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Rabies
is a disease caused by a virus found in the saliva of infected animals
and is transmitted to pets and humans by bites, or possibly by
contamination of an open cut. Treatment of an infected person as
critical. Untreated, rabies causes a painful death.
Most animals can be
infected by the virus and can transmit the disease to man. Infected
bats, raccoons, foxes, skunks, dogs or cats provide the greatest risk to
humans. Rabies may also spread through exposure to infected domestic
farm animals, groundhogs , weasels and other wild carnivores. Squirrels,
rodents and rabbits are seldom infected.
How
To Prevent Rabies
- Have
your pets vaccinated against rabies. Any pets which come in contact
with wild animals are at risk. Many local health departments conduct
public vaccination clinics for dogs and cats. Your veterinarian can
also vaccinate your pet against rabies. During recent years,
confirmed cases of rabies in cats have exceeded the reported cases
in dogs in some parts of the United States making vaccination and
booster shots critical to your health and that of your pets.
- If
your cat or dog has been bitten or attacked by a wild animal or has
bites or scratches of unknown origin, call your local health
department or animal control officer to report the incident.
- If
your cat or dog has bitten a person, call your local health
department or animal control officer to report the incident.
- If
your cat or dog is sick, seek the advice of your veterinarian.
- Protect
your pets from stray or wild animals. Keep your pets from running
loose.
- Report
stray animals to your local health department so an animal control
officer can investigate. Handling stray cats or dogs can be
dangerous.
- Do
not feed or handle wild animals especially those that appear
aggressive or sick. Never keep a wild animal as a pet.
- A
wild animal such as a bat, raccoon, fox, skunk, or groundhog which
has bitten a person or domestic animal should be sacrificed
immediately. Its head (or in the cat of a bat, the entire bat)
should be submitted to your state or county testing laboratory for
examination. Rabies prophylaxis vaccinations may depend on your
physician along with laboratory results.
What
To Do If Bitten
....by a
wild animals: an animal control officer should sacrifice the animal. All
biting wild animals should be tested for rabies as soon as possible.
....By
a cat or dog: obtain information about the pet animal. Include a
description of the animal and licensing number or identification,
owner's name, address and telephone number and the rabies vaccination
status whenever available.
- Immediately
cleanse the wound thoroughly with soapy water.
- Get
medical attention. Go to your family doctor or nearest emergency
room. DO NOT DELAY CALLING. YOU MAY
NEED TREATMENT.
- Report
all bites to your local health department or animal control agency.
Self
Defense Against Rabies
Discourage
wildlife. Minimize your chance of exposing humans and pets to rabies.
There is a human rabies vaccine available for pre-exposure and a
globulin treatment with vaccination for post-exposure prophylaxis.
However, prevention is of major importance. Start by reducing human and
pet contact with wild animals.
If wild animals visit
your property frequently, they are probably looking for food and
shelter.
Protect
Your Home
- Check
your house and property. Eliminate sites that can be used by animals
for sleeping or raising young.
- Cap
all chimneys
- Plug
all holes in roofs, eaves, or sides of buildings
- Block
any means of entry to foundations, porches and steps.
- Trim
tree limbs that extend to or over your roof.
- Provide
bright exterior lighting to discourage nocturnal animals.
- Encourage
your neighbors to do the same, so the whole neighborhood is
unfriendly to wildlife.
The
Effects Of Food
- Examine
your buildings and yard. Remove all sources of FOOD.
- Use
garbage cans with animal-proof lids.
- Keep
garbage cans in the garage or shed.
- Don't
feed pets outside.
- If
you must feed pets outside, remove any uneaten food at once.
- Remember
gardens attract wildlife such as raccoons. Consider ways to make
your garden less appealing such as low voltage electric fence.
In
Your Home
What to
do if THEY are already in residence?
- If
they're already raising young, it's best to wait for the young to
leave the den.
- When
you're sure that there are no young or that the young ones are gone,
watch the entrance at dusk and block it up after the animals leave
for the night.
- If
you can't watch the hole, mount a flap of wood or heavy gauge wire
on a hinge over the hole so that the animal can push it out to
leave, but can't push it back in to re-enter.
- Arrange
a bright light so it shines into the den during the day, or place a
loud playing radio there all day to discourage an animal from
sleeping.
- If
the animal persists in remaining, call your local animal control
officer.
- Report
any stray domestic or wild animals behaving strangely to your local
animal control officer.
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