Yes, we recently had a Rabies scare in Leesburg and I thought it would be a good time to write a blog on Rabies to put my clients and readers at ease. First off, let me say that Rabies is a very rare disease. In my search for some statistics, I found a statement that read Rabies has been diagnosed only 55 times in humans in the United States since 1990, so obviously the state to state mandatory Rabies vaccine is keeping us from having an epidemic.
I will try and make a very long story, that played out over 5 days, short and spare a lot of the details. LAH was presented on a Friday with two dogs, a Shepherd mix and a Dachshund mix, for Rabies quarantine for 10 days because the two were in a fight. When two un-vaccinated animals are in a fight, it is mandatory they be quarantined for 10 days and observed for any signs of Rabies. The Shepherd entered our hospital muzzled and being drug on a Rabies pole because he was extremely aggressive. When he was placed in the pen, he immediately began to growl and bite at the metal cage trying to tear out. He was biting on our cage so aggressively that he tore out some of his teeth in the process. Because of this behavior, which can suggest Rabies, (think Old Yeller) it was suggested this dog be euthanised and tested for Rabies.
The following Tuesday we received the results of a positive Rabies diagnosis. Because of this diagnosis, it was recommended the Dachshund be euthanized as well and any other animals in that family. The state began to get involved and many precautions were taken to make sure no other animals had been exposed.
So here are two things I need to say about Rabies. First and foremost this debacle could have been avoided if the owner of these two dogs had simply had them vaccinated. It is a state law all dogs and cats be vaccinated for Rabies. At LAH this vaccine cost $20. Yes, for a grand total of only $40 dollars (two Rabies vaccines) six animals would not have lost their lives, thousands of dollars would have been saved as well as hundreds of hours of time. The next very important message is for everyone to understand that unless you have been bitten by a rabid animal, you are not going to get Rabies. The virus is not easily spread. It has a very short life span outside of the body, therefore it is not contracted through the air, by touching dirty surfaces, or other typical ways you might catch another virus, like the flu virus for example.
So, in closing, let me recite the old saying "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." In this case I think prevention might have been worth 100 pounds of cure! You know what... I can't even say that. There is no cure for Rabies, so prevention is the only option. My advice? GET YOUR PET VACCINATED!! It's the law; it's cheap. The End.