Released April 24, 2009
MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. - With the arrival of warmer weather, pet owners should have their dogs and cats vaccinated for rabies.
"Spring is a dangerous time for pets because skunks, the primary carriers of rabies, are active," says Mark Keaton, Baxter County extension staff chair for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
Rabies is caused by a viral infection, and once established in the brain, the disease is normally fatal, according to Dr. Jeremy Powell, extension veterinarian.
"Skunks infected with rabies display abnormal behavior, such as walking around during the middle of the day or they lose their instinctive fear of man," he said.
"Rabid animals may appear to be either 'dumb' or 'furious,'" Powell says. "A dog or cat with the dumb form of rabies might be less active than usual, and may display a drooping jaw or appear to be choking. Excessive salivation may also be noted. Animals with the furious form act aggressive and may try to attack and bite people or other animals. Dogs are more likely to display the furious form than cats."
From 2001-2008, there were 370 confirmed cases of rabies in animals in the state, Keaton says. In 2004, one Arkansas resident died after being bitten by a rabid bat. As of March 17, Arkansas had five lab-confirmed cases of rabies in five skunks.
Dogs and cats in Arkansas are required to be vaccinated against rabies yearly by a licensed veterinarian, according to Keaton. This not only protects the animal, but also acts as a barrier between the wildlife exposures of rabies and people, since our pets are more likely to be directly exposed to a rabid skunk than we are. Children should be reminded not to touch wild animals and to stay away from stray pets.
"If someone is bitten by an animal, an effort should be made to preserve the animal's head," Keaton says. "Since rabies is a virus that can travel up nerves to the brain, Health Department officials need to examine the brain."
If the worst happens and you're bitten by a rabid animal, seek medical treatment immediately. Report the incident to your county health unit at or call the state veterinarian at (501) 280-4136.
For information on rabies vaccination, contact any veterinarian in your area. The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the U of A Division of Agriculture.
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http://www.uaex.edu/news/april2009/0424rabies.htm
Contact: Elizabeth Fortune, (501) 671-2120, efortune@uaex.edu
