Conference misery::feline

    Our vet vaccinates ALL out door animals. Mocha has had the 3 year
    shot. Last year when the kitties all went for their check ups and
    boosters they suggested we give the indoor cats rabies shots as well.
    We did take his suggestion and have it done.
    
    Rabies is such an awful disease.
    
    Barbara

    Hi Michele.
    
    I vaccinate all my cats against rabies, including the indoor only ones. 
    My rationale is that if they are ever accidently let out of the house
    they will be protected.  Dr. B. gave all of them the 3 year vaccine and
    tags stating they had been boosted.
    
    Better safe than sorry,
    
    -Roberta
    

    There was an article in the Boston Globe about this last week. I'll
    recount what I can remember....
    
    A rabies epidemic has been steadily making its way to New England over
    the last several years from the south. Several cases have been reported in
    Connecticut, and it's expected in Massachusetts at any time. A cat
    in Connecticut (which had not been vaccinated) recently was bitten
    by a raccoon, became rabid, and bit her owner and his son. The kitty
    was put to sleep, and local officials were considering charges against
    the owner for neglect. Rabies  shots are required for dogs in most
    communities, but not cats. Many towns are thinking of requiring them
    for cats, in response to the epidemic. Vets are recommending all 
    cats, even indoor ones, receive shots. 
    
    The article said that some New England states had been tracking the
    spread of rabies and planned to fight it once it arrived, but now
    didn't have the money due to budget cuts.
    
    That's all I can remember from the article. My parents live in
    Pennsylvania, where the epidemic was at its height several years
    ago. My father sent me a clipping from the paper about how the
    state had fought it. They put rabies vaccine on pieces of banana
    then dropped them into wooded areas where there were known to be
    rabid raccoons and other animals. It worked, but I had to laugh at
    the thought of raccoons having bananas dropping on their heads. 
    
    Kate
     

My vet also vaccinates my 7 indoor kitties for rabies.  I go along with
anything she wants.  If she suggested getting Honey's fur French braided,
I'd do that, too.  She knows best...

Mary

         My two are indoor kitties and HAVE been given rabie shots.  My vet 
    does it routinely.  
    
         I was watching something on TV about how Conn. is having a big
    problem with rabies and they expect it to spread to the Western part of
    Massachusetts by this spring.
    
         The shots aren't that expensive and last, I think, three years
    now.  
    

    In the newsletter from my equine vet, it stated that this year it
    is mandatory that all cats be vacinated for rabies. My vet is located
    in Massachusetts. Also - last year was the first year we ever vacinated
    all the horses on the farm.
    
        Pat

    Pat, 
    
    Is the newsletter your refered to from Dr. Merriam?  He's the one who
    put out the one I heard about (all the horses were done this fall 
    for the first time too.)
    
    Roberta,
    
    Dr. B gave you tags?  That's fantastic.  Are they like the dogie tags?
    Maybe when I bring her in again for spring shots I'll see if they are
    doing it as well (NVH seems to be up on all that stuff).  
    
    Nippa has always had rabies shots, but last spring was the first time 
    she got a 3 year shot.  I just dont want to forget that she'll need it
    again in 2 years, or hope if is effective enough before the 3 year time
    period is up.
    
    	
        

    Michele,
    
    Yup, Dr. B. gave tags to all the cats but I think they are different
    from the doggie tags.  I will check tonight.  They have hooks you can
    attach to collars... that I do remember!
    
    This is what she told me about immunization against rabies.  The cat
    that has never been immunized gets one vaccine, then a year later
    another vaccine which is effective for three years.  She has it on
    record so I don't worry about foretting since she forwards reminders to
    all her clients when their cats are due again for shots.
    

    The method of giving the one year shot to first timers must be her own
    thing and not necessarily required.  I do not rabies vaccinate all my
    cats, just the show cats that I will be traveling to other states with,
    and they are always first timers, but we always give them the three
    year shots.  Also, my dog got the three year shot the first time.
    
    Jo

    Hi Michele,
    
    right- the newsletter is from Dr. Merriam.
    
    Pat

    >I wonder if he'll give us a break on the rabies vaccine for the
    >all our ferals.......anyone else have more information? 
    
    Call your town's board of health or animal control oficer and ask if
    they are sponsering a rabies clinic. They are quite common in New
    England, and most towns have them or sponser them with another town.
    I live in Waltham, MA and we have an annual one in October and
    the cost if $5/cat. My mother lives in very small NH town (pop 2000)
    that jointly sponsers one with a very small town in ME (pop 2000) that
    is right across the border.
    
    Deb
    
    P.S. If there is a rabies clinic comming up in your community, please
    post a notice of it in note 32.

