While we have all heard of rabies and know it is a deadly disease, we may not be aware of how important this disease is to all of us. Every year rabies kills more than 55,000 people around the world, mainly children in Asia and Africa where vaccination of dogs is not a common practice, if done at all. Even here in the United States, there are 1-3 human fatalities from rabies every year and thousands of animal cases, including wildlife and domestic animals. Just this year in Minnesota alone we have had three cats, two dogs and one bull diagnosed with rabies. So here are some important facts about rabies everyone should know:
– To keep dogs legally current on rabies vaccination, your dog must be vaccinated every 1-3 -years depending on your city (it is every 2 years in Fridley). Cats must be vaccinated every year to be legally current on rabies vaccination if using the safer feline vaccines. Cats can go every three years if a less safe dog vaccine is used and it is allowed in your city.
– Vaccination of your pet for rabies is very important. If your pet does bite someone and is not current on rabies vaccination, your pet may have to be euthanized or will have to be quarantined for months until it is proven they are not infected and have not developed the disease.
– Most people think of rabies in domestic animals as the animal showing aggressive behavior. Aggression is the most common form in dogs and cats but in horses and cattle and other farm animals, they often become lethargic, lose their balance and seem to lose all care about their surroundings. This lethargic form can happen in dogs and cats also and was what happened with the most recent case of a rabid dog found in Sterns County this month.
– Skunks and bats are the most common wildlife with rabies in Minnesota. Raccoons can also have rabies but it is more common along the East Coast.
– Skunks often behave oddly when they have rabies, including coming close to people without fear.
– Bats show no signs of rabies, only carry the disease, so all bats must be considered infected.
– All bat bites or possible bat bites, such as a bat found in the room when you wake or a bat in a child’s room, must be considered exposure to rabies. See a medical professional immediately.
– Once signs of rabies occur, it is nearly always fatal in people so if there is any possibility of expose to rabies, see a medical professional to determine if there is need of therapy.
– Stay safe – keep your pets vaccinated and do not approach any strangely behaving wildlife or bats.
Please feel free to call and talk to one of our doctors about rabies and rabies vaccination at 763-574-9892.
How to keep Our Pets Safe During a SevereWeather Storm / Tornado
How to Keep Pets Safe During a Tornado
Instructions
Things You’ll Need:
Make an Emergency Plan to Keep Pets Safe During a Tornado
Find a kennel, crate or cage for every animal you have. Buckets work well for fish and turtles. Keep all of the animal carriers together in an easy to get to place inside the house.
Choose the safest room in the house for surviving a tornado. A basement is best or the most interior room of the home, preferably a closet or bathroom. Tell everyone living in the house that this is the safe room for tornadoes.
Make an emergency food supply for the pets in case it is in short supply or hard to get to after the storm. Get pull tab cans or pouches for easy opening, and you can toss in a cheap bowl or paper plates. Pack a collar and leash for each dog or cat as well.
Add an extra gallon or two of water to the family emergency supply. This way there will be plenty to go around.
What To Do When a Tornado Siren Sounds or a Tornado Warning is Issued
Put all pets in cages or carriers and in the safe room when the tornado watch is issued. Animals sense bad weather and will look for a place to hide if they sense it is near. There will probably not be much of an argument from the pets in the safe room where it is quiet.
Get all people to the safe room as soon as a tornado warning is issued or a siren is sounded.
Stay in the safe room for several minutes after the storm, large tornadoes have an eye so more destruction could be coming. After several minutes of silence, carefully open the safe room door.
Leash all pets when outside after a tornado. Power lines could be down and dangerous objects will be littered about everywhere. Do not let pets outside unsupervised.
Tips & Warnings
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