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RABIES Rabid Animals RABIES . and how it can be controlled “Furious” symptoms include excitement, Man and all warm-blooded animals are Watch out for – viciousness, roaming, unusual noises and a susceptible to rabies. Once rabies is tendency to attack anything attracting the . contracted, there is no known satisfactory Bold, “friendly” or “apparently tame” animal’s attention. Such animals may snap treatment. wild animals. at anything, including themselves. They tend to “drool”, and their saliva may be . The virus, which is present in saliva during a Night animals, like skunks and fox, that mixed with blood. They may swallow certain stage in the progress of the disease, are seen in the daytime. objects such as stones and sticks. These is transmitted by biting or licking by an symptoms progress to paralysis and eventual . infected animal and enters the body through Pets that have difficulty walking, eating death. a break in the skin or mucous membrane. or drinking. “Dumb” symptoms include difficulty in . Rabies virus attacks the central nervous Signs of excitement or viciousness in chewing, swallowing, drinking or trouble system. It may take days to years (average 3 normally quiet animals. walking. An animal may not be able to – 8 weeks) to develop. Exposed people can close its mouth. People have been exposed . be made immune within this time by a series Animals that tear or scratch an old by trying to clear the throats of such of vaccinations. Modern rabies vaccines are wound until it bleeds. animals, since they may seem to be choking. administered under the skin, but some Paralysis spreads throughout the body until . people may still experience itching and Cattle that “strain” for long periods. death. Parts paralyzed by rabies are limp, redness from the shots. not rigid or stiff. Rabies in animals is confirmed by treating Rabid Animals A veterinarian should be consulted the brain with a fluorescent dye which immediately when any of these signs are attaches to the virus. Infected areas are then In the early stages of rabies, the personality first noted. visible under the microscope. of pets may change. A normally friendly dog may stay alone, another may begin to If bitten by an animal, treat the bites as if the Rabies is a disease of animals. It is seek more attention. Some animals scratch animal were rabid, and follow these steps. transmitted to man directly from an infected at the place the virus entered their bodies. They may save your life. wild animal or indirectly through a pet or a domestic animal. Later, symptoms follow a “furious” pattern, 1. Identify the animal – by kind, size, a “dumb” or “paralytic” pattern, or a color and place. Caution children to seek Contrary to popular belief, rabies occurs in combination of both. the help of a policeman, school guard or all seasons and in all sections of the country. other adult. Steps to community control of rabies 1. Register and license all owned dogs and cats. 2. Immunize all dogs and cats annually or RABIES every three years if the three year rabies vaccine was used by your 2. Immediately cleanse the wound veterinarian. thoroughly by washing with soap and and how it can water for 15 minutes. Rinse well and 3. Impound all stray dogs. Provide animal … disinfect with alcohol, iodine or other services facilities and animal services personnel. disinfectants. This lessens the chance of contracting rabies by removing or 4. Quarantine all biting or scratching dogs inactivating virus in the wound. and cats for daily observation for 10 be controlled days from the date of exposure. 3. See a doctor immediately after washing 5. Immediately destroy dogs and cats bitten the wound. The physician will decide on by a known rabid animal. If the owner is need for treatment to avoid contracting unwilling to have this done, the rabies. unvaccinated animal shall be immediately vaccinated against rabies, 4. Report the incident to Animal Services placed in strict isolation for 90 days, and at 972.216.6283. given booster vaccinations during the third and eighth weeks of isolation. If 5. If possible, have the biting dog or cat the animal is currently vaccinated placed under observation. If it is alive against rabies, it should be revaccinated and normal after 10 days, the animal immediately and placed in strict could not have transmitted rabies at the isolation for 45 days. time of the bite. This will help the doctor determine whether the anti-rabies 6. Control wildlife cooperatively with health and conservation authorities. treatment is necessary. The observation period is not valid for livestock or 7. Encourage others to understand and wildlife since no information is available cooperate. as to when live virus is excreted in the City of Mesquite Animal Services saliva of these animals. Bats are known 1650 Gross Road to shed the virus in saliva for many Mesquite, TX 75149 months. 972.216.6283 Revised 4/2006 .
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