[PlatinumYorkies]

1. What is Rabies?

Rabies is a deadly disease that is caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system.

2. What animals may be affected by Rabies?

All mammals (warm blooded, furred animals) can be affected by the rabies virus, but it occurs most often among wildlife species, such as, bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes. Unvaccinated dogs, cats, and livestock may also get rabies. Rabbits, squirrels, opossums, rats, mice, guinea pigs, gerbils, hamsters, chipmunks, and muskrats almost never get rabies.


1. What is Rabies?

Rabies is a deadly disease that is caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system.

2. What animals may be affected by Rabies?

All mammals (warm blooded, furred animals) can be affected by the rabies virus, but it occurs most often among wildlife species, such as, bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes. Unvaccinated dogs, cats, and livestock may also get rabies. Rabbits, squirrels, opossums, rats, mice, guinea pigs, gerbils, hamsters, chipmunks, and muskrats almost never get rabies.

3. Do birds or snakes get rabies?

No. Birds, fish, snakes, turtles, lizards, and insects do not get rabies.

4. How do people become exposed to rabies?

Since rabies lives in the saliva of the rabid animals, a bite is the most common way the disease is spread. People may also become exposed to rabies by being scratched by a rabid animal or when the saliva gets into open wounds in the skin, or in the eyes, nose, or mouth.

5. Can I get rabies just by touching or petting a rabid animal? (I wasn’t scratched or bitten by it.)

There is no danger in touching or petting a rabid animal unless saliva from that animal gets into an open wound, or your eyes, nose, or mouth. If this happens, you should see your doctor immediately.

6. Can I get rabies by being near a rabid animal or where the rabid animal has just been (for example, a bat in the room, a raccoon in the back yard, barn, or chimney)?

No. Exposure to rabies occurs by being scratched, bitten or by having saliva come to contact with an open wound, or the eyes, nose, or mouth. Just being in the same room or in the same vicinity does not result in exposure.

7. Can I get rabies by touching my dog or cat that has been in a fight with a raccoon?

If you do not handle, pet, touch or examine your dog or cat within the first 2 hours following the fight there is no danger of getting rabies. If you do handle your pet within 2 hours of a fight, be sure to thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water and then contact your doctor or local health department for advice.

8. What are the symptoms of rabies in an animal?

Symptoms of rabies may vary widely from animal to animal. In any animal, the first symptom is usually a change in behavior. The animal either becomes unnaturally withdrawn or unnaturally approachable. In the furious form, the animal is excited, aggressive, irritable, and may snap at anything in it’s path. It loses all caution and fear of natural enemies. If the animal has the dumb form of the disease, it may appear unusually tame, affectionate, and friendly. Staggering, paralysis, and foaming at the mouth are sometimes noticed. Many animals have a change in the sound of their voice.

9. What should I do if I think my dog or cat, or farm animal has rabies?

Consult a veterinarian and report to your local health department if any person has been bitten or exposed (see question 4) to the suspect animal. Be sure to keep the animal confined until it can be examined by a veterinarian. Try not to expose yourself or other people.

10. What should I do if I see a stray dog, cat or wild animal that I think may have rabies?

Do not feed, pet, or handle any stray or wild animal. Keep your own animals from coming in contact with it. Capture the animal, if possible, without risking exposure (see question)

For example, if the raccoon is in the garage, close all doors and windows. Then call your local animal control agency for further instructions.

11. What should I do if I find a dead animal on my property?

If there has been human or animal exposure, contact your local health department for instructions. If there has been no human or animal exposure, the animal may be buried. If it is necessary to touch the animal, gloves should be worn. An easy way to handle the animal is to stick your hand into a garbage bag, grab the animal by the hind leg through the garbage bag and pull the bag over the animal and tie it shut. Bury the animal at least 3 feet deep, or dispose of it through your local animal control agency. Do not throw it out along a road, or in a woods or field.

