Today marks the fifth annual World Rabies Day. The Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA) joins organizations around the state, nation and the world to help raise awareness about ways to prevent the spread of this disease.
The purpose of celebrating this day annually on Sept. 28 is to remind the public of the best steps to eliminate this disease by proper vaccination, raising awareness of the possible harms if infected, encourage avoidance of unfamiliar animals or wildlife and to help educate individuals and communities about the risks in their area.
Rabies is a zoonotic disease, which means it can spread from animals to humans. For pet owners, “the best thing to do is consult your veterinarian to make sure pets are up-to-date on rabies vaccinations and boosters according to their age,” said James Wright, DVM, MPVM, the regional zoonosis veterinarian for the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). “Vaccinations and boosters are the key preventative if attacked by a reservoir animal.”
A reservoir animal acts as the gateway between wild species and domestic pets. “In Texas, bats and skunks are the most common animals found to be rabid,” said Pam Wilson, RVT, also of DSHS. “They, along with foxes, raccoons and coyotes, are defined in Texas law as high-risk animals for rabies.”
Although the impact of rabies cases is not as vast in the United States as it is in some other countries around the world, it is still something to be cautious of, since in un-treated humans, death usually occurs within days of the initial symptoms. TVMA hopes to help raise awareness about what pet owners can do to avoid rabies altogether.
Tips from DSHS:
• Teach children not to approach wildlife or unfamiliar animals.
• Do not leave food out that might entice wild animals into your yard.
• Avoid bats and if you come into contact with a bat, seek medical evaluation. Apprehend the bat and submit it for rabies testing, if at all possible.
• In the case of an animal bite, try to catch the animal so it can be observed or tested.
• Avoid breaking-up dogfights or letting animals run loose.
• Vaccinate pets, show stock and horses against rabies.
Many events will be held statewide. A complete listing can be found on worldrabiesday.org, which includes events such as vaccination clinics, lectures, educational seminars, festivals and dog walks. Some events happening locally are in Marble Falls, Waco, Temple and College Station.
For more information, visit the DSHS website and worldrabiesday.org. The Center for Disease Control also has some information on how to ensure you’re covering the basics when it comes to proper preventive care for your pets and animals at http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/.
About TVMA
Founded in 1903, the Texas Veterinary Medical Association is a professional association composed of more than 3,700 veterinarians committed to protecting public health, promoting high educational, ethical and moral standards within the veterinary profession, and educating the public about animal health and its relationship to human health. For more information, call 512/452-4224 or visit www.tvma.org.
The purpose of celebrating this day annually on Sept. 28 is to remind the public of the best steps to eliminate this disease by proper vaccination, raising awareness of the possible harms if infected, encourage avoidance of unfamiliar animals or wildlife and to help educate individuals and communities about the risks in their area.
Rabies is a zoonotic disease, which means it can spread from animals to humans. For pet owners, “the best thing to do is consult your veterinarian to make sure pets are up-to-date on rabies vaccinations and boosters according to their age,” said James Wright, DVM, MPVM, the regional zoonosis veterinarian for the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). “Vaccinations and boosters are the key preventative if attacked by a reservoir animal.”
A reservoir animal acts as the gateway between wild species and domestic pets. “In Texas, bats and skunks are the most common animals found to be rabid,” said Pam Wilson, RVT, also of DSHS. “They, along with foxes, raccoons and coyotes, are defined in Texas law as high-risk animals for rabies.”
Although the impact of rabies cases is not as vast in the United States as it is in some other countries around the world, it is still something to be cautious of, since in un-treated humans, death usually occurs within days of the initial symptoms. TVMA hopes to help raise awareness about what pet owners can do to avoid rabies altogether.
Tips from DSHS:
• Teach children not to approach wildlife or unfamiliar animals.
• Do not leave food out that might entice wild animals into your yard.
• Avoid bats and if you come into contact with a bat, seek medical evaluation. Apprehend the bat and submit it for rabies testing, if at all possible.
• In the case of an animal bite, try to catch the animal so it can be observed or tested.
• Avoid breaking-up dogfights or letting animals run loose.
• Vaccinate pets, show stock and horses against rabies.
Many events will be held statewide. A complete listing can be found on worldrabiesday.org, which includes events such as vaccination clinics, lectures, educational seminars, festivals and dog walks. Some events happening locally are in Marble Falls, Waco, Temple and College Station.
For more information, visit the DSHS website and worldrabiesday.org. The Center for Disease Control also has some information on how to ensure you’re covering the basics when it comes to proper preventive care for your pets and animals at http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/.
About TVMA
Founded in 1903, the Texas Veterinary Medical Association is a professional association composed of more than 3,700 veterinarians committed to protecting public health, promoting high educational, ethical and moral standards within the veterinary profession, and educating the public about animal health and its relationship to human health. For more information, call 512/452-4224 or visit www.tvma.org.