By Tanya M. Ursual

From The Lanark Animal Welfare Society (LAWS) L.A.W.S., P.O. Box 156, Smiths Falls, ON, K7A 4T1:

Rabies Info

I’m sure all of us are familiar with the term "rabies" and it likely evokes images of wild animals aggressively foaming at the mouth. Most of us, however, are unlikely to be able to define the true cause of the illness, how it originates and what it really means. Rabies is an illness that affects the central nervous system of any mammal, including humans. It is a disease that is transmitted through an infected animal’s saliva to its new victim through an entry site which is usually a bite wound. It is important to note that rabies is not transmitted through urine, feces or blood and it is not an airborne virus. An infected animal may manifest rabies in one of two forms. The furious form usually causes the animal to appear agitated, it will bite and snap and salivate. The second form of rabies is called dumb rabies and demonstrates itself by rendering the animal paralysed making them appear tame. The rabies virus isn’t viable after the saliva has dried which means it is short-lived when exposed to the air. In order for the rabies virus to successfully infect its new victim it must pass directly from saliva to blood through an open wound as it cannot penetrate intact skin.

Rabies within North America is most commonly seen in raccoons, skunks, bats, foxes and coyotes. While rabies is a dangerous and fatal disease in animals, it can be cured for humans who seek timely medical treatment. The most common method of transmission of rabies to humans is through bats. It is a common misconception that nocturnal animals spotted during the day could be carrying rabies. It is quite common for foxes to be active during the day and mother raccoons often forage during the day in order to adequately feed their young.

The single most effective way to lower the risk of rabies is to have your pet vaccinated each year. A cat or dog that has not been vaccinated against rabies that comes in contact with a diseased animal may take 2 to 24 weeks to show symptoms of infection. Aggressive rabies vaccination campaigns and other post-exposure treatment policies have helped to reduce the number of human rabies fatalities each year to about one or two. Rabies vaccinations for cats are dogs are required by law in Canada. It is illegal to have an animal in your care that has not been vaccinated against rabies.

If you ever find a bite wound on yourself, or are bitten by an animal, seek immediate medical treatment. For more information about rabies education please contact your local veterinarian.