Vaccinations the only way to protect pets from rabies, experts say

There have been two confirmed cases of rabies in North Shelby County, and experts are urging pet owners to take precautions.

In April, a cat in the Indian Springs area and a raccoon in the Heatherwood subdivision tested positive for the rabies virus, according to a release from the Alabama Department of Health, prompting a heightenedrabies warning.

While there is not always a high alert for rabies in the area, Dr. Laura Falone, an associate veterinarian at Valleydale Animal Clinic, said pet owners should always be cautious.

 “There’s never really an all-clear [on rabies] because it happens every year in the United States,” Falone said.

In 2014, there were more than 6,000confirmed cases of rabies in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control, with 454 of those being domestic animals.

In Alabama’s 86 confirmed cases, 82 were cases involving wild animals.Raccoons were the main reservoir for the disease. Nationwide, wild animals account for nearly 93 percent of reported cases of rabies, according to the CDC, with raccoons as the most frequently reported carriers as well.

“Raccoons are the primary problem here,” Falone said, “but really any mammal cancarry it.”

The only way to protect an animal against rabies is through vaccination, Falone said. Rabies vaccinations are required by law for dogs, cats and ferrets in Alabama, and all pets should receive their first vaccination between 12 and 16 weeks of age, she said. After the initial vaccination, the pet would receive a booster at 1 year old and additional boosters every three years following that.

“The vaccine is very effective, and that honestly is the biggest thing,” Falone said.

The rabies virus targets the central nervoussystem of all mammals, and it is always fatal, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health. It is transmitted by saliva, and exposure usually requires direct contact with infected saliva through a bite or a scratch.

If an animal is bitten by another animal, it should immediately be taken to a vet, Falone said. If possible, the aggressing animal should be captured as well. From there, the fate of the bitten animal depends on itsvaccination status.

“If a dog is bitten by a raccoon and the raccoon is confirmed rabies-positive, then the dog, if it has never been vaccinated, the recommendation of the CDC is to euthanize it immediately,”Falone said.

If the animal is not euthanized, it would need to be quarantined and monitored at a veterinarian office for six months, she said, as it takes between three and six months to confirm the presenceof rabies.

If an animal is vaccinated, and the vet confirms that vaccination status, thevaccination would be repeated, and the dog would be allowed to return home. 

“There is no cure, no treatment once an animal that is unvaccinated is bitten by a rabid animal,” Falone said, once again emphasizing the importance of vaccination. 

If infected, the disease would progress in the animal — starting with signs of lethargy, anorexia and vomiting, thenprogressing to neurological signs such as aggression and eventually leading to paralysis.

“The biggest thing is just to staycurrent on vaccinations,” Falone said.

In addition to keeping pets up-to-date on rabies vaccinations, other precautions canbe taken. 

ADPH recommends not allowing pets to run loose, not leaving uneaten pet food near a residence, not illegally feeding or keeping wildlife as pets, avoiding wildlife or domestic animals acting “in a strange or unusual manner” and cautioning children from going near any stray orwild animals. 

“It is always present,” Falone said. “There’s really never a reason to take your guard down as far as that’s concerned.”