Newsletter “April 2016” Edition

Newsletter “April 2016” Edition








~ Rabies News Update ~

• 
  42 raccoons as of February 2016 have been confirmed to have rabies in the Hamilton area!
  
• 
  16 skunks have been confirmed to be carrying the raccoon rabies strain!
  
• 
  1 fox strain has been confirmed in a Cow near the Hamilton area
  

Check out our new website!!

www.glanvet.com


Rabies 

People often have no idea that their pet or the animal they have just rescued from the woods may be infected with the rabies virus

Clinical signs:

Behavioral changes, difficulty swallowing, excess salivation, extruded penis, hind limb ataxia, depression, stupor. 

There are 3 stages of rabies: 

• 
  Stage 1- the prodromal stage (changes in behaviour—wild animals become friendly, nocturnal animals come out during the day, dogs and cats become fearful or apprehensive)
  

• 
  Stage 2 – the excitable (furious) stage (may appear hyperactive, may attack unprovoked or attack inanimate objects. Some may appear to be in a stupor (“dumb” rabies).
  

• 
  Stage 3 – the paralytic stage (in which the animal experiences paralysis of the hind limb (and sometimes face) eventually leading to respiratory paralysis and death. These 3 stages maybe completed in less than 1 week! 
  

What is Rabies??

Rabies is a virus that affects the neurons in the brain 

How is it spread?

Spread through the saliva of an infected animal and may enter the body from a bite, an open wound, or via the mouth- it has also been recorded that if an infected animal was to say sneeze and the saliva from the sneeze was to land on your face/mouth/eyes etc. the virus can enter your body that way as well.  The time from exposure to symptoms is about as little as 9 days but commonly 3-8 weeks or longer. 

Diagnosis:

Post-mortem test of brain tissue is definitive- no test is available while the animal is living. 

Treatment:

If suspected- the animal should be euthanized. Vaccinated animals exposed to a rapid animal should be revaccinated and observed for 90 days. Unvaccinated animals should be euthanized or kept under strict isolation for 6 months.  

 



“Your Pet… Our Passion.”







Proud sponsor of Glanbrook Minor Hockey Association




Newsletter “April 2016” Edition







Information for clients:  

• 
  Never handle wild animals that appear tame or friendly 
  

• 
  Avoid promoting visitations by raccoons and skunks by covering garbage cans and not leaving food out for them 
  

• 
  If your pet bites a person it must be quarantined for 10 days at your expense. This quarantine must be at a vet clinic. Animals showing no signs of disease after 10 days are considered to have been uninfected at the time of the bite. (the quarantine is to protect humans, not your pet) 
  

Rabies has no cure! And is almost always fatal.

Don’t think you need to vaccinate for it??

No longer relevant in Ontario??

Think again!!
11 bats in 2015 have been confirmed with rabies! – That’s just some of the animals that get submitted for testing. Imagine the road kill, the animals dead in the middle of a forest, ones that travel to and from Ontario…all of those animals have the potential to have rabies and come in contact with your pet! 
Over the past few years there have been numerous confirmed cases in dogs, cats, skunks, bats and even cows- everyone is trying their best to remove rabies from Canada but they need help! 
Vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate!!! One vaccine lasts 2 years and they get a special tag with a special number just for them!
Citing and for more information visit:  

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/animals/terrestrial-animals/diseases/reportable/rabies/rabies-in-canada 

Alleice Summers, “Common Diseases of Companion animals”, Science, 2002 pp. 259-261 

Remember, your pet doesn’t have a voice to tell you if something is wrong…..so be their voice! Bring your pet for annual examinations with your Veterinarian, and make sure that you implement their recommendations for preventative healthcare.

Your pet will love you for it and be happier because of it. As someone once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”








Proud sponsor of Glanbrook Minor Hockey Association


“Your Pet… Our Passion.”