We often are asked “Why do I need to get the rabies vaccine if my pets never go outside where they can be exposed to rabies?” The simple answer is any indoor pet can get loose and run out the door. In addition, rabid animals do not act like normal animals and there are accounts of [...]
Rabies is a serious disease caused by a rhabdovirus. It is one of the most feared infections of all time. Rabies was first discovered in the 16th century to be fatal by Girolamo Fracastoroand and in 1885 Louis Pasteur created the first vaccination. Despite today’s modern vaccination programs, the virus is still a threat to [...]
The Montgomery County Health Department receives calls daily from people who were trying to do a good deed by helping an animal in distress only to end up bitten, injured and facing the possibility of having contracted rabies (see our blog to learn more https://www.gilbertsvillevet.com/good-deed-could-have-deadly-reprucussions/). The most common carriers of rabies in Pennsylvania are bats, [...]
We often are asked “Why do I need to vaccinate my indoor pets if they will never go outside where they can be exposed to rabies?” The simple answer is any indoor pet can get loose and run out the door. In addition, rabid animals do not act like normal animals and there are accounts [...]
Dog bites send nearly 368,000 victims to hospital emergency departments per year (1,008 per day). According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2006, more than 31,000 people underwent reconstructive surgery as a result of being bitten by dogs. (Centers for Disease Control, Dog Bite Prevention, accessed May 20, 2013.) 16,476 dog bites to persons aged [...]
Peyton with furry family Question: Are the ticks I'm finding on my pet coming from the trees in my backyard? Answer: Ticks do not fly or jump. Ticks "quest" for hosts from ground level to about knee level on high grass and vegetation. Imagine a baby holding out their arms signaling to a loved [...]
What is Rabies? Rabies is a virus of the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) that can affect any mammal. Rabies is widespread throughout Pennsylvania. What are the signs of Rabies? Rabies signs are grouped into two forms known as either the "Furious" form of rabies or the "Paralytic" (or "Dumb" form). An [...]
"Good Deed" Could Have Deadly Repercussions” We all have a soft heart for dogs, cats and wild animals that appear to be lost or injured. What we don't think about is how we are putting ourselves at risk. Every time we attempt to help, we are putting ourselves at risk for injury, disease and rabies. [...]