Preventing Rabies Contamination

Many people chose not to have their cat or dog vaccinated for rabies because they don’t think they will ever be exposed to a rabid animal; that decision was fatal for Finnegan; a two year old Siamese cat. Finnegan was playing in his own living room when a bat entered the home and is suspected of biting him. Unfortunately, he had not been vaccinated for rabies and had to be euthanized.

Bats are remarkable little animals that eat mosquitoes and provide a lot of benefit to all of us. But, they are at risk for rabies, which is a virus typically found in the saliva of infected animals and is transmitted to pets and humans by bites, or possibly by contamination of an open cut. Although bats are typically not aggressive, if your animal has an unfortunate run in with a bat and gets bit, it could prove to be deadly.

Just a few weeks before Finnegan's fatal encounter, WHS was ordered to euthanize a dog because he had been bitten by a bat, was not up-to-date on his rabies vaccination and the bat in question was released without the opportunity to test for rabies. Therefore, the Wisconsin Humane Society recommends the following tips to protect your dog or cat:

• Have your dog or cat vaccinated early by their veterinarian against rabies. Any pet who comes in contact with wild animals are at risk.
• Make sure your animal receives his or her annual booster.
• Wildlife proof your home to reduce your chance of having an unexpected visitor by doing the following
  • Cap your chimney
  • Plug all holes in roofs, eaves or sides of buildings
  • Block any means of entry to foundations, porches and steps

If you or your animals come in contact with the bat, it is very important that you try to safely contain the bat. By releasing the bat, you will never know whether the bat was carrying the rabies virus. That could mean expensive post-rabies exposure shots and the requirement to euthanize your cat or dog. Contact your local health department about the proper course of action, if a bat has entered your home.

Although this disease can prove to be very deadly to animals, it is completely preventable with the proper veterinary care. If you have any questions about rabies and wildlife, please call 414-ANIMALS.