12. How can I protect my dog or cat against the threat of rabies?

All dogs and cats should be vaccinated against rabies by a veterinarian. Maryland law requires all dogs and cats over 4 months of age to be vaccinated against rabies by a veterinarian.

13. How long are rabies vaccinations for my dog or cat good?

For dogs or cats the first shot is only good for one year. The next shot (second) is good for one or three years depending on the vaccine used. The rabies certificate should give the expiration date of your dog’s or cat’s shot.

14. What is the earliest age I can begin to have my dog or cat vaccinated against rabies?

The first shot may be given at three months of age. Twelve months later a second shot must be given to complete the primary vaccination series.

15. Will it hurt to vaccinate my dog or cat more often than required, such as every year though the rabies vaccination is good for three years?

Although not necessary, it will not harm your animal.

16. What other animals can be vaccinated against rabies?

There are no rabies vaccines approved for any wildlife species (such as raccoons, skunks, foxes, and ferrets). Your veterinarian has vaccines that are approved for horses, cows, and sheep.

17. What should I do if my dog, cat, or farm animal has been exposed to a wild animal that I think may have rabies?

The wild animal should be captured or killed, being careful not to damage the head, and submitted for rabies testing through your local health department. You should be careful not to get be bitten by or exposed to the wild animal (see question 4). Assistance may be available through your local animal control agency.

18. If the wild animal is positive for rabies, what should I do with my dog, cat, or farm animal?

If a dog, cat, or farm animal has a current rabies vaccination, the animal must be boostered immediately by a veterinarian and restricted for 90 days. If the animal has no rabies vaccination, or if the vaccination is not up to date, you must either destroy your dog or cat or hold it in strict isolation for 6 months in a manner approved by the local health department. Farm animal exposures are managed by the Department of Agriculture.

19. What should I do if I am bitten, scratched, or exposed (see question 4) by an animal?

a. Capture the animal if possible. If the animal is wild, try to capture or kill it without risking further bites. Try not to damage the animal’s head.

b. Immediately wash the wound with plenty of soap and water, scrubbing the bitten area gently. If the animal is a cat, dog or farm animal, attempt to obtain the owner’s name, address, and telephone number.

c. Get prompt medical attention. Call your family doctor or go to the nearest emergency room.

d. Report the incident to the police, sheriff, or animal control agency.

20. What will be done to the animal that bit (or exposed) me to find out if it has rabies?

If it is a dog, cat, or farm animal, it will be quarantined for 10 days, according to the order of the local health department to find out if it had rabies at the time it bit you. If it is a wild animal, it will probably be destroyed and the head submitted for testing to the laboratory.

21. If I am bitten by or exposed to a rabid animal, what kind of rabies preventive treatment will I receive?

When treated in time, rabies can be prevented. After a person is bitten by an animal with rabies, a doctor must be contacted immediately and anti-rabies treatment begun. Once symptoms of rabies appear, the disease almost always causes death.

22. If rabies is in my neighborhood, should I get vaccinated against rabies?

Generally speaking, no. The pre-exposure vaccine is only recommended for certain high risk groups. There are people who regularly handle animals and, therefore, may be at high risk of exposure to animals. High risk groups include: veterinarians and veterinary staff, animal control workers, trappers, and raccoon hunters.

23. What can I do to reduce my chances of getting rabies?

a. Be sure to vaccinate your dog and cat and keep it up to date. Maryland law requires all dogs and cats over 3 months of age to be vaccinated against rabies. Vaccines are available to both cats and dogs which are effective for 3 years after the primary series (two shots twelve months apart)in Maryland other states have different regulations.

b. Restrict your pets to house and yard and walk them on a leash. Roaming pets are more likely to be exposed to rabies than those supervised by their owners. Dogs are required by law to be controlled on a leash whenever off the owners property in some localities.



So, I don't know the law where you are..but for here I do and I will follow it..to secure my pets health and safety of all kind!