Rabies Infection and Animals
My-Dog.info > Dog Diseases, Bites, Worms & Ticks
What is rabies?
Rabies is a disease caused by the rabies virus. It may take
several weeks or even a few years for people to show symptoms
after getting infected with rabies, but usually people start to
show signs of the disease 1 to 3 months after the virus infects
them. The early signs of rabies can be fever or headache, but
this changes quickly to nervous system signs, such as confusion,
sleepiness, or agitation. Once someone with rabies infection
starts having these symptoms, that person usually does not
survive. This is why it is very important to talk to your doctor
or health care provider right away if any animal bites you,
especially a wild animal.
Can animals transmit rabies to me?
Yes, many kinds of animal can pass rabies to people. Wild
animals are much more likely to carry rabies, especially
raccoons, skunks, bats, foxes, and coyotes. However, dogs, cats,
cattle (cows), or any warm-blooded animal can pass rabies to
people. People usually get rabies from the bite of an infected
animal. Many animals, such as dogs, cats, and horses are
vaccinated against rabies, but you should always wash any bite
thoroughly and check with your health care provider about what to
do if any animal bites you.
How can I protect myself from getting rabies?
Be a responsible pet owner:
- Keep vaccinations up to date for all dogs, cats, and
ferrets. This requirement is important not only to keep
your pets from getting rabies, but also to provide a
barrier of protection for you, if your animal is bitten
by a rabid wild animal.
- Keep your pets under direct supervision so they do not
come in contact with wild animals. If your pet is bitten
by a wild animal, seek veterinary assistance for the
animal immediately.
- Call your local animal control agency to remove any stray
animals from your neighborhood. They may be unvaccinated
and could be infected by the disease.
- Spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of
unwanted pets that may not be properly cared for or
regularly vaccinated.
Avoid direct contact with unfamiliar animals:
- Enjoy wild animals (raccoons, skunks, foxes) from afar.
Do not handle, feed, or unintentionally attract wild
animals with open garbage cans or litter.
- Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home. Do
not try to nurse sick animals to health. Call animal
control or an animal rescue agency for assistance.
- Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild
or domestic, even if they appear friendly. "Love
your own, leave other animals alone" is a good
principle for children to learn.
- Prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied
spaces in homes, churches, schools, and other similar
areas, where they might come in contact with people and
pets.
- When traveling abroad, avoid direct contact with wild
animals and be especially careful around dogs in
developing countries. Rabies is common in developing
countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America where dogs
are the major reservoir of rabies. Tens of thousands of
people die of rabies each year in these countries. Before
traveling abroad, consult with a health care provider,
travel clinic, or your health department about the risk
of exposure to rabies, preexposure prophylaxis, and how
you should handle an exposure, should it arise.
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