    Yes, our rabies clinic is on the fall.  The barn vet claimed she can
    get the shots ans supplies for a coule of bucks a cat....times 5-10
    cats, divided by two people.....I think we'll be able to afford it.
    
    Thank god for vets with compassion!

    This spring, the horses and cats will get rabies shots,
    as they do every year....(I like the thought that there
    is a 3 yr cat shot, now!)
    
    

    The difference betwee giving a cat a one year shot and a three year
    shot is the age the cat is when the shot is given.  My vet told me that
    any cat given a rabies vaccine before it is one year of age will have
    to be revaccinated the next year and then it is good for three years. 
    But just as a word of warning, I was also told that the three year
    vaccine really only protects for one year and the time span is
    delegated by the area and not by the length of time the vaccine
    protects the animal.  For optimum protection cats should be
    revaccinated yearly and if you know how to vaccinate yourself you can
    order the vaccine and do all your cats in the inbetween years when you
    don't need a certificate.  I also rebooster my dogs yearly for
    additional protection.  Ask your vet for the actual time period that
    the vaccine provides *protection* to your animal once given and you
    would be surprised at the answer.  That is provided he knows the
    answer.
    
    Nancy

    I just had my 3 cats into the vet this past weekend for their yearly
    checkups.  While there, Dr. Migday told me that in 30 days it will be
    the law that *all* cats (both indoor and outdoor) MUST have rabies
    shots.  This is to protect them (and us) against the rabid racoons 
    that are making their way north to Massachusetts.
    
    This is also now required my mother's town in New Jersey.  New Jersey
    works on a town by town basis, but it is slowly becoming law in every
    town.  She had to present proof to the town hall that Alex had his
    rabies shot and he received his license.  I'm not sure how individual 
    Massachusetts towns will be handling this.  I called my own town hall 
    (Westford) and they knew nothing about this, and didn't think that any 
    proof would be needed since cats are not licensed.  I'm sure that as
    towns become aware of this new requirement that they will notify their
    towsfolk and print something in local papers.
    
    Mary

    This will be a simple law to ignore....how is the town to prove 
    the cat belongs to whom!!!! );
    
    L-

    I have no idea.  I also do not think it can be enforced.  Perhaps they
    hope, like dog owners, that cat owners will be honest about it.  On our
    town census, they ask how many dogs we own; maybe next year they'll
    include cats also and will track it by that.
    
    Mary
    

News papers here in VT have reported the first confirmed case of a domestic
cat with rabbies in over 20 years.  The theory is that it must have gotten
tangled up with some foxes that have been put down in the same vicinity.  So
do you & your cat a favor.  

BB

    Personally, I think all the stories about getting it from
    your cat is going to mean bad news for cats!
    
    People don't use common sense and tend to believe what
    they hear/read....sigh...
    
    

    Westboro is requiring mandatory Rabies vaccinations, and requiring them
    to wear a collar with the tag.  I don't know how they will enforce this
    a sin Westboro cats arn't considered to be domesticated animals.

re: getting it from your cat...

if you have a domestic pet with rabies, you can get rabies if you are bitten
or if you have a cut which allows entry of saliva from an infected animal.
This is a fact.  It would be very unwise to not inform the public of the
potential for infection - this is a dangerous, and if not promptly treated,
fatal disease we are talking about here.  However, the point to make whenever
you are discussing this is that cats are certainly NOT the only danger -
rather, just as when discussing parasites or other transmittable diseases
between humans and other animals, MAMMALS are the vectors by which this 
disease is passed to humans....and, although I'm sure it is very rare, from
humans to animals - not because we cannot BE a vector, but because we seldom
bite other animals hard enough to puncture the skin unless the animal is
already dead - and cooked in most cases.

Yes, I'm sure some people will use the excuse of "might get rabies" to get
rid of their cats - but the ones who are this ignorant are probably not
good candidates for cat-owners, anyway.

    One more interesting point to make, which I was not aware of.
    
    While my mother was registering her cat at her town hall, there was a
    man there who did a lot of pet sitting for cats, dogs, and other
    animals.  He got rabies shots for himself!  This was to protect himself
    as a pet sitter.  I was not aware that humans could get rabies
    prevention shots.
    
    Mary
    

    You can indeed get rabies shots.  I volunteer in a shelter in New
    Jersey, and we were required to get the pre-exposure series (the
    shelter payed for half).
    
    The vaccinations you get for pre-exposure (if you have not been exposed
    to rabies, but work in an environment where you might be) are intended
    to cut down the post exposure treatment if you do get exposed.  In
    other words, I received a series of three pre-exposure shots, and if I
    were exposed, I would then have to recieve a shorter series of
    post-exposure shots than normal.  I guess the pre-exposure gives you a
    jump start if you're exposed, but you still have to go through a
    shortened post-exposure series (two instead of five shots, I think).
    
