Rabies is a disease that is spread to humans and other mammals through bite or scratch wounds inflicted by infected animals. It is endemic to Texas and all dogs in Texas are required to be vaccinated against rabies. In the event that your dog bites someone, being unable to provide documentation that your dog is vaccinated against rabies could result in fines, quarantine periods or the destruction of your pet.
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Definition of Rabies
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rabies is a virus that effects the brain and central nervous system of mammals. It is transmitted through the contaminated saliva of an infected animal. Texas is home to all of the natural hosts of rabies in the United States--foxes, coyotes, skunks, raccoons and bats--and sees multiple cases of it every year. If your pet is bitten or scratched by one of these animals he could be at risk of contracting the rabies virus and spreading it to other animals or humans.
Texas Rabies Law
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The Texas Administrative Code requires that all dogs (including dog-wolf hybrids) must be vaccinated by 16 weeks of age and must be re-vaccinated one year later. Following that, every dog must have its vaccination repeated every one or three years, depending on the type of vaccine used. All dogs that are transported into the state must be up to date on rabies vaccines, and their owners must have the documentation to prove it.
Vaccinations
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Rabies vaccines can only be obtained and administered in Texas through a licensed veterinarian. After vaccinating your pet, the vet should provide you with a certificate that indicates the period of time in which your pet is legally considered vaccinated.
There are multiple manufacturers of rabies vaccine approved for use in Texas, and not all of the vaccines are approved for the same amount of time. If your pet bites someone, you will be required to produce this certificate for animal control law enforcement.
Exposure/Symptoms
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The most common form of exposure occurs when an infected animal's saliva enters the blood stream of another warm blooded animal through a bite wound, open wound, scratch or mucus membrane (eyes, nose, mouth). Initial rabies symptoms are general lethargy and fever. Advanced symptoms include difficulty swallowing, behavior changes, over-excitability, aggressiveness, paralysis and death. There is no effective treatment for rabies after the symptoms appear.
Response to Possible Exposures
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All suspected rabies cases and possible exposures to rabies should be reported to animal control law enforcement. There are varying responses to possible rabies exposure based on the circumstances of each situation. Wild animals that are suspected of having rabies are always euthanized and tested (testing requires brain tissue and that requires the animal be euthanized). Domesticated animals can be euthanized and tested or can be quarantined based on their vaccine status and level of exposure. An animal control officer and your veterinarian can assist you in correctly responding to a possible rabies threat.
Precautions
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All warm blooded animals can contract and spread rabies. Be suspicious of any animal behaving in an unusual way, such as nocturnal animals being active in the day time, wild animals that seem friendly or tame or domestic animals that seem overly aggressive. If you or your dog is bitten by an animal, clean the wound immediately and seek medical help as quickly as possible to ensure that you and your pet do not contract this deadly disease.
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