It’s July and I just took our dog, Chuckie, to the vet to get caught up on his vaccinations. Time just gets away from me. So, I thought I’d put out a reminder for those of you who love their animals.
I got this information from our local vet, Erica Chauvet DMV at CountrySide Veterinary Service. She sent me information from American Veterinary Medical Association
How can I help control rabies?
• Have your veterinarian vaccinate your dogs, cats, ferrets, and select horses and livestock. Your veterinarian will advise you on the recommended or required frequency of vaccination in your area.
• Don’t leave exposed garbage or pet food outside, as it may attract wild or stray animals.
• Wild animals should never be kept as pets. Not only may this be illegal, but wild animals pose a potential rabies threat to caretakers and to others.
• Observe all wild animals from a distance. A rabid wild animal may appear tame but don’t go near it. Teach children NEVER to handle unfamiliar animals—even if they appear friendly.
• If you see a wild animal acting strangely, report it to the city or county animal control department.
• Bat-proof your home and other structures to prevent bats from nesting and having access to people or pets.
What if my pet has bitten someone?
• Urge the victim to see a physician immediately and to follow the physician’s recommendations.
• Report the bite to the local health department and animal control authorities. Local regulations may require that your pet is confined and isolated for monitoring for signs of rabies.
• Immediately report any illness or unusual behavior by your pet to the local health department and to your veterinarian.
• Don’t let your pet stray and don’t give your pet away. The animal must be available for observation by public health authorities or a veterinarian.
• After the observation period, have
See Page 5: Rabies
your pet vaccinated for rabies if its vaccination is not current.
What if my pet has been bitten?
• Consult your veterinarian immediately and report the bite to local animal control authorities.
• Even if your dog or cat has a current vaccination, he/she should be revaccinated immediately, kept under the owner’s control, and observed for a period as specified by state law or local ordinance. Animals with expired vaccinations will need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
• Dogs, cats that have never been vaccinated and are exposed to a rabid animal may need to be euthanatized in accordance with regulations or placed in strict isolation for six months.
• Animals other than dogs and that are bitten by a rabid or potentially rabid animal may need to be euthanatized immediately.
What if I am bitten?
• Don’t panic, but don’t ignore the bite. Wash the wound thoroughly and vigorously with soap and lots of water for 15 minutes, then treat with a disinfectant such as ethanol or iodine.
• Call your physician immediately and explain how you were bitten. Follow the doctor’s advice. If necessary, your physician will give you the post exposure treatment recommended by the United States Public Health Service and may also treat you for other possible infections that could result from the bite.
• If possible, confine or capture the animal if it can be done safely. Once captured, don’t try to pick up the animal. Call the sheriff’s officers. If the animal cannot be captured, try to memorize its appearance (size, color, etc.) and where it went after biting you.
• If it is a wild animal, only try to capture it if you can do so without getting bitten again. If the animal cannot be contained and must be killed to prevent its escape, do so without damaging the head. The brain will be needed to test for rabies.
• Report the bite to the local health department. Prompt and appropriate treatment after being bitten and before the disease develops can stop the infection and prevent the disease.