    The vaccinations did not bother me, but made a couple people at our
    shelter mildly ill.  They were expensive - over $100 total for 3 I
    think.  But worth it - we've had a few rabid and suspected rabies cases
    in.  I'd rather not take the risk.  If you start showing symptoms, it's
    too late.
    
    Sue B.

    My vet came Friday to vaccinate and etc. my horses...
    He mentioned that there had been a fox found with rabies 
    in Rehoboth, MA.  (not next door to my town, but close
    enough to cause my heart to constrict! ): )
    I also found out that there are wild dogs in the town next
    to me.  I'm keeping my eye out, believe me!
    
    L-

    I recently read an article in Massachusetts Wildlife Magazine about
    rabies. If I can get hold of it again I will type it in. It was very
    informative if I rmemeber correctly. Let me see if I can borrow the
    magazine again.
    
    Y

The NH legislature yesterday passed a bill requiring all cats to be vaccinated
for rabies, so it'll be law up here, too.  My vet has always vaccinated my
crew anyway because she believes in it and I believe in my vet, so what she
says goes!

Mary

    If you have indoor cats, and are wondering whether or not you should
    have them vaccinated...............
    
    Last night Eddie Haskell (indoor cat) was on the enclosed porched. A bat 
    got in, and Eddie killed it. I checked Eddie for bites, didn't find
    any. Didn't see any bite marks on the bat. However, we gathered it up
    and brought it up to the State Labs in Concord (NH) to be tested. Eddie
    is up to date on all his shots, but for peace of mind, I want to know
    if this bat was rabid or not. 
    
    They'll have the results by tomorrow morning.
    
    So even if you think your cat will never go out, think about what can
    get in!
    
    ng

Ya, did you hear about the woman in Merrimack or Manchester that got
bitten by a bat in her BED?!?!?  She was sound asleep and somehow it got
into the house and in her bed.  She went to turn over or something and felt
this awful pain and found a bat attached to her stomach.  GGGRROOSSSSSS!!!

My vet told me that there were lots of presentations at the veterinary
conference in Boston last week....

Ugh...

    This time of year is popular for seeing a lot of bats in New Hampshire.
    Better check under the covers tonight.  :^)

    I hope the bat wasn't rabid. Rabid animals act strange, though, so if 
    you saw it I think you could tell. Also, I think you would know if the 
    bat bit Eddie Haskell.

    Aren't rabies shots required now for cats in NH? My indoor-only cats 
    have been getting rabies shots for several years, so I haven't paid 
    that much attention.

    There was an article in the paper last week about a woman who was bitten
    by a rabid bat. I saved the article to send to my mother to sort of 
    validate my feelings from an incident that happened years ago. When I 
    was 14, a bat got into our house and I discovered it when I woke up in 
    the middle of the night to find it flying around my bedroom. I had just 
    finished reading a book of science fiction short stories, one of which 
    was about rabid bats in New Mexico (I think). I was certain this bat 
    was rabid, that it was after me, and that it was going to get me! When 
    I tried to wake my parents up, they didn't take me seriously and told 
    me to go back to bed (yeah, right!). They finally got up, my father 
    caught the bad with my homemade butterfly net, and released it. 

    By the way, this article is not from the National Enquirer, it's from 
    the Nashua Telegraph!

			------------

    Woman Wakes up to Rabid Bat Biting Her

    MANCHESTER (AP) - A 24-year-old woman is getting rabies shots after 
    she awoke in the night to a bat with its teeth in her stomach.

    "I woke up to it biting me. It killed. It was awful," said Rebecca Hill.
    "It felt like my chest was in a vise."

    Tests done later on the creature's head at the state laboratory showed 
    the common brown bat was rabid.

    Hill said she thinks the bat could have gotten in their home through the 
    bathroom that she and her boyfriend are renovating.

    Normally, bats do not attack or bite humans, said state Animal Damage 
    Control Agent Robert Calvert.

    "We don't have bats that actively search out humans for blood meals. It
    could have been trying to hide in the covers and the person could have 
    rolled over onto it," he said.

    The attack occurred at around 1:30 a.m. Monday.

    "I was sound asleep. It was totally unprovoked," Hill said.

    Richard DiPentima of the Manchester Health Dept. said about 5% of the 
    brown bat population in NH is rabid. 

    He said people who try to kill a bat should not destroy the head because
    analysts need the brain to determine if the bat was rabid.

    She said she hasn't had problems sleeping since then. 

