We are thrilled to announce that we are hosting Rabies Awareness Month right here at Sykesville Veterinary Clinic. This is an incredibly important cause to us, and one that needs as much awareness as possible.

While most people have likely heard the word ‘rabies’ before and have an idea of what this means or looks like, many do not understand the full scope of how deadly this disease can be, for both our pets and us. By law, all pets are required to have up-to-date rabies vaccinations, either yearly or every three years. While pets in some areas of the country are more susceptible to contracting rabies than others, it is absolutely imperative that pet owners are proactive and take the necessary steps to keep their pets safe for this deadly disease.

Rabies is a viral infection that impacts the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and can be contracted by all warm-blooded animals. The virus is typically excreted in the saliva of infected animals, meaning it can be transmitted by a bite or contamination of open wounds. There are a wide range of species that can carry rabies, including raccoons, squirrels, foxes, skunks, groundhogs, and bats. If your pet comes in contact with one of these animals and is not properly vaccinated for rabies, it could be deadly.

In addition to rabies spreading from animal to animal, it can also spread to humans. This is why it is so important that we take the month of September to raise awareness about the dangers of rabies and why vaccinating your pet is so critical.

Facts about Rabies

The first step to prevention is knowledge. With that in mind, here are a few important facts about rabies:

There is no cure for rabies and it is almost always fatal.
As soon as the clinical signs of infection are present, an animal usually dies within days.
The only way to test for rabies is by examining the brain tissue of a dead animal.
Rabies is a problem throughout the entire United States, with the exception of Hawaii.
Rabies is most prevalent along the east coast from Florida to Maine and in southern Arizona along the Mexican border.
Human rabies cases in the United States are very rare, with only about two per year.
Cases of rabies in domestic animals range from about 400 to 500 per year.
The word rabies originates from a Latin word that means “to rage”.
The incubation period – or the time elapsed between exposure to the disease and when the first symptoms are detected – varies for rabies. However, the typical incubation period is three to eight weeks, but it can be as little as nine days or as long as several years.
Rabies is more common in cats than dogs; this is because cat owners are less likely to keep their cat’s rabies vaccinations up to date.

Rabies Symptoms

Let’s now look at some of the most common symptoms of rabies:

The early signs of rabies usually include behavioral changes, such as the animal appearing aggressive, anxious, or even more friendly than normal.
As the disease progresses, animals may develop sensitivity to light and sound. They may also have seizures and become extremely vicious.
The final stage of rabies is usually characterized by paralysis of the nerves that control the head and throat, causing the animal to hypersalivate and lose the inability to swallow.

To learn more about rabies and the preventative measures that you as pet owners can take to keep your animal safe, please contact us at Sykesville Veterinary Clinic. We will be hosting numerous rabies awareness events etc. at our clinic the entire month of September, so be sure and check back for more here.

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