World Rabies Day was celebrated on September 28th. This is celebrated each year to remind us of how important it is to take precautions to protect your pets and you.

As more and more people question the need to vaccinate their pets against infectious diseases, veterinarians are increasingly concerned about the resurgence of a killer. Thankfully, rabies is rare here in North America, but a reservoir of the disease is present in our wildlife. What’s the chance of your pet encountering a rabid animal?

It’s a scenario that happens all too often as urban sprawl encounters rural farmland and wooded areas. You hear aggressive barking and maybe a high-pitched “yip” or two. Looking out your window, you see your beloved dog in an all out battle with a raccoon! After breaking up the fight, your mind races as you check your dog for wounds and wonder about the chance of rabies.

Every year in North America, the Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) monitor the prevalence of rabies. Thousands of wild animals test positive every year and, despite mandatory vaccines for pets, hundreds of cats, dogs, horses and other domestic animals contract this killer as well. The good news is that rabies cases in people and domestic animals have decreased throughout the 20th century, but only continued vigilance will insure our on-going safety.

Several variant strains of rabies exist in North America, including strains found in skunks, raccoons, foxes and bats. Although these different rabies variants prefer certain hosts, they are capable of infecting almost any mammal, including people! And, despite reports of the canine strain of rabies being extinct in the United States, vaccines are still needed to protect our pets and ourselves.

Laws may vary slightly, but all states require dogs to be vaccinated against rabies. Many also require cats and pet ferrets to be vaccinated as well. For most pets, an initial vaccine after 12 weeks of age starts the series and this vaccine is “boosted” when the pet is a year old. In Massachusetts, pets are required to receive a one year rabies vaccination. This vaccination needs to be repeated within a nine (9) to twelve (12) month time frame to be considered a three (3) year vaccination. Most veterinary schools and organizations, such as the American Animal Hospital Association (www.aahanet.org) recommend that veterinarians use a three year protocol for re-vaccination of rabies in our pets.

There is also an on-going study that is attempting to determine how long these vaccines provide immunity for our pets. The Rabies Challenge Fund (www.rabieschallengefund.org) was established in 2005 with a goal of determining how well vaccinated dogs are protected against rabies after five and seven years.

Thankfully, until this and other research is complete, you do have good guidelines to follow when it comes to protecting your pets.

First and foremost, follow recommendations from your veterinarian and local rabies ordinances. These laws are in place to help place a level of protection between potentially rabid wildlife and your family.

These vaccinations can also be a life-saver if your pet does come into contact with a wild animal. If your pet is not vaccinated and fights with an unknown wild animal or even a confirmed rabid one, you will need to quarantine your pet for six months (although this can vary by region). This extended observation period is meant to keep the animal under control in the event it does develop rabies. It is also a costly endeavor if you need to quarantine your pet in an approved facility because you are unable to keep your pet at home. A six month stay at an approved quarantine facility might cost more than $1500. Compare that expense to the $10 or $20 rabies vaccine…Sadly, many dogs and cats have lost their lives because of this economic factor.

Never assume that your “indoor only” pet is safe from rabies either. Bats, the largest reservoir of rabies in North America, can find their way into homes very easily. Attracted to their fluttering flight or a dying bat on the floor, our pets, especially cats, risk exposure. And, since bat bites are almost undetectable because of their size, you might miss the fact that your pet has been bitten.

Finally, always contact an animal control officer or wildlife expert if you see a wild animal acting strangely. Because of the deadly nature of this disease, you should never attempt to capture a wild animal on your own. World Rabies Awareness Day happens every September 28th. Although we rarely see human rabies deaths in our countries, more than 55,000 people die from rabies annually in Asia and Africa. That’s one person every 10 minutes! What’s even sadder is that many of these deaths are children. For those of us in North America, these deaths may seem remote, but we should never lose sight that this killer still lurks in our own backyard!

For more information on rabies and other pet health topics, visit our Pet Health Library. You can also visit PetDocsOnCall.com if you have specific questions about your pet’s vaccination status or for any pet health or behavior related question.