    "I enjoy sleep too much to let that bother me," she said.

			------------

    Sweet dreams, everyone!

    Linda

       It's clearly an isolated and very uncommon incident for a brown bat
    to be rabid. Unfortunately the media does a gross diservice to such a
    beneficial animal by not stating so. Bats eat more skeeters (mosquitos)
    in a night than most people get bitten by in a lifetime. Bats in
    central America and Africa that are sort of carnivorous in that they
    take blood meals are much more likely to contract rabies.
    
         Bob <must have bats in my belfry>
    

    Re: .31

>   It's clearly an isolated and very uncommon incident for a brown bat
>   to be rabid. 

    Assuming that the newspaper article was correct in that 5% of brown 
    bats in NH are rabid, I agree that is a small percentage. But its 
    small consolation if you're bit by one of the few rabid bats. 

>		  Unfortunately the media does a gross diservice to such a 
>    beneficial animal by not stating so. 

    Yes, I think a certain number of people who read articles like this 
    will develop bat phobia (if they don't have it already), which is 
    unfortunate. However, it also brings to peoples' attention the fact 
    that there *are* rabid bats (as well as other animals) around and they
    should take precautions, like having dogs and cats vaccinated. Such 
    articles should also stress the benefits to having bats around.

    I would never kill or hurt a bat unless it was in self defense, but 
    they do give me the creeps. 

    Linda

    Note 2283 in the New Hampshire notes files recently began a discussion
    on bats (in NH).  Guess other people have read the article that Linda
    posted!  I believe there was also a discussion on bats a few years ago
    in the Garden notes file in which a lot of interesting information was
    relayed regarding just how beneficial they really are.
    
    Raccoons still seem to be the concern around rabies here in New England
    though....  so keep those boo kitties up to date on shots.

	I also read that article, and apparently the Animal Control Officer
	in Manchester has been kept busy since then, catching bats that have
	gotten in to odd places  - definitely a bit of bat-phobia.

	We have a swamp behind our house, and if it weren't for the bats
	we'd be eaten alive by mosquitos (well, the dragonflies help,too).

	Re. the rabies shot being mandated by law - I think the paper
	stated that it would be required as of the first of the year.

	Sandy

    
    
    	wow.  deja-vu working here or what?
    
    	No kidding, when I got home yesterday there was a bat
    	in the entryway to my apartment building.  It was sleeping,
    	in a corner in the doorjam.  I went out and when I came back
    	it was gone.  I don't what to know what happened to it cuz
    	I'm afraid whoever got rid of it probably killed it to
    	do so.  =(
    
    	JJ
    

    Did you guys hear on the news last nite that a woman in Westford, MA
    was bitten by a rabid bat while attending her garden?  They said she
    will be okay.  Just like I have tried to tell people in the
    neighborhood about their cats.... rabies is here and protect your
    animals.  I get so ANGRY that they ignore me!!!  Well I saw a VERY sick
    raccoon across the street from my house last summer and would SWEAR it
    was rabid, but nooooo, would anyone listen to me???!!!  The officer I
    called to come about it said he couldn't just put it down because
    people would complain about him killing an animal.  He proceeded to
    force it back into the woods.  Just at that time a call came through on
    the radio giving him permission to unholster his gun.... do you think
    we could find the coon then??!  I feel that I will have to say I told
    youl so and hope I can protect my own animals and myself.
    Karen

    Just want to report that there is 5 KNOWN cases of Rabies in
    Raccoons in Fitchburg within the last week.   One case is so close
    to home...that I'm really nervous.   This case is with MY raccoon
    which I have been feeding for over two years.   He was found last
    Thursday A.M. on my neighbors lawn and looked very disoriented.  he
    was immediately shot/killed and his head was sent to Boston to
    confirm Rabies.  I knew this Raccoon (Rocky) so well...it feels like 
    I lost one of my own babies!
    
    What is baffeling the authorities is "If the diseases is coming from
    down South...why such an outbreak in Fitchburg" which is much further 
    North.   There was also incidents in Leominster where 3 Raccoons were
    shot but was determined to have distemper...not Rabies.  
    
    I also am hearing many difference of opinions to the following
    questions:
    
    	o Can squirrels, mice, opposums get rabies?
    	o If one of the cats ate a rabid dead carcass of a mouse...can
          they get rabies?
    	o Does the three year Rabies Vaccine...really work as well as the
          one year?
    	
    Never in my life did I suspect that my one lonely raccoon which I
    feed....be the second case in Fitchburg.   I do live near woods...
    but it is only about 1 mile radius....and we have many houses
    around.  I just don't understand.,,,,but am very fearful!
    
