Dear Editor,
St. Martin Parish has been fortunate to escape a rabies problem for over forty years; however, the disease is here at our doorstep. Rabies has been confirmed in adjacent parishes and there have been deaths in other states. It is here in the wooded areas and in our backyards. Only by putting a barrier of vaccinated pets between us and the wildlife can we protect ourselves. The most important thing to know about rabies is that it is a viral disease that attacks the central nervous system and, if not treated, causes the death of its victim.
How do you know if an animal has rabies? Foaming at the mouth is what one looks for and expects in a rabid animal, but the signs come in stages and not all animals exhibit the same signs. Any unfamiliar animal acting in a strange manner should be avoided. This includes the skunk or raccoon in your backyard at high noon or the normally mild-mannered, affectionate dog becoming ill tempered and withdrawn for no reason. Death of the animal is usually from seizure–like spasms and paralysis of limbs and vital organs. Remember, not every animal will “go mad” and “foam at the mouth.”
Diagnosis of rabies involves identification of the viral antigen in the animal’s brain by use of direct immunofluoresence. There is no test that can be performed on a live animal to determine if it is rabid – a specific part of the animal’s brain must be looked at under the microscope. Therefore, do not kill a rabies suspect with a bullet through the head!
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) have several recommendations for reducing both human exposure and animal exposure to rabies: create a barrier between the exposed wild population and humans by vaccination of dogs and cats by a licensed veterinarian; obey leash and licensing laws; never approach wildlife or strange animals; do not keep wild animals as pets since they cannot be vaccinated against rabies and may be potential carriers. Licensed volunteer groups can help you with orphaned or injured wildlife; do not tempt wildlife to come into your yard by leaving out pet food or table scraps. Make sure trashcans are closed tight; do not purchase rabies vaccines by mail order, feed store, Internet or other sources to use for inoculations of your own pet; do not handle your pet after it has recently been in a fight with an unknown animal if you have open wounds on your hands.
If you believe your pet or a member of your family has been exposed to a rabid animal, immediately contact local police, state or local health officials, your family physician, or a veterinarian. Several factors are involved in the decision to treat exposed humans or quarantine animals. These include availability of suspect animal for testing; nature of exposure (bite vs. non-bite); provoked or unprovoked attack; location of the bite (face verses distal part of extremities); history of rabies in the area; and vaccination status of the suspect animal.
At this time parish-wide animal control is a reality and each city within the parish has some degree of leash law and animal control. All animal related complaints need to be reported through the Sheriff’s department who will in turn contact the Animal Services Sheriff Officer. Do not expect the Animal Service Sheriff Officer to drop everything and come running in non-emergency cases. The law limits how much an officer can do in different cases and each phone call and request is handled on a priority basis by a very overworked staff. Do not call the Animal Shelter as employees cannot respond to injured, found, aggressive, abused, etc animals.
Each year local veterinarians participate in a parish wide rabies clinic by volunteering their time, supplies, and support staff to travel to various areas of the parish and administering below cost rabies vaccinations. Every cat and dog over the age of three months is required by law to receive a rabies vaccination and license once a year in St. Martin Parish. The rabies certificate you receive is your pet’s license and is your proof of vaccination needed by groomers, boarding facilities, trainers, etc. so file it away in a safe place. The rabies tag you receive serves as a means of locating the owners of lost, stray, or injured pets. Please place these tags on the pet’s collars and the collar on the pet. Microchips serve as a permanent means of identification and are an excellent back-up to collars and tags if the associated information is kept current. This year’s Parish Rabies Clinic is scheduled for April 26th and microchips will be available. Watch the Teche News, monitor Facebook, or call the local veterinarians for times and locations of the clinics. If you visit your veterinarian yearly for vaccinations and exam you do not need to attend the Rabies Clinic unless wishing to get a microchip. Check with your veterinarian on the rabies vaccination status of your pets.
In closing, the points I wish you to remember and to pass on to your family, friends, and neighbors, are that you should: (1) get your dogs and cats (yes, cats too) vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian, (2) never approach a stray or wild animal, (3) never keep a wild animal as a pet, and (4) contact someone in the medical field if you are bitten by an animal. Please feel free to call your local veterinarian if I have raised any questions. Rabies is a deadly disease for our pets and our families. Thank you, Dr. Jackie D. Simon
