As veterinarians, we’ve noticed that many people tend to think that rabies is a thing of the past, but unfortunately that’s not the reality. According to the CDC, thousands of animal rabies cases are reported in the U.S. each year, and the large majority of those occur in wildlife. So while dogs and cats are no longer getting rabies as they did in the mid-1900s, the principal hosts in this country today are raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes. Human deaths are rare now, but they do occur—usually where the affected person didn’t seek medical care, often because they didn’t realize they had been exposed. Bat bites in particular can be tiny and easily missed or dismissed.
As the CDC notes, the decline in cases can be attributed to pet vaccination and animal control programs, public health surveillance and testing, and the availability of post-exposure prophylaxis for people. World Rabies Day is marked on September 28 each year to raise awareness of the public health impact on both pets and people, and to educate pet owners about risk and prevention.
What is Rabies?
Rabies is a deadly disease of mammals, caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system. It is present in saliva and is usually transmitted by the bite of an infected animal, though saliva contacting an open wound or a mucous membrane can also transmit it. Most U.S. cases occur in wildlife, but among domestic animals, cats are reported more often than dogs—largely because cats are less consistently vaccinated and are more likely to encounter wildlife.
Vaccines are available for both cats and dogs. Rabies vaccination is required by law for dogs in nearly every state, and for cats in many, and it is almost always required by boarding facilities, daycares, and groomers. We recommend it for every cat and dog regardless of local requirements, indoor cats included.
Once an animal is showing signs of rabies, the disease is effectively always fatal.
As the rabies virus travels along the nerves to the brain, it can cause:
- Uncharacteristic aggression, or conversely unusual tameness
- Excessive drooling
- Trouble swallowing
- A staggering gait
- Paralysis
- Seizures
- Marked changes in temperament or vocalization
A rabid wild animal often gives itself away through loss of fear of humans, or by being active in daylight when it would normally be nocturnal. Do bear in mind, though, that not every animal behaving oddly is rabid, and not every rabid animal appears aggressive—the paralytic form can leave an animal quiet and apparently docile. Never approach or handle a wild animal that is acting strangely, however harmless it seems. There is no cure for rabies, and infection can only be confirmed after death by examination of brain tissue.
Preventing Rabies in Your Pets
Thanks to modern veterinary medicine, rabies is preventable in cats and dogs.
The following are the most effective ways to prevent rabies in your pets:
- Get your cats and dogs vaccinated, and keep up with boosters at the recommended intervals so their protection doesn’t lapse.
- Don’t allow your pets to roam free, which increases the likelihood of encountering rabid wildlife.
- Consider spaying or neutering your cats and dogs, which reduces their tendency to roam.
- Supervise your pet outdoors, even in a fenced yard.
- Don’t leave garbage or pet food outside, as it attracts wildlife.
- If you see a wild animal acting out of character, contact your local animal control office and report its location rather than approaching it.
- Seal your home well enough to keep bats out, and keep garage doors closed to stop raccoons and other wildlife getting in.
- Don’t feed or encourage wildlife in your yard, and don’t keep wild animals as pets.
Steps to Take If Your Pet is Bitten
Even the most careful owner can find their pet exposed to a wild animal. If that happens, treat it as urgent and take the following steps.
- Don’t handle your pet with bare hands. Saliva from the attacking animal may be on their coat, so wear gloves and wash thoroughly afterward.
- Call us right away, even if your pet is fully vaccinated. They will need to be examined, and a booster is usually given promptly after a known or suspected exposure.
- Report the bite to your local animal control department. If the wild animal is dead, don’t dispose of it—animal control may need it for testing, which is the only way to confirm rabies.
- Follow the observation period set by your state or local law. For a vaccinated pet this usually means keeping them at home under your control, away from other animals and people, for a set number of days.
- If your pet has never been vaccinated, the requirements are considerably stricter, and options may include a lengthy strict quarantine. We’ll talk you through what applies where you live, and work with animal control on your behalf.
These rules are set by public health law rather than by us, and they aren’t discretionary—which is one of the strongest reasons to keep your pet’s rabies vaccination current even if they never leave the house.
If a Person Is Bitten
If you, a member of your family, or anyone else is bitten or scratched by a wild animal, a stray, or an animal of unknown vaccination status, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and contact a doctor or your local health department immediately. Rabies post-exposure treatment is highly effective, but only if it is started before signs develop—once symptoms appear, the disease is almost always fatal in people too.
The same applies if you find a bat in a room with a sleeping person or a young child, even without an obvious wound, because bat bites can be too small to notice. Don’t release the bat if you can safely contain it, as testing it may spare someone a course of treatment.
The AVMA offers additional guidance on rabies, including what to do if your dog bites another animal or a person. If you'd like more information about protecting your pets against rabies, or your pet is due for a booster, please give us a call. We're here to help, especially when it comes to preventive care for dogs and cats.