Management of Rabies in Animals

Rabies is a deadly disease that is carried in the saliva of animals. It is most often transmitted to humans and other animals though a bite. According to the Mayo Clinic, the disease is almost always fatal. However, with proper animal management, rabies has become less of a threat.

Significance

• Rabies is most often carried by wild mammals, such as bats, raccoons, coyotes and skunks. Rabid animals are more vicious than healthy ones and sometimes will foam at the mouth. A more telltale sign is an animal that is acting odd, such as not being afraid of people or nocturnal animals wandering around in the middle of the day.

Considerations

• Rabies vaccines are mandatory for dogs in all states, according to Pet Education. According to VaccineInformation.com, the best precautionary move for people is to make sure their pets are up to date on rabies shots and avoid wild animals. Rabies vaccinations are only given to people that are in high-risk groups, like veterinarians.

Time Frame

• Pets are vaccinated at 3 months old and then again at a year. When they turn 2, they are then given a vaccine that lasts for three years. It is important to keep your pets up to date on this vaccine.

Wild Animals

• Organizations, like the United States Department of Agriculture, try to manage rabies in wild animals by employing oral rabies baiting. This oral vaccine targets raccoons, foxes and coyotes.

Warning

• If you are concerned that your pet has been bitten by a rabid animal, it is important you take your pet to a veterinarian immediately to prevent your family and other pets from contracting the disease. Even though the veterinarian cannot diagnose rabies without killing the dog and submitting the brain to a laboratory for testing, it will be put under quarantine and monitored for signs of the disease.