    Prayers to Rocky Raccoon....I will miss your nightly visits...but
    you taught me a valuable lesson...DO NOT leave food out for the wildlife!
    
    Sandy

    Sandy, I'm really sorry about Rocky.
    

    I have been hearing the reports from the Fitchburg area as well. I'm
    confused as to why the sudden outbreak in one spot.
    
    I have my vet give my cats the three year vaccine, but I get them every
    year. No sense in taking a chance with this going around. My vet agrees
    this is a good policy, and getting the shot early won't hurt the cats.
    
    Yonee

    Sandy, there's a note in the NH files on rabies.  I believe that
    somewhere in there I read that mice can't be rabid.  Neil Savage is
    probably the one that wrote that particular note - he's very
    knowledgeable on the subject of wildlife.
    
    CNOTES::NEW_HAMPSHIRE.  It's note #2300.  HIT kp7 to add.

    
    Sandy, I feel so badly for Rocky.....he must have felt so awful and
    didn't know where to turn.  And being mildly domesticated through
    feeding, he came to the yard.  So sad that he had to be shot because
    of this dread disease.  I'm sorry.... 
    
    Nan

    Sandy,
    
    I'm so sorry to hear this. I have a big mother raccoon that I have been
    feeding for three years. I call her  Rocky, too. She is the gentlest
    creature, and has been eating out of my hand (I know, I know), as is
    Stinky (the neighborhood skunk). Anyhow, Rocky had a mate and 5 babies
    this year, and they all used to dine in my yard, but now I only see
    her. I'm so afraid that she is going to get rabies (I wish I could
    vaccinate her). I also have two other very striking raccoons, all
    silver with the littke bandit mask, but they aren't as friendly as
    Rocky.
    
    Deb

    Re: .42
    I have the dim idea that there was some project to get "medication" to
    raccoons by leaving it out in food, but I don't remember if it was
    a rabies vaccine, or what.  Might be worth asking your vet.
    

    For the noter that was surprised about her "pet" racoon being rabid and
    living close to town -- a note I input in the Canine notes file
    [.10] described the rabid racoon
    killed at my friends house -- in suburban NJ.  It is about a 6 hour
    drive from Nashua to her place.  She lives in a small subdivision,
    densely populated.  The other story I input [.12] described the number
    of cases of rabies this area of NY has had and the increase from last
    year to this year -- they had 2 rabid racoons on their property this
    year alone.  That is about 4 1/2 hours from Nashua.
    
    I was rasied in CT and my folks still ive there, they called last year
    panic stricken about getting their cats vaccinated, etc.  They were
    having clinics every 2 or 3 weeks, announcements on the radio, etc.
    
    
    I orignally posted this in the Canine and NH notes files, since I
    started both the notes and seeing this note felt it might be
    appropriate for the feline notes file as well.
    
    ************************************************************************
    
    I think I also mentioned in another note that after Jan 1st in NH it
    will be mandatory to vaccinate all cats as well.
    
    I have an article from the Globe that I have been meaning to post about
    the spread of mid-Atlantic strain rabies over the last 10 years.  It is
    a matter of time -- but the numbers are interesting.
    
    Curiousity got the betr of me, so I pulled out my Merck Veterinary
    Manual and looked up rabies.  It is too lengthy to transcribe the
    entire section, but I will include some (page 280-284).  By the way,
    the Merck Manual is an indisposable addition to any household with
    critters!
    
    RABIES
    
    An acute encephalomyelitis caused by a virus.  It is a natural disease
    of dogs, cats, bats and wild carnivores.  However, all warm-blooded
    animals are susceptible.  The disease is world wide except for some
    countries that have eradicated or remained free of rabies due to their
    natural protection as islands and by enforcing rigorous quarantine
    regulations.  It is endemic and at times epidemic throughout the 
    Westerm Hemisphere in bats, dogs, foxes and skunks.
    
    Mode of Transmission
    The virus may be recovered from the CNS (Central Nervous System) and
    salivary glands as well as most tissues of infected animals.  In
    nature, it is tansmitted from animal to animal by means of a bite
    introducing the virus-bearing saliva.  Rarely, rabies may be transmittd
    by viral contamination of fresh, already existing wounds.  Virus may be
    present in the saliva and be transmitted by an infected animal several
    days prior to the onset of clinical signs.
    
    Incubation Period
    The incubation period is variable, but generally is within 15 to 50
    days.  In rare cases, it may be much longer, even several months.
    
