Rabies: Sources, Effects and the Importance of Vaccination

Your pet is your best companion. They trust in you – whether it’s that you’ll have food in their dish at mealtime, that you’ll let them sit in your lap or that you’ll take care of their medical needs. It’s important that you maintain that trust, and keep up on your pet’s needs, including doing what you can to protect them from disease.

Sept. 28 is World Rabies Day, which serves as a great reminder of the vital importance of having your pet vaccinated for rabies. This isn’t just important for the safety of your pet, it is also important for the safety of you as the pet owner! More than 55,000 people die each year around the world due to contracting the rabies virus from an animal, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. In the United States, those numbers are far lower – one to two fatal cases per year – but for a disease that is 100 percent preventable, those statistics are far too high.

Rabies is spread through the saliva of an infected animal, commonly through bites or scratches. An infected animal can show outward symptoms of madness, foaming at the mouth or convulsions, and once an infected animal shows symptoms, rabies is 100 percent fatal. Owning a pet puts you at risk, as many people contract the disease through infected domesticated animals that have come in contact with a rabid wild animal, which makes it extremely important to spread awareness, so people can take the proper precautions in staying healthy – both for themselves and for their pets.

Powell Veterinary Service has been keeping your furry buddies happy and safe for more than 25 years. We provide vaccines, checkups and other veterinary services in a warm and comforting environment for your pet. By keeping up with your pet’s vaccination schedule and keeping a mindful eye on your pet when he or she is playing outdoors, you can keep your pet and your family safe from this disease. If you are a proud new pet owner, we can also help to walk you through the proper steps to ensuring your dog or cat lives a long, happy and healthy life.

If you have any questions or concerns about rabies or any other pet health issue, or want to schedule the next appointment for your four-legged friend, call Powell Veterinary Services today at 970-352-9164.