A Rabies Vaccine May Save Your Pet’s Life!

The Rabies virus is deadly to both humans and your animal companions!

Being bitten – or even scratched – by an infected animal can be lethal for your pet without a rabies vaccination.

Learn more about the rabies virus below and how to effectively protect your pets from becoming infected and worse.

The Rabies Virus: 6 Things You Need to Know

Rabies is a bullet-shaped virus that causes fatal and incurable central nervous system and neurologic disease in both animals and humans. While nearly 100% fatal, contracting the rabies virus is preventable with vaccines.

Below are the top 6 things you need to know about rabies and your pets.

Only mammals (warm-blooded animals including humans) can be infected with rabies.
Dogs (including wolf-hybrids), cats, ferrets, rodents, rabbits, horses, donkeys and cattle can get rabies.
Cats are more likely to become infected with rabies due to fewer cat owners vaccinating them.
In the United States, more than 90% of rabies cases occur among wildlife.
Rabies is commonly carried and transmitted by raccoons, skunks, bats and foxes through a bite, scratch or direct contact with the infected animal’s saliva through broken skin or an open wound.
7 out of 10 Americans who die from rabies were infected by rabid bats.

7 Signs that MAY Indicate the Rabies Virus

Some warning symptoms may indicate an animal is infected with the rabies virus. Rabid animals may:

Act in unexpected or unusual ways.
Act aggressively.
Try to bite you.
Drool or foam at the mouth.
Have difficulty swallowing.
Have trouble moving or may even be paralyzed.
Also, show no symptoms at all.

Preventing the Rabies Virus in Your Pets

Prevention is your best defense against rabies. Make sure your pets get their regular rabies vaccination shots for proper and continued protection. Also, know what your state requires for the rabies vaccine for your pets.

Each state has its own mandatory requirements for pet vaccines, boosters and revaccinations for rabies.

Click here to learn what your state requires from the AVMA as of January 2021.

The Rabies Vaccination

Since no cure or treatment can stop rabies once symptoms are detected, the rabies vaccine is your pet’s best defense. In most states, the first vaccination is given to puppies around 16 weeks of age. Afterward, your dog should be vaccinated each year or every three years depending on your state’s requirements and the vaccine used.

There are a few, usually mild, side effects from a rabies vaccine including:

Discomfort or swelling at the shot site.
Slight fever.
Decreased appetite and activity level.

In most pets, these symptoms usually subside in a few days. If they linger or more serious, life-threatening side effects emerge like:

Vomiting or diarrhea
Hives
Swelling of the muzzle, face, neck or eyes
Severe coughing, difficulty in breathing or
Collapse

contact your veterinarian immediately for medical intervention.

Since there is no cure for rabies, the rabies vaccine is a critical part of your pet’s health regime. Also, rabies vaccinations are required by every state and proof is often required by pet businesses for services.

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