On December 22, the latest positive rabies case was identified in Fillmore County in southeastern Minnesota.  A stray kitten with an injured leg was found on a property in Fillmore County. One of the homeowners approached the kitten and upon picking it up, the kitten bit the individual on the finger. The family attempted to clean up the kitten’s leg and offer it food. The kitten did not eat anything offered, and the kitten’s mouth ‘looked funny’. The following day the kitten was brought to a local veterinary clinic where it was submitted for rabies testing.  The major risk to the people in this situation is too important not to mention again.  These people must now get the post-exposure prophylaxis shots because they have been exposed to the rabies virus.  And we cannot stress enough how important it is for you to keep your pets’ rabies vaccine up-to-date.  The dogs in this household had current vaccines so will have to be monitored for exposure but not euthanized immediately like they would if they had not been vaccinated.  Remember rabies is a deadly disease that is present in Minnesota so please keep your pets’ vaccines current.

Rabies Alert

Another confirmed case of rabies was announced on December 1^st.  A stray cat in Olmstead County, in the southeastern portion of the state, was taken in by a family at the end of October.  The cat was spayed and vaccinated, after which the cat started developing neurologic signs such as aggression, vocalization, wobbly in the rear end and scooting.  The cat was euthanized and tested for rabies then.  The unvaccinated cats in the home also euthanized while the vaccinated cats in the home have to be quarantined.   The owner, three relatives and four veterinary staff members all need to be treated with post-exposure prophylaxis shots.  This is just another serious and sad reminder of how important it is to keep our pets up-to-date on their vaccines, especially their rabies vaccine.

Canine Influenza Update

In a national survey of pet care facilities, over a quarter of all surveyed are now requiring that dogs be vaccinated for canine influenza virus (dog flu) before being allowed to board or stay at the facility.  Even if a facility is not requiring the vaccine, please consider getting the canine influenza virus vaccine that we offer to help protect your dog wherever you go – boarding, grooming, dog parks, doggie daycare.