“Dr. Elizabeth Bradt: Protecting ourselves, and our pets, from a killer - Abington Mariner” plus 1 more |
| Dr. Elizabeth Bradt: Protecting ourselves, and our pets, from a killer - Abington Mariner Posted: 13 Jan 2011 01:01 PM PST Salem, Mass. — As more and more people question the need to vaccinate their pets against infectious diseases, veterinarians are increasingly concerned about the resurgence of a killer. Thankfully, rabies is rare here in North America, but a reservoir of the disease is present in our wildlife. What's the chance of your pet encountering a rabid animal? It's a scenario that happens all too often as urban sprawl encounters rural farmland and wooded areas. You hear aggressive barking and maybe a high-pitched "yip" or two. Looking out your window, you see your beloved dog in an all out battle with a raccoon! After breaking up the fight, your mind races as you check your dog for wounds and wonder about the chance of rabies. Every year in North America, the Centers for Disease Control (cdc.gov) monitor the prevalence of rabies. Thousands of wild animals test positive every year and, despite mandatory vaccines for pets, hundreds of cats, dogs, horses and other domestic animals contract this killer as well. The good news is that rabies cases in people and domestic animals have decreased throughout the 20th century, but only continued vigilance will insure our on-going safety. Several variant strains of rabies exist in North America, including strains found in skunks, raccoons, foxes and bats. Although these different rabies variants prefer certain hosts, they are capable of infecting almost any mammal, including people. And, despite reports of the canine strain of rabies being extinct in the United States, vaccines are still needed to protect our pets and ourselves. Laws may vary slightly, but all states require dogs to be vaccinated against rabies. Many also require cats and pet ferrets to be vaccinated as well. For most pets, an initial vaccine after 12 weeks of age starts the series and this vaccine is "boosted" when the pet is a year old. Depending on local laws and the veterinarian's discretion, your pet might be vaccinated with a three-year or a one-year vaccine. Most veterinary schools and organizations, such as the American Animal Hospital Association (aahanet.org), recommend that veterinarians use a three-year protocol for re-vaccination of rabies in our pets. There is also an ongoing study that is attempting to determine how long these vaccines provide immunity for our pets. The Rabies Challenge Fund (rabieschallengefund.org) was established in 2005 with a goal of determining how well vaccinated dogs are protected against rabies after five and seven years. Thankfully, until this and other research is complete, you do have good guidelines to follow when it comes to protecting your pets. First and foremost, follow recommendations from your veterinarian and local rabies ordinances. These laws are in place to help place a level of protection between potentially rabid wildlife and your family. Some veterinarians use Merial's non-adjuvanted Purevax rabies vaccine as a way to help minimize adverse vaccine reactions, especially in their feline patients. These vaccinations can also be a lifesaver if your pet does come into contact with a wild animal. If your pet is not vaccinated and fights with an unknown wild animal or even a confirmed rabid one, you will need to quarantine your pet for six months (although this can vary by region). This extended observation period is meant to keep the animal under control in the event it does develop rabies. It is also a costly endeavor. A six-month stay at an approved quarantine facility might cost more than $1,500. Compare that expense to the $10 or $20 rabies vaccine. Sadly, many dogs have lost their lives because of this economic factor. Never assume that your "indoor only" pet is safe from rabies either. Bats, the largest reservoir of rabies in North America, can find their way into homes very easily. Attracted to their fluttering flight or a dying bat on the floor, our pets, especially cats, risk exposure. Because bat bites are almost undetectable because of their size, you might miss the fact that your pet has been bitten. Finally, always contact an animal control officer or wildlife expert if you see a wild animal acting strangely. Because of the deadly nature of this disease, you should never attempt to capture a wild animal on your own. World Rabies Awareness Day happens every Sept. 28. Although we rarely see human rabies deaths in our countries, more than 55,000 people die from rabies annually in Asia and Africa. That's one person every 10 minutes! What's even sadder is that many of these deaths are children. For those of us in North America, these deaths may seem remote, but we should never lose sight that this killer still lurks in our own backyard. For more information on rabies, visit MyVNN.com to see informative videos. You can also visit PetDocsOnCall.com if you have specific questions about your pet's vaccination status or for any pet health or behavior related question. Dr. Elizabeth Bradt is a graduate of Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. A Salem resident, she is the owner of All Creatures Veterinary Hospital in Salem. She welcomes pet questions and stories sent by e-mail to docliz@creaturehealth.com. Please type "Vet Connection" in the subject field. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
