Many pet owners don’t realize the importance of a rabies vaccine for their pets, especially their cats. They assume that because their cats are inside, they can’t be exposed. Or they think because their dogs are nice and wouldn’t bite anyone, they aren’t at risk. Both statements are false!
Remember, first off, that any animal, no matter how ‘nice’ it is, can and will bite under the right circumstances. Never, ever, assume an animal, even the pet dog who lets the children climb all over him, won’t bite for any reason.
All dogs and cats (and ferrets!) should be vaccinated against rabies. Rabies is a virus that is almost always 100% fatal once a person or animal begins showing symptoms. Any warm blooded mammal can contract the rabies virus.
When most people think of rabies, immediately raccoons come to mind. Yes, raccoons can get rabies. So can skunks, fox, coyote, opossum…. However, in
According to statistics from the Ohio Department of Health, from 1980-2012, the following rabies cases were reported:
Bats: 888 Skunks: 214 Raccoons: 206 Fox: 22 Cows: 22 Horses: 16
Dogs: 14 Cats: 10 Groundhogs: 3 Coyote: 2 Opossum: 2 Deer: 1
Chipmunks: 1
In
As for rabies in dogs and cats in the
2008: 75 dogs & 294 cats
2009: 81 dogs & 300 cats
2010: 69 dogs & 303 cats
You may notice that the number of cats with rabies is on the rise. Why is that? Yes, dogs are outside more than cats, but many more dogs than cats are vaccinated for rabies. Also, most cat rabies cases were confirmed to have the bat rabies.
Bats can go almost anywhere, and hide themselves really, really well. It is not unusual for a bat to slip in through a broken screen, air vent, attic, or even come down a chimney. Once a bat starts moving or flying, it easily attracts the cat’s attention, who will happily chase a flying object. Sometimes a cat will even catch and kill a bat unbeknownst to the owners. If the bat had rabies, that cat has now been exposed, and will potentially expose other animals and people.
Unvaccinated pets with known rabies exposure either have to be under strict quarantine for 6 months, or must be euthanized and tested for rabies. More often than not, animals with known rabies exposure (ie attacked or attacked by an animal who tested positive for rabies) are immediately euthanized to prevent the chance of spreading the virus to other pets and to people.
Vaccinated pets with potential rabies exposure will be quarantined for a period of time and are usually boostered with a rabies vaccine.
Each locale has different laws regarding rabies vaccinations, which animals should be vaccinated and how often.
Even indoor cats need rabies vaccine-Seacoastonline.com
http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121010/OPINION/210100345/-1/NEWSMAP
Two in
http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/19963080/two-in-whitfield-county-exposed-to-rabies-by-indoor-cat
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