What You Need to Know About Rabies
Rabies is a very serious disease that affects the brain and nervous system of animals and people. Once someone starts showing signs of rabies, it’s almost always deadly. But the good news is that rabies can be completely prevented if we take the right steps.
How Rabies Spreads
Rabies spreads through the saliva of animals that are already infected. Most of the time, it happens when an infected animal bites or scratches someone and breaks the skin. In rare cases, the virus can also get into the body if infected saliva touches areas like your eyes, nose, or mouth.
In many parts of the world, dogs are the main animals that spread rabies to people. But in places like the United States, animals like bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes are the ones most likely to carry the virus.
How to Prevent Rabies
There are many ways to protect yourself, your family, and your pets from rabies:
- Get Pets Vaccinated: Make sure your dogs, cats, and even pet ferrets get their rabies shots. Keeping these vaccinations up to date helps stop the spread of the disease.
- Stay Away From Wild Animals: Don’t go near wild or stray animals, especially if they’re acting weird or seem too friendly. Teach kids to enjoy animals from a distance and never touch animals they don’t know.
- Report Stray Animals: If you see stray dogs or other animals in your neighborhood, call your local animal control. It’s not safe to try to catch them yourself.
- See a Doctor If Bitten: If an animal bites or scratches you, wash the area really well with soap and water and go to the doctor right away. Doctors can give you medicine called PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis), which can stop the disease before it starts—but only if it’s given before symptoms appear.
- Learn and Share: Help spread the word about rabies and how to prevent it. When people know the risks and what to do, we can keep everyone safer.
By learning how rabies spreads and following simple safety tips, we can stop it from affecting more people and animals.
🐶💉 If your pet needs a rabies shot or you have questions about animal safety, don’t wait—reach out to Doctor Hulk Veterinary Hospital for caring and professional help. Your pet’s health is our top priority! To reach out, you can click here.