This is a very serious story. A kitten has been diagnosed with rabies in a Central Texas city. You really need to know how to protect your animals and yourself.
Someone found a kitten with rabies in the City of Valley Mills. Officials are encouraging that anyone that comes into contact with a strange animal should report it but they should absolutely not touch it. Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system.
Fox44 News reports that there are two different forms of rabies after interviewing a local vet.
"There are two different forms. There's dumb rabies...they're just very dull. And then of course you've got rabies where they actually show pretty severe neurological signs," Bielamowicz says.
As a pet parent, you need to make sure your animal is vaccinated. The tag should be on their collars as well so it's noted they are protected. If for some reason your pet was bitten by an animal with rabies, then you need to quarantine your animal and call your vet immediately.
Here's the segment that Fox44 News reported.
Why should you vaccinate for rabies?
We want to reinforce that rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system. The virus is secreted in saliva and is usually transmitted to people and animals by a bite from an infected animal.
It's important to be able to tell the signs:
Once the rabies virus enters the body, it travels along the nerves to the brain. Look out for the following.
- Fearfulness
- Aggression
- Excessive drooling
- Difficulty swallowing
- Staggering, paralysis and seizures
Aggressive behavior is common, but rabid animals may also be uncharacteristically affectionate.
The rabies vaccine is a core vaccination you should talk to your vet about if you have any questions. Wild animals can also be seen out during the day when they'd normally be sleeping. This case of rabies is being taken very seriously by the community and the health department is encouraging residents to vaccinate their animals and are educating folks about rabies exposure and what steps should be taken. Infectious disease is an issue when rabies prevention isn't managed and controlled.
Central Texas officials will be watching for additional rabies cases as will animal control. If you know of an animal bite that should be reported it's important to let officials know immediately.
Are your pups vaccinated? Please let us know what you think below.
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