoms is usually one to three months but can vary from less than one week to more than one year.
Noticeable early symptoms can include fever and tingling at the site of exposure, and later one or more of the following: nausea, vomiting, violent movements, uncontrolled excitement, fear of water, an inability to move parts of the body, confusion and loss of consciousness. (However, once those symptoms appear, the result is almost always death.)
September 28 is World Rabies Day, and because of that we’ll remind you of the simplest safety tips when it comes to this disease:
- Always vaccinate your dogs, cats and ferrets against rabies
- Keep your pets under supervision
- Do not handle wild animals or strays
- Contact an animal control officer upon observing a wild animal or a stray, especially if the animal is acting strangely
- If you are bitten by an animal, wash the wound with soap and water for 10 to 15 minutes and contacting a healthcare provider to determine if post-exposure prophylaxis is required
If you can’t make it to your veterinarian’s office for a rabies vaccine for your pets, many towns and counties offer free or low-cost rabies clinics, to help ensure a safe pet population.
