Rabies is a universally fatal disease of mammals. The virus is transmitted through infected saliva, so most commonly is contracted by a bite wound from an infected animal, but may also transmit through saliva exposure to open cuts/abrasions or contact with mucous membranes.  Clinical signs may occur as early as 2 days or as long as 2 years following exposure.   More than 27,000 cases of animal rabies are reported worldwide each year.  Just in the United States, there have been 48 human deaths due to rabies between 1970 and 1995, with 2-3 additional cases each year still dying from rabies.

In Washington State, rabies is widespread among bat populations, with 5-10% of tested bats being confirmed positive.  There have been two fairly recent confirmed rabies human deaths in Washington in 1995 and 1997.  Several confirmed animal cases have occurred within the past 20 years including a rabid cat in Walla Walla County (2002), a dog in Pierce County (1987), a horse in Benton County (1992), and a llama in King County (1994).

Clinical signs in dogs & cats:

Dogs & cats may initially become apprehensive, nervous, anxious or keep to themselves.  Some may have signs of fever, inappetance and lethargy.  Normally friendly animals may become shy, irritable and show some aggressive behavior, while some normally anti-social or aggressive animals may become more docile and even affectionate.  Behavior progressively becomes more erratic, agitated, disoriented and aggressive.  Affected animals may develop hallucinatory behavior, snapping and biting at invisible or inanimate objects, or develop seizures.  Eventually the disease results in paralysis and death.

Rabies is preventable through vaccination, yet many dogs and cats are not adequately vaccinated.  Rabies is not curable.

Rabies Prevention:

• Keep dogs, cats & ferrets vaccinated against rabies.  Vaccination boosters are generally required at intervals of 1-3 years depending on the type of vaccine that was administered.  VACCINATION is also the LAW.
• Keep pets under direct supervision so they do not come into contact with wild animals.
• Call local animal control for assistance in removing any stray animals from your neighborhood.
• Don’t feed or handle wildlife.  Discourage them from hanging around near your home.  Keep trash cans covered and avoid leaving food out whether intended for the wildlife or your pet dog or cat.
• Avoid contact with unfamiliar animals, and teach your children not to handle them either.  “Love your own, leave other animals alone”

For more information, see the CDC’s Rabies webpage at http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/ or the Washington State Department of Health Factsheet  http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehsphl/factsheet/rabiesfct.htm

According to FDA, Recalls & Withdrawals website, following illness in a Missouri dog, Keys Manufacturing Company, Inc of Paris, IL began recalling Pig Ears for Pet Treats on 5/3/2011 due to potential Salmonella contamination.  As a supplier of pig ear treats to other companies, the Keys recall has now caused a few other recalls to be issued from other companies.  Of note is Boss Pet Products, Inc. that has distributed the products to WA, OR, CA and 16 other states

The recalled Boss Pet Products, Inc products were sold as Diggers Natural Chews Pig Ears in the following package sizes:

• Bulk Pig Ears in boxes of 100 (UPC #0-72929-00038-6)
• Bulk Pig Ears Shrink Wrapped in boxes of 50 (UPC #0-72929-99120-2)
• 2-Pack Bags shipped in cases of 12 bags (UPC #0-72929-99504-0)
• 4-Pack Bags shipped in cases of 12 bags (UPC #0-72929-00227-4)
• 8-Pack Bags shipped in cases of 12 bags (UPC #0-72929-99584-2)

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy appearing pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans.  Humans may also become infected with Salmonella from handling contaminated pet products, even if they have thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the chews or any surfaces exposed to these products.

The FDA is urging consumers who have purchased Diggers Natural Chews Pig Ear products  to return them to their place of purchase.  Consumers with questions may contact Boss Pet at 1-800-445-6347 during normal business hours (9:00 AM – 5:00PM ET).

1. Treat all your pets.
   • All pets in a household should be regularly treated to help prevent fleas from feeding and reproducing on your pet and in your home.  Fleas don’t just stay on one – if the cat stays indoors but the dog goes in and out, then the cat needs to be protected too.  The frequency of these treatments depends upon the product that is used.  For Comfortis, Frontline, Advantage or Revolution, treat every 30 days.
2. Treat all year round.
   • The only thing that really slows down an outdoor flea population / reservoir is a very cold climate.  Western Washington’s temperate weather conditions do little to slow down fleas.  Even if we have a good solid nighttime freeze in the winter, many days warm to well above freezing temperatures and fail to break the flea cycle.   Treat all year round to prevent infestation.
3. Use the right product for your pet.
   • Not all products are equal in efficacy or safety.  We prefer Revolution, Frontline and Comfortis.  Each of these products has its own particular benefits, and our recommendation for your pet