I think that most people (but I’m sure not all) know that many pets are supposed to be vaccinated for rabies, but I wonder how many people really understand why. I think if they did, most of them would be much more compliant. Again, most people know that rabies is a serious disease that people can get, but how many of you know that if you get it, it is fatal once symptoms appear? And how many of you know that such a death is long, drawn out, and painful? Many people in the United States have the idea that people rarely get rabies, and that nobody dies from it anymore. After all, there is a shot, right? And in this country, that is generally true, but people still die every year from rabies in many parts of the world. And occasionally they still die in the developed nations, too.

Another thing that many people don’t realize is that all mammals can get rabies. It is not restricted to dogs, cats, people, raccoons, and bats. In fact, unvaccinated livestock including horses, cattle, and pigs can and do get rabies. Similarly, many, many wildlife species can contract rabies, which is why people who aren’t trained should never handle sick wildlife. Most small wild mammals like squirrels, rats, mice, etc. rarely actually get rabies since if something gets close enough to them to bite them, it usually kills them, but even they are capable of contracting the disease. Smaller mammalian pets can also get rabies. In fact, most (if not all) states now require rabies vaccinations for ferrets.

Every state in the United States requires, by law that all dogs, cats, ferrets, and horses be vaccinated for rabies. For the vaccine to be considered valid, it must be given by a licensed veterinarian (ie, you can’t buy it at the feed store or online and give it yourself). If your pet is not properly vaccinated and it bites or scratches someone, at the least it will be required to be quarantined in an appropriate facility (not your home) for ten days. The cost of quarantine alone will be more than a rabies shot would have cost, and depending on the circumstances and where you live, you may also receive one or more expensive citations. So if you’re trying to save money by not vaccinating, don’t! In the long run that can be far more expensive than a lifetimes worth of rabies shots!

Finally, if your unvaccinated animal bites someone and has had potential rabies exposure or is displaying any of the symptoms, your pet may have to be tested for rabies. Unfortunately, the only way to test for rabies at this time is to look microscopically at slices of brain tissue. In order to get those samples, your pet will have to be euthanized. So, once again, in order for you to save a few dollars, your pet can loose it’s life! Most veterinary offices offer rabies vaccinations at a very reasonable cost. There are also low cost vaccination clinics that travel around to feed stores, pets supply stores, and farm supply stores. So you see, there really isn’t any reason not to have your animals vaccinated for this deadly disease. Protect yourself, your children, and your community. It’s part of your responsibility if you want to have animals in your life!