Understanding the threat of rabies to pets
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Over the years, family pets have undergone quite a change. For instance, dogs once relegated to a doghouse in the backyard have now largely migrated indoors, sleeping where the rest of the family sleeps.
The migration dogs have made indoors is indicative of a larger trend for domestic animals, wherein pets are now more valued members of the family than ever before. That said, most pet owners would be willing to take any and all steps to improve their pet's quality of life, including the animal's physical health.
One of the first things new pet owners are informed of is the importance of vaccinations, including a rabies shot. But is rabies really a concern for domestic pets? Much like the way we treat our pets has changed drastically over the last half century, so, too, has those pets' susceptibility to diseases, such as rabies.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), from a public health perspective, rabies has changed dramatically since 1960. Before 1960, the majority of rabies cases were in domestic animals. Conversely, of all the rabies cases now reported annually to the CDC, better than 90 percent occur in wildlife.
Humans, too, have less to worry about when it comes to rabies than they did 100 years ago. At the onset of the 20th century, rabies-related human deaths exceeded the century mark on a yearly basis. However, by the dawn of the 21st century, those figures had dwindled to one or two deaths per year.
So why the insistence on giving domestic pets rabies shots? Simply put, rabies is an entirely preventable viral disease. Regardless of the likelihood of a domestic animal actually getting rabies, it doesn't hurt to get the shot. While less than 10 percent of reported rabies cases each year are in domestic animals, there is still a risk, albeit minimal. And that risk is eliminated if an animal is up-to-date with its rabies vaccination.
While the chances are very slim of a domestic animal falling victim to rabies, some animals still do. Pet owners who suspect their pet might have been exposed to rabies should be on the lookout for the following indicators:
* Increased aggression in the animal
* Combative demeanor
* Highly sensitive to stimulation, including touch
* Lethargy
* Weakness in one or more limbs
* Difficulty with normal muscle function, such as raising its head or making noises, due to paralysis of throat and neck muscles
To learn more about rabies, speak to your veterinarian or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site at www.cdc.gov.