Rabies vaccines are important not only for your pets but for the welfare of you family. Prairie Mountain Health region confirmed three cases of bovine (cattle) rabies in 2016. Bovine rabies can be transferred to humans through contact with bodily fluids such as blood or saliva. This can be a cause for concern during calving season, and even at feeding time, if proper protection is not worn while handing cattle.
Vaccination for pets is of the utmost importance, especially outdoor farm dogs that are at a higher risk of coming into contact with the rabies disease. Rabies, when contracted by dogs is almost always a death sentence. Even suspected carriers tend to be put down for the safety of humans.
Most noticeable rabies symptoms include a change in personality of the animal, the larynx begins to spasm and a change in voice may be noted (especially true in rabid cattle). Most infected animals will continually lick or scratch the original site of the bit. Once even mild symptoms are in animals, death usually occurs within 10 days.
VeterinaryPartner.com states that carriers of rabies include both wildlife and domestic mammals such as skunks, foxes, cattle and dogs. Human exposure leads to a series of vaccinations over about a month. People with a career working with animals should considered getting vaccinated for rabies. Veterinarians, for example, are 300 times more likely to be exposed to rabies than the general population.
Core vaccines also include vaccines for parvovirus and distemper. “Parvovirus is common in dogs in the Virden area,” says Gita Gunson, Veterinarian at the Virden Animal Hospital. Symptoms of parvovirus are diarrhea, vomiting and anorexia or not eating. Parvovirus is deadly if left untreated.
“Occasional cases of distemper have been seen in the area, mostly in litters of puppies,” says Gunson, “It’s not as prevalent as it used to be, since more people are vaccinating.” This disease is contagious with a poor prognosis; most dogs, even treated, will die. Distemper symptoms include respiratory problems, nose discharge, fever, diarrhea, vomiting, neurological signs such as twitching and seizures.
Rabies and core vaccines are an important prevention method for the diseases they vaccinate, and can be scheduled with your local veterinarian.