| Mo. animal sanctuary lets volunteers foster pets - Times Union Posted: 21 Jan 2011 12:05 AM PST CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (AP) — A 3 a.m. daily wake-up call of fur in the face is one of Christine Spanley's favorite rituals with her adopted cat, Zoey. Spanley, a Jackson resident, first met Zoey last year while serving as the foster caretaker for a litter of kittens from Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary in Jackson. Spanley has served as a volunteer at Safe Harbor since 2007 and has been fostering animals since 2008. She has fostered numerous cats and dogs through the years and has adopted some of them as a result. Zoey, three other cats and a dog all started as temporary residents in the Spanley home. "It's a great experience," Spanley said. "Once they're gone I really miss it. There's nothing sweeter than little kittens." Spanley said she has been a cat lover all of her life thanks to being exposed to animals at a young age. Living in the country, her family had an abundant amount of cats and dogs that were not always able to receive medical attention. "I always swore to myself I would never let that happen to my pets," she said. "It's rewarding to me to see kittens in a nice safe environment. I do what it takes to make them into good, healthy kittens." As a foster caretaker, Spanley receives help from the shelter to provide for the animals. "We can provide medications, veterinarian care and food for any fosters," said Alice Wybert, director of Safe Harbor. Wybert said individuals who wish to foster should be compassionate, caring and patient. Caretakers must be at least 18 years old. The process of becoming a foster with Safe Harbor includes a home visit, a background check and paperwork. "You want to provide a safe environment for your animal like you would your children," Wybert said. Fosters can choose what type of animal they would prefer and how long they wish to care for the animal. "We would like for someone to try it for a week or two," Wybert said. "Overnight doesn't work. You have to give things a little time." Currently, Safe Harbor has 223 cats and kittens and 16 dogs available for fostering. Putting the animals with a family -- even if it's only temporary -- helps socialize them and frees up space at the shelters. Along with Safe Harbor, the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri also has a fostering program. Cheryle Dillon, director of the Humane Society, said individuals interested in fostering an animal can fill out an application at the shelter. The Humane Society requires veterinarian checkups for the animal and the foster caretaker to be at least 21 years old. Dillon said a suitable individual for the fostering program is a person who wants a companion but cannot afford to adopt with the medical expenses. "The foster fills that gap," she said. Rochelle Steffen, a Cape Girardeau resident and eight-year volunteer at the Humane Society, became a foster for her first litter of kittens last year and since has fostered three litters. "I can't have 40 dogs, but I sure can help 40 animals," Steffen said. Establishing a larger volunteer base is crucial at both Safe Harbor and the Humane Society in order to help prepare the animals for adoption. "The public appreciates us taking the next step of trying to make the animals more adoptable," Dillon said. "The more help we get from the community the more help we can give the community." Currently Safe Harbor has an average of 20 volunteers and the Humane Society averages around 10 volunteers for fostering. "I have some people come out here and they just work and work and work. They are few and far between," Wybert said. "I just wish more people would volunteer or foster. What expense do you have other than your love and your time?" On the first Saturday of every month, Safe Harbor and the Humane Society team up with other rescue centers in the area for Fostering Hope at PETCO in Cape Girardeau where people can see some of the animals available for fostering and learn more information about the programs. ___ Information from: Southeast Missourian, http://www.semissourian.com This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
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