Rabies - Not Just A Dog Disease

Topic: Rabies

Filed under Dogs

Tags: Rabies

 

Most pet owners consider rabies to be a fatal disease for their dogs, perhaps without realizing that other pets in the house, as well as humans, are at risk of becoming infected. Rabies is one of the rare viruses that can move between species, making it a serious risk and very difficult to control. This is further a problem because rabies is deadly in every species that can be infected with the virus, and that includes many domestic and wild animals as well as humans.

Some species do not typically develop rabies. These include quite a few pet animals as well as some wild animal types. The species of animals that very rarely if ever develop rabies include all bird species, fish, insects, reptiles and amphibians as well as chipmunks, squirrels and opossums. These groups are considered safe from the virus even if they are exposed. Under extremely rare conditions, typically if the above species are immune compromised, they can develop rabies, but it is so uncommon that it is not considered a health concern. Domestic animals that rarely if ever develop rabies include hamsters, gerbils, rabbits, mice, guinea pigs and rats. This means that many of the stories of rabid rabbits or rats are simply myths and urban legends, not an actual cause of a rabies outbreak. These animals can carry a wide range of other very nasty diseases, viruses and bacteria and are by no means safe for handling without appropriate hygiene and management.

By far the most commonly infected animals are wild animals. The most commonly found species with rabies include skunks, raccoons, coyotes, foxes and bats. Since these animals are all basically nocturnal and very wary of humans, any uncharacteristic behavior should be treated with suspicion. This can include any of these animals walking around in the daylight and not running when they see humans or domestic dogs. It may also include any signs of aggression by these animals towards dogs, especially when unprovoked or not in response to what they perceive a threat by the dog, cat or person. A skunk or raccoon, even a fox or coyote will run before he or she will stand to fight under any circumstance.

It is estimated that there are just less than 350 confirmed cases of rabies reported in the United States each year. This includes approximately 3 confirmed human cases per year which result in death as well as both wild and domestic animals that are tested and confirmed to have rabies. Of course there well may be more wild animals that aren't tested or found, but the number has been consistent since the early 1990s. Just 40 years earlier in the 1960's there were over 6,000 confirmed cases, so the numbers have really dropped. In some parts of the world, including in the United Kingdom, rabies has not been seen for close to 100 years.

Rabies and Cats

Surprisingly for many pet owners, cats are far more likely to develop rabies or be exposed to animals with rabies than dogs. This is due in part to the more unrestricted movement of cats in wild and domestic settings as well as the massive numbers of feral cats that live in all urban and rural areas. In some estimates there are as many as 60 million wild cats living in the United States alone, mostly in major urban and suburban areas. Feral cats are domestic cats that have been abandoned or lost by owners and have not been spayed or neutered, allowing them to reproduce. The Humane Society of the United States estimates that one pair of feral cats and their offspring will produce 400,000 kittens in the normal 7 year reproductive life span of these animals. Domestic cats that are allowed outside will often come into contact with feral cats that are not vaccinated or treated for any diseases or viruses, including rabies.

Cats are also much more likely to fight than dogs, resulting in more chances of blood to saliva contact during their fights. Both male and female cats fight, but toms are much more likely to fight than females. Vaccinating your domestic cat is the only way to prevent them from developing rabies if they are exposed.
Like in dogs, rabies is not treatable once the symptoms are evident and the cat is not able to infect other animals if not displaying the symptoms. As with other animals the only confirming diagnosis is to euthanize the cat and examine the brain tissue. Typically all vets recommend euthanasia at the first signs of rabies, especially if the owner confirms that the cat may have been exposed to an infected animal.

Rabies and Ferrets

Rather mistakenly ferrets have been blamed for many instances of rabies both in urban legends and in misreported outbreaks. Ferrets have a much higher natural immunity in their genetic makeup that makes the species as a whole very unlikely to be major contributors to any spread of the virus. Domestic ferrets that are kept as pets should be routinely vaccinated for rabies in areas where it is problematic as a precautionary measure. Ferrets with compromised immune systems or those that are ill or recovering from some type of medical condition are the most at risk if bitten by a rabid animal at this time.

In 1992 an approved rabies vaccination was developed for use with ferrets and it needs to be given annually. In addition if the ferret has been exposed to any infected animal, typically a cat, it is important to take the ferret to the vet and have a booster provided, even if the shots are fully up to date. Typically any ferret that is kept indoors in a secured living area is highly unlikely to develop rabies and will certainly not be able to "carry" rabies without showing the symptoms, just as every other species that can become infected with the virus. In the rare case where a ferret has been bitten by a known rabid animal euthanasia is typically recommended for unvaccinated ferrets or quarantine if the animal was up to date on his or her rabies shots.

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