Most dogs are vaccinated as pups against distemper and regular booster shots may be given. What should I do if I am exposed to rabies? Respectable breeders will be able to give you this information, and good rehoming charities like Blue Cross will give a puppy a full vet check and provide up-to-date vaccines before they start their life as your pet. Dry the wound and cover it with a sterile dressing. Pet owners must always be vigilant for neurologic signs in their animals that may be consistent with rabies. Bob gets bit by a rabid dog on Monday. Confinement should be performed in coordination with public health authorities. If you hunt, use gloves while skinning animals in particular while handling nervous tissue or organs (spine and brain for example). So, it is still a good idea to get your dog checked by a licensed vet. This fact sheet was developed by Dr. Maria Correa-Prisant, Public Health Epidemiology, 4700 Hillsborough St., College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606. A dog can become infected with the disease from coming into contact with raccoon feces, from ingestion of B. procyonis eggs, which may remain viable in the soil long after the raccoon feces has disintegrated or been removed, from ingestion of animal tissue that is infected with the roundworm (e.g., rabbits, birds, etc. If your pet is not vaccinated, and the attacking animal was rabid, your pet may be disposed of as required by law. It’s very likely that a dog will be fearful of whatever caused a bite, so he may be hesitant to interact with other dogs following a dog attack. Changes in behavior are common in rabid animals: nocturnal animals are seen during the day, animals are not afraid from humans, become aggressive, attack other animals or people without provocation, may have paralysis of the limbs or throat, or just lay down. If it is killed/euthanized and tested, and shown not to have rabies virus in its brain, the bitten dog is in the clear (same applies if a person is bitten by a wild animal). It’s important to be sure your dog isn’t antogonizing the raccoon as well. Remember: bats carry rabies. On Thursday he can't sleep or eat and he is starting to hallucinate. Steve Troxler, Commissioner of Agriculture, Animal This will help re-affirm the dog’s immunity to rabies and further reduce the chances of it developing. This could be a deadly situation." March 1997, version 1 This material was developed as information only to best of the authors' knowledge. Maximum duration of immunity found has been 25 years post immunization. Other mammals also get rabies. Wash the wound with soap and water under pressure from a faucet for at least 5 minutes. One variable here is whether the offending animal is available for testing. He starts having serious headaches and decides not to go to the hospital because he is probably overreacting. It is a viral infection that can affect the nervous system of any mammal, including humans. If your dog has received a rabies vaccine, you won’t have to worry about a raccoon bite too much. Do not feed or attract wild life to your yard, or try to capture wildlife. If the attacking animal is captured, the brain will be tested for rabies. Since you can’t guarantee a vaccinated dog doesn’t have rabies, even vaccinated dogs may be placed under a 10-day observation period. NCDA&CS Veterinary Division, Dr. R. Douglas Meckes - State Veterinarian Raccoons are wild animals and can be very vicious if the need arises. The patient's risk of infection with rabies virus must be addressed immediately. The rabies virus infects the central nervous system; ultimately causing disease in the brain and death. All dogs or cats that bite a person will be quarantined for 10 days. Dr. Patricia Jordan sent us an interesting link. In North America, raccoons, bats, skunks, foxes, and coyotes, are the animals most commonly diagnosed with rabies. The dog still requires a rabies booster is given within 7 days of the bite. within 12 months but no less than 14 days after initial vaccination): If the dog has been vaccinated in the past but is overdue for a booster: If the dog has never been vaccinated against rabies or rabies vaccination history is unknown: Incidentally, the same rules apply to cats in Ontario. Raccoons are one of the major vectors for rabies in North America. Rabies virus can be excreted in the saliva of infected dogs, cats, and ferrets during illness and/or for a few days before illness or death. Rabies post-exposure prophylaxis… What is it? The veterinarian’s husband and son were both bitten when trying to get the raccoon out of their house. Who can get rabies? Ten years is the presumed duration, one has sufficient immunity. What should I do if my pet gets bitten by a rabid animal? Call animal control or animal damage control personnel, if you suspect that there is a rabid animal in your yard. The disease often spreads to other wildlife and pets, making human exposure a real concern. Do not attempt to capture the attacking animal yourself. Avoid picking up dead or abandoned animals, and do not capture or eat animals that do not look or act normal. If not, it’s 6 months. Although humans can be vaccinated for rabies, this is mostly done for people in high risk groups, such as veterinarians and animal controllers. Scott Weese and Maureen Anderson of the Ontario Veterinary College’s Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses. if the dog or cat was infective at the time of the bite, signs of rabies in the animal will usually follow rather quickly and certainly within 10 days. Raccoon rabies is found throughout the Atlantic and southeastern states. If your dog or cat fights with a raccoon or any other rabies carrier, saliva with the virus could be present in the wound or in the coat of your pet. Definitely see your vet. He also might react aggressively to other dogs, and I mean all other dogs, not just the one who bit him. If a bite does occur, wash the bite wound immediately with soap and water (and iodine if available and you are not allergic); promptly seek medical attention and guidance from a physician; and take rabies PEP if prescribed by a physician. ), Worms & Germs Blog is an educational website coordinated by Drs. For dogs you know, a dog bite should be treated like a laceration and watched for signs of infection. Based on the nature of rabies virus infection, by the time a dog is. Don’t forget, all dogs, cats and ferrets over 3 months of age in Southern Ontario are legally required to be fully vaccinated for rabies at all times. That doesn’t have any impact. Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms occur. Information is included on rabies basics; prevention; and more. Troy Madsen takes us step by step—from what you should do after being bitten to when you should be worried about rabies. If a Dog Bites You, Do These 7 Things Now. If the offending racoon has been captured or killed, it will need to be sent to a lab which can examine the brain for rabies. Scenario 2: A dog is bitten by a raccoon (or other potentially rabid animal) The site was initially set up with the help of funding from City….