    Pathogenesis
    Infection takes place by the dposition of infected saliva in or near a
    nerve.  The virus is carried to the CNS via the nerve trunks. 
    Experimentally, it has been shown to reach the spinal cord within 24
    hours and can be demonstrated in the cord tissue within 4 to 5 days. 
    The virus may remain at the sire of innoculation for half the
    incubation period, which justifies the infiltration of hyper immune
    serum in the region of the bite.  
    
    The virus travels upward in the cord and finally reaches the brain 
    after a variable time.  The virus usally travels centrifugally from the
    CNS and reaches the salivary glands via their nerve supply. 
    Hematologic spread can occur but is rare.  Although the disease is
    usually considered fatal once signs appear, recovery has occurred in
    both animals and man.
    
    Clinical Findings
    Rabid animals of all species  exhibit signs that are typical of rabies,
    with minor variations peculiar to carnivora, ruminants, bats and man. 
    The clinical course of the disease, particularly in dogs, can be
    divided into 3 phases:  the podromal, the excitative and the paralytic.
    
    The term furious rabies refers to animals in which the excitative
    phase is predominant; and dumb or 'paralytic' rabies to dogs in which
    the excitative phase is extremely short or absent and the disease
    progresses quicly to the paralytic phase.  In any animal, the first
    sign is a change in behavior which may be indistinguishable from a
    digestive idsorder, injury, foreign body in the mouth, poisoning or an
    early infectious disease.  Temperature change is not significant and
    inability to retain saliva may or may not be noted.  Animals usually
    stop eating and drinking and may seek solitude.  There is frequently
    irritation or stimulation to the urogenital tract as evidenced by
    frequent urination, erection in the male and sexual  desire.  After the
    prodomal period of 1 to 3 days, animals either show signs of paralysis
    or become vicious.  Carnivora, swine, and occassionally, horses and
    mules bite other animals or people at the slightest provocation. 
    Cattle will butt any moving objects.  The disease progresse rapidly
    after the onset of paralysis.
    
    Paralytic Form
    This is characterized by early paralysis of the throat and masseter
    muscles, usually with profuse salivation and inability to swallow. 
    Dropping of the lower jaw is common in dogs.  Owners frequently examine
    the mouth of dogs and cattle, searching for a foreign body, or
    administer medication with the bare hands.  These animals are not
    vicious and rarely attempt to or are able to bite.  The paralysis
    progresses rapidly to all parts of the body with coma and death in a
    few hours.
    
    Furious Form
    Furious rabies represents the classical "mad-dog" syndrome in which the
    animal becomes irrational and viciously aggressive.  The facial
    expression is on of alertness and anxiety, with pupils dilated; noise
    invites attack.  Such animals lose all caution and fear of natural
    enemies.  There is not evidence of paralysis during the excitatory
    stage.  Dogs rarely live beyond 10 days after the onset of signs.  Dogs
    with this form of rabies frequently roam streets and highways, biting
    other animals, people and any moving objects.  They commonly swallow
    foreign objects, feces, straw, sticks, stones.  Rabid dogs will chew
    the wire and frames of their cages, breaking their teeth, and will
    follow a hand moved in front of their cage attempting to bite it. 
    Young pups apparently seek human companionship and are overly playful,
    but bite even when petted, usually becoming vicious in a few hours.  As
    the disease progresses, muscular incoordination and convulsive seizures
    become common.  Death is the result of progressive paralysis.
    
    Rabid domestic cats and bobcats attack suddenly, biting and scratching
    viciously.  Foxes frequently invade yards or even houses, attacking
    dogs and people.  Rabid foxes and skunks are responsible for most
    pasture cattle losses, and have attacked dairy cattle in barns.
    
    
    The article continues to describe symptoms in cattle, horses, bats, and
    so forth.  Evidently cattle are quite dangerous and will attack man, as
    will horses.
    
    It also states that caution should be taken if you see bats out during
    the day.  One of the most effective means of control is decreasing the
    population of stray dogs!
    
    Vaccines should be given IM only.
    
    Unvaccinated animals should be destroyed and if they owner does not
    wish to do this must be quarantined for a minimum of 4 months.
    
    Animals bitten by an infected animal that have been vaccinated must
    receive a booster within 7 days of being bitten.
    
    dana
    

    Well...what's even worse for me now is that our Local Paper 
    stated that Rocky the raccoon that was in my neighborhood did NOT
    have rabies nor distemper!   Why there is a discrepancy between
    the facts from the Dog Officer and the paper....in my opinion is
    a cover up!   We wouldn't want to think that our local cops are
    in a panic and are a bit trigger happy!!!  This is truly my
    biggest fear that everyone will start to panic and shoot any
    animal in their yard!
    
