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RABIES

Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system. All mammals, including people, can be infected by the rabies virus, but it occurs most often among wildlife species, most commonly bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes. Livestock (cows, horses, and sheep) can also be infected with rabies. Thankfully, it is extremely rare in rabbits, squirrels, opossums, rats, mice, chipmunks, and muskrats. (Woodchucks, our groundhogs, are susceptible to rabies.) The rabies virus lives in the saliva of rabid animals, so a bite is the most common way to spread the disease. However, the virus may also be spread if the wet saliva of the infected animal spills into a wound that is less than 24 hours old, or in the eyes, nose, or mouth. (It is not spread by petting a rabid animal (unless you contact wet saliva), or by contact with that animal’s blood, urine or feces (poop).)

The symptoms of rabies may surprise you. Not all animals show the "Old Yeller" rabies, and foaming at the mouth may or may not occur. The most consistent early sign is a change in behavior. An active, friendly animal becomes shy, or a quiet animal becomes agitated; a wild animal seems tame and friendly. The pupils may be dilated,and the animal may lick or chew at things, real or imaginary. As the disease progresses, one of two types will develop. In the furious form of rabies, ("Old Yeller") the animal is excited, aggressive, irritable, fearless, and may viciously attack and bite anything in its path. It may convulse (seizure). But, there is also a dumb form, in which the animal may appear unusually tame, quiet, affectionate and friendly. The mouth may hang open with the tongue sticking out. Staggering, paralysis, drooling and frothing at the mouth are sometimes noticed. Some animals have a change in the sound of their voice.

Due to the change in his behavior, an animal affected by the rabies virus is extremely likely to interact with another animal and bite. Rabies will kill, but sometimes not until 10 days after the first signs of the disease. (That’s why dogs and cats are quarantined for 10 days after they bite someone.) Since this virus can also spread to people, the state of Delaware requires by law that your dog or cat be vaccinated against rabies by 6 months of age, and that these vaccines be kept current. The first vaccine will expire in one year. If the pet receives a booster before the first vaccine expires, the booster vaccine will protect him for 3 years. Failure to vaccinate your animal (dog or cat) can result in a $25 fine. If your unvaccinated pet receives a bite wound from an animal whose rabies vaccine status cannot be proven, or from an unknown or wild animal, you are required to cage quarantine your pet for 6 months, or euthanize him. Yes, they do come out an inspect. (The quarantine is for 6 months, because it may take that long for the symptoms to develop after an animal is bitten. The virus needs to travel up the nerves to the brain, where the damage occurs.) There is no test that can be taken on a live animal to prove or disprove that it has rabies. The only reliable test is performed on brain tissue.

Some other important things to know:

1. The rabies virus needs to be moist to survive, and sunlight rapidly destroys it. If your pet was in a fight with a suspect animal, and you do not handle him for 2 hours, there is no danger of you contracting rabies from his wounds or fur.

2. If you see an animal that you suspect has rabies, call the SPCA. If you can safely confine it without risking your own safety, do so. Do not attempt to kill it. You may risk your own safety, and prohibit the testing of the tissue. (Contact with the brain tissue of a rabid animal will spread rabies.)

3. If your pet has a current rabies vaccination, but comes in contact with a rabid animal, your pet should be boostered immediately and his freedom restricted for 90 days.

4. Rabies shots for people (after exposure) are not as bad as you might think. It is only a series of 5 vaccinations, given over a one month period, plus a dose of antiserum. None of these are given in the stomach.

5. Do not leave pet food outside. It may attract animals other than your pet. (A fox can easily carry off a cat.)

6. During the month of February, the SPCA is sponsoring numerous rabies vaccine clinics in our communities. Consult your newspaper for times and locations. Nonpregnant dogs and cats, 3 months of age and older can be vaccinated. But remember, this is not all you need to do to properly care for your pet. Consider the deadly diseases of feline leukemia and feline distemper, canine distemper, parvo virus, and heartworms. See your veterinarian at least once a year.

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