Rabies: It’s always fatal. Is your pet protected?

The rabies virus represents a serious risk to people and their pets – with hundreds of cases in pets each year in the United States alone. All it takes to contract this deadly disease is exposure to an infected animal through a scratch, cut, or bite.

Fortunately, there’s something you can do. A simple vaccination is the best way to help protect your pet against rabies. Even if you keep your pet indoors, it should still be vaccinated – and it’s usually required by law.

What is rabies?

Rabies is an acute viral infection that can affect all warm-blooded animals – including dogs and cats. The disease is almost always caused by the bite of an infected animal that has rabies virus in its saliva. Younger animals are usually more susceptible to rabies infection. And it’s always fatal once clinical signs appear.

What if my pet has possibly been exposed?

If your pet has been bitten by or exposed to a wild or potentially rabid animal, talk with your veterinarian right away and report it to local animal control authorities. Even if your pet has a current vaccination, you should still contact your veterinarian.

Signs and Prevention

Once the rabies virus enters the body, it travels along the nerves to the brain. It can take a matter of days, weeks or months for your pet to show signs of the rabies virus.

Infected animals often show anxiety, aggression, restlessness and erratic behavior. They also may develop weakness, poor coordination or tremors. Wild rabid animals commonly lose their fear of humans. Species that are normally nocturnal may be seen wandering about during the day.

Dogs, cats or ferrets that have never been vaccinated and are exposed to a rabid animal may need to be euthanized or placed in strict isolation for six months. Check with your veterinarian or local public health official for requirements.

Vaccinate to protect your pet.

Your veterinarian is committed to helping you make the best choices for your pet’s health. To give your pet the protection it needs, this clinic recommends vaccination with IMRAB rabies vaccine. Veterinarians have trusted IMRAB rabies vaccine to protect millions of pets – six species in all, including dogs, cats and ferrets – for 20 years. In fact, it’s the leading vaccine for rabies protection worldwide. Vaccination is one of the best ways we can help protect people and pets from rabies.

What else can you do?

– Don’t leave garbage or pet food outdoors where it may attract wild or stray animals
– Observe all wild animals from a distance.
– If you see a wild animal acting strangely, report it to your local animal control authorities.
Source: It’s always fatal. Is your pet protected? Rabies: Duluth, GA: IMRAB, 2008, Print.