New rabies cases

mamahen · #1 05/18/12, 07:12 AM

This would truly suck!! Now I know not every abandoned baby has the disease.....but this is a very good reason NOT to intervene with Mother Nature.

I have helped/recued babies before (never coons) - and would not usually think "What if this baby has rabies?"

7 Crawford County residents exposed to rabid raccoon | GoErie.com/Erie Times-News

***Rabies Alert*** Crawford County Raccoon Tests Positive for Rabies
...
Location - West Cole Road, Meadville, Crawford County

Summary -A hunter discovered two apparently abandoned baby raccoons in the woods behind his home in Hayfield Township, Crawford County. The following day he returned to the woods and took the 2 baby raccoons home with him. The family attempted to place the raccoons with two different wildlife rehabilitators in the area, but the rehabilitators were unable to take the raccoons. The family kept the baby raccoons in their home and handled them. After 3 days they called the Pennsylvania Game Commission who collected and euthanized the baby raccoons. One of the two raccoons tested positive for rabies.

Exposure - 7 people and 1 dog were exposed to the raccoon. The 7 people are receiving post exposure prophylaxis. The dog was not vaccinated for rabies and will be quarantined to the home for 180 days.

Rabies Law - Pennsylvania law requires all dogs and non-feral cats three months of age and older to be vaccinated against rabies. Booster vaccinations must be administered periodically to maintain lifelong immunity. Failure to comply with the law may result in a fine of up to $300.

mooman · #2 05/18/12, 07:26 AM

I don't understand why people have dogs and don't keep them vaccinated. Around here you can go to one of those mobile vets that set up in parking lots and get the yearly shots for under $30. I know heartworm and flee meds can be pricy but rabies vac......come on.

watcher · #3 05/18/12, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mooman

I don't understand why people have dogs and don't keep them vaccinated. Around here you can go to one of those mobile vets that set up in parking lots and get the yearly shots for under $30. I know heartworm and flee meds can be pricy but rabies vac......come on.

If the stupid states didn't make it ILLEGAL for people to buy the vac and do it themselves a lot more critters would be vaccinated.

If it weren't for the state you could vaccinate a dog for less than $2.

Nobivac 3 Rabies - 10 Dose Vial Price: $16.95
Monoject Disposable Syringe Price: $ 0.19

I currently have 4 dogs. It would cost me $120 to take them to your mobile vet. If I could by it would cost me $17.71 (less if I used the same syringe) plus shipping. Plus I'd have 6 doses left I could let my neighbors use to do their dogs.

mary,tx · #4 05/18/12, 08:31 AM

Our vet charges $12 per rabies shot! Other shots we can buy cheaply at the feed store.

This report scares me because our boys went camping last year and I found out afterward that the leaders had allowed them to play with some wild baby animals. Can't remember now what they were, but they told me, oh, they were tame!?! You'd think if the kids didn't know better, the grown-ups would have, but they didn't. I know I've told my kids MANY TIMES not to touch wild animals.

KrisD · #5 05/18/12, 09:08 AM

The difference is that raccoons and skunks can be carriers of rabies while never coming down with it. They never show signs when they are carriers. If people washed their hands after handling them is very little risk unless you get bit.
The reason most states don't allow people to vaccinate for rabies themselves is because people aren't always responsible in their record keeping. I actually called the state health Dept and asked.

Our mobile vet is $10 for rabies.

arabian knight · #6 05/18/12, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KrisD

The difference is that raccoons and skunks can be carriers of rabies while never coming down with it. They never show signs when they are carriers. If people washed their hands after handling them is very little risk unless you get bit.
The reason most states don't allow people to vaccinate for rabies themselves is because people aren't always responsible in their record keeping. I actually called the state health Dept and asked.

Our mobile vet is $10 for rabies.

Yes it is just plain dumb not to have dogs vaccinated for rabies, there are many times even specials put on by several different groups that have real cheap prices on the shots.
I can order rabies vaccine in WI now I have to have it registered by a vet so I can't give the shot to dogs, but I sure can give it to my horses etc.

Old Vet · #7 05/18/12, 09:52 AM

One of the things to remember is that any mammal can get rabies not just the small ones like a dog or raccoon. It has been found in cows horses. You don't need to be bitten to get it only licked or anything close to the mouth. If you kill something with rabies you then must use a mask and gloves and a long sleeve shirt to dispose of it. If you take the head off to send it to be tested once you cut the head off rabies is also found in the spinal fluid.

nancy237 · #8 05/18/12, 10:57 AM

In NC an unvaccinated pet that is exposed has to be put down or quarantined at a licenced place like a vet.. Our dog was exposed and they warned us about that but we got proof from the vet that it was up to date on the vaccine.

It seems risky to quarantine at a home..It would be too tempting to allow it to
play , pet it, or for it to escape.

ps..I actually agree with the vet giving the vaccine..If my child is bit I do not want to have to worry that the vaccine was improperly stored or
that the records were correct .. We have $5 clinics here all the time..

troy n sarah tx · #9 05/18/12, 11:28 AM

Rabies has been really bad in TX the last few years. As a nursing student I've already given several rabies vaccines to those bit by rabid animals.

CarolT · #10 05/18/12, 01:40 PM

Bats are the only animal that can be symptomless and shed rabies, according to the CDC when I was doing my research. Other animals _can_ expose you to rabies if they have saliva from a rabid animal on their fur and it (the saliva) gets in a cut on you but the animal not have rabies itself.

Unfortunately, people will get vaccines and never get around to giving them. Distemper and parvo are hazards to other dogs (and every animal has vaccines that cover diseases for that animal), but rabies is communicable to humans, therefore, the vaccine has to be regulated more strictly to keep people safe.

Yes, somewhere between 2 and 6 people have survived rabies without getting post exposure shots. If you look at all the ones who have died, your odds aren't good.

Mobile or at the office, rabies shots here are 10 and no office visit charge for only getting the shot.

I can't believe anyone in charge of kids would allow them to handle wildlife in the woods. Unless someone brought the animals they had as pets, this was unbelievable.

mamahen · #11 05/18/12, 01:49 PM

We've come upon raccoons with distemper in the woods. They were suffering horribly, were totally blind and very, very skinny. We dispatched them humanely.

We've also had foxes with mange so bad, I feel sorry for them. You can barely tell what they are.

nancy237 · #12 05/18/12, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mamahen

We've come upon raccoons with distemper in the woods. They were suffering horribly, were totally blind and very, very skinny. We dispatched them humanely.

distemper or rabies

mekasmom · #13 05/18/12, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mamahen

We've also had foxes with mange so bad, I feel sorry for them. You can barely tell what they are.

A lot of wild animals in this area are having the mange problem now. It gets bad in the summer. It makes you wish you could douse bait or meat or such things with ivermectin, and leave them around for them to eat, but then you would possibly overdose them or something. And God forbid and eagle would eat the bait and die. You would end up a felon for trying to help mangy foxes.

tinknal · #14 05/18/12, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mekasmom

A lot of wild animals in this area are having the mange problem now. It gets bad in the summer. It makes you wish you could douse bait or meat or such things with ivermectin, and leave them around for them to eat, but then you would possibly overdose them or something. And God forbid and eagle would eat the bait and die. You would end up a felon for trying to help mangy foxes.

Or maybe run Peta into the ground and bring back the fur trade. Most of these problems are caused by overpopulation.