    I know I am taking this a bit personally....but considering I had
    saw Rocky at 9:30 that night and he looked and acted fine....but
    yet he was shot and killed at 7:30 AM....which is daybreak and
    it is not unusual to see racoons at that time of the morning...
    I truly didn't suspect this racoon had rabies.   ARGGGGGGGG!!!
    Plus I spoke to the vet who stated that this racoon did not 
    display the normal symptoms he has been seeing!!!! ARGGGGGGG!!
    
    I think I'm going to write a letter to the editor in our local paper...
    my hubby is ready to shoot my neighbor who had called the police...
    and just state "he was foaming at the mouth". I know this is a bit
    extreme and I know he won't do it....but we are both frustrated at
    this point.   And I think it is even worse...when they weren't 
    honest to the public and Rocky was shot for no reason other then
    he was seen at 7:30 AM!
    
    Deb...even though we have been feeding Rocky for two years...I have
    yet to get close to him.  All he would allow was for us to watch
    him out the window...but now my porch is closed at night because I
    just can't deal with this situation again!
    
    Dana...thanks so much for republishing the article on Rabies.....it
    is very much appreciated!!   
    
    Sandy  
                                              

Massachusetts regulations state that starting this year, any pet that 
goes to a vet with a bite wound of UNKNOWN origin must either be 

a) euthanized
b) quarantined for 6 months (kept isolated indoors)

UNLESS it is current on rabies vaccinations.




kathy
(who's glad her kitties get rabies shots even though they're indoor-only)

     FYI, on the news this morning, they reported that TWO rabid raccoons
     had been captured in West Boylston.........

     Called the vet's office this morning to have them figure out who in
     the "family" needs what so I can get appointments for everyone sometime
     later this month - almost time to get licences for the dogs anyway and
     even tho' the cat stays inside all the time, he's still gonna be
     protected !!!

     Debbi J

    
    WMUR (channel 9 NH) reported the first house pet rabies victim today. 
    A house cat in Salem NH. poor little kitty.
    
    Shaw

    I have a question about rabies.  
    
    What happens when
    - a racoon has rabies and he gets hit by a car and becomes road kill 
    - a bird comes along and has dinner of this bird
    - the bird now is caring the rabies germ
    - acat comes along and stocks the bird and makes lunch of him
    
      Does the cat now have the rabies germ?

    No.

This isn't actually a cat question, but is related. Last night, when
I was trying to call Basia back in (call=shake Bonkers box), I got a
rude surprise. The big gray furball that almost trotted in to my kitchen
was a raccoon!

I know there have been reports of rabid raccoons in my area, and I'm
wondering how to "spot" one. This guy looked calm and composed, almost
friendly. He was meandering around with a methodical pattern, and didn't
seem at all intimidated by me. Is that good or bad?

/ald

    Just take very good precautions and do not go near the raccoon! There
    are different symptoms of "rabid" from being very friendly, to foaming
    at the mouth, to walking as though they are drunk, or looking very
    ratty looking. (fur looks terrible)
    
    Raccoons are known to search for food anywhere...even if it means
    coming in your cat door...going through your rubbish etc.  
    If you see your raccoon in the daylight..or if he is displaying
    any weird symptoms...that is when I personally would call the
    authorities.   
    
    I fed a raccoon for 2 years....Rocky LOVED science diet but boy
    was he getting FAT!   He came to visit every night...but I never
    got close to him. (we were distant friends!!).  Poor Rocky was
    shot by the police because my neighbor got nervous that a raccoon
    was in the neighborhood.   Rocky was not displaying any symptoms..but
    they tested him anyway...and it was negative.   Poor Rocky died just 
    because he was a Raccoon and the cops panicked!  
    
    Just take very good precautions and if you don't want him around
    make sure you leave no food out and your rubbish is stored in
    a place he cannot get at.
    
    Sandy
    
    
    

    Yesterday's paper (Manchester Union Leader) had an article about a
    rabid raccoon that was found dead on a roadside in Auburn, NH (within
    5 miles from my house.)  They said that the raccoon was covered with
    porcupine quills, which was unusual because raccoons normally avoid
    porcupines.  They suspected that he became rabid and attacked the
    porcupine.  Testing proved that they were correct.  For those familiar
    with Auburn, the raccoon was found on Pingree Hill Rd.
    
    Barbara

    The normal behavior for any wild animal when encountering a human is to
    turn tail and scoot with very few exceptions.  One of those is when the
    animal has been desensitized by feeding (for example); another is
    protecting their young.  The best advice is to avoid contact with any
    wild animal unless under controlled conditions.
    
    I've run into a rather large 'coon in my backyard on a couple of
    occasions and I'm not sure who got out of the way faster.  If that
    behavior changes, I'll call the animal control officer.

