What is rabies?

Rabies is a virus for which there is no cure!

The virus is transmitted through infected saliva, usually entering through a bite wound.

It can take weeks or months before symptoms show up, but the victim cannot pass the disease before symptoms show up (incubation is completed).

For this reason, the biting dog or cat is quarantined under observation for ten days. If the animal had symptoms and could pass the virus, but it will not survive the ten day quarantine. Animals dying within ten days are suspect and should be tested immediately after death.

Wild animales which bite are destroyed immediately and sent for testing through the local health department.

Safeguards for your pet and family:

Do not keep wild or exotic animals as pets

Avoid wild animals and dangerous animals

Prevent bites by avoiding strange animals and refrain from abusing, teasing, or exciting them.

Report animal bites to the local health department.

See your physician if bitten

Report stray dogs to the dog warden

Keep your pet in a secure enclosure

Have your pet vaccinated for rabies and keep shots current.

Call trained people from the lucas county dog warden or toledo humane society to handle injured animals.

Prevention

Healthy animals can be protected from rabies through vaccinations given by your veterinarian.

Laws

In the city of toledo and the city of sylvania, and perhaps other communities as well, there are laws requiring owners of dogs and cats to have those animals vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian.

Owners of dogs over six months of age are required to have their dogs vaccinated and to keep the vaccinations current.

Failure to have your pet dog vaccinated for rabies by a licensed veterinarian subjects you to a fine and possible court appearance.

Who gets rabies?

Most common: fox, raccoon, bats, and skunks.

Less often: dogs, cats, horses, sheep, cattle, ferrets, pigs, and people.

Problem:

Recently, unique strains of rabies have been increasing in raccoons, coming from the east coast into pennsylvania and westward.

Domestic animals and people are at risk if they come into contact with such animals.

Symptoms:

Since this disease affects the brain, signs can be aggressiveness, excitement and agitation.

Animals may show unusual behavior, such as wild animals becoming friendly, friendly animals becoming uncontrollable and aggression.

Some animals will show depression, drooling, foaming of the mouth or fear of water.