    Just wanted to add to this discussion about raccoon behavior.... about
    5 years ago (long before there was any rabies problem in the area) my
    mom was feeding 2 families of racoons (mother and at least 4 kids in
    each litter). It started with the raccoons coming up onto the porch to
    get cat food. Once we knew the raccoons were coming up, we left out
    more food.
    
    It got to be a nightly occasion. In fact, if we were "late" in putting
    out the food, the raccoons would start looking in the screen door and
    banging on the window! 
    
    At first the raccoons were very skittish, but within a month, you could
    sit out on the porch and they would come up and eat either next to you
    or out of your hand (like i said, there was NO fear of rabies at this
    point).
    
    So - it is possible that the raccoon that came up to you has someone
    else who has been "feeding" it and is friendly towards humans.
    
    the sad thing is that these guys are more likely to be victims of
    "rabies mania" and be destroyed, because they have less fear of humans
    and "act strange".....  but, with rabies going around, I would be very
    careful about any unknown creature that comes too close.
    
    janetb.
    
    btw - after feeding raccoons for 2 summers, but not for at least 3
    years now, my mom still has to keep the garbage cans inside, else the
    raccoons will pry off the lid. 

    
    
                                    1
    
    
    
    
    Rabies is still with us in New England.  I just talked to the board of
    health person in my town, Holden, MA.  He said that next year rabies
    is expected to peak in the Central Massachusetts area - I am not sure
    if that includes all of New England, too.  Our town had a raibes clinic
    and will have another in the spring.
    
    I was wondering what happens to rabies during the winter?  Do racoons
    hibernate at all?  Also, I would encourage everyone to raise the con-
    sciousness of your local citizenry about rabies.  Most people do not
    think about cats being infected, but I think stray cats could present
    more of a health hazzard than stray dogs, becuase of the sheer numbers
    of stray cats.  
    
    I think that cats should be registered through the town as well as
    dogs.  Note 158.22 mentions a 'cat registration'.  I would like to
    follow this up with my town of HOlden.  I have talked to both the
    Holden Town Clerk and the Board of Health manager.  What I heard was,
    that it is too difficult to register cats.  I don't buy that, so I am
    going to see if I can raise the town's consciousness on this issue.
    
    Something needs to be done by all of us, each in our own way, to
    influence our local authorities to do something about stray cats,
    rabies vaccinations for all cats, and tracking these statistics
    through registration of 'domestic' cats.  Not only does this make
    sense for cats, but our lives may depend on this too if rabies 
    really gets out of hand.  Better to be proactive than reactive in
    this instance.
    
    Eleanor
    
                                                                       

    There was a story on the Providence (RI) TV news last night that
    there is a "pack" of *rabid* feral cats in East Providence right 
    now, and they have attacked several local pets, and even one man 
    out working in his yard.
    
    The Animal Control folks for Providence caught 4 of them over Sat 
    night in traps and have set traps for more.  Apparently there is one
    area full of refuse (dumpsters full of rotting garbage, old furniture,
    couches, and piles of rubbish) where these cats are living.  And now
    they are venturing out into the surrounding neighborhoods.
    
    The man who was attacked said he was gardening when a kitten came up
    to him and when it got close he said "It just leapt at my face".  He 
    said it chased him a block, jumped at him several times and he had 
    scratches to show for it.  He's received the first in a series of 
    shots.  Folks are being advised to keep their cats indoors and get 
    their shots up_to_date.
                         
    Sue

Human deaths:	Reported cases in animals:
  1980:  0	6400
  1981:  2	7100
  1982:  0	6200
  1983:  2	5900
  1984:  3	5600
  1985:  1	5600
  1986:  0	5500
  1987:  1	4600
  1988:  0	4600
  1989:  1	4700
  1990:  1	4800
  1991:  3	6900
  1992:  1	8600
  1993:  3	9400
  1994:  8

 Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, Summary
of Notifiable Diseases, United States Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report,
September 1994.

 The above is from my favorite bed-time periodical/advertisement :-), The Rabies
Monitor, which is published by rabies vaccine producer Rhone Merieux.
 The reported cases are each + or - like 100-150 as I'm eyeballing off a graph
to get the numbers.

    That's interesting, thanks for posting it.  I'll bet a good number
    of the human deaths can be attributed to bat rabies, no?  
    
    Sue

and I believe the method of exposure is also listed.  Next time I see a copy
floating around I'll take a look.  This Information Age stuff can be
interesting. (Another example: there's a firm that offers to mail out literature
about one's practice to all people moving into the area who own pets).  We
probably send a rabies suspect off to be tested like every month. So far no
positives although I've been pretty convinced a couple of times that the results
were going to come back that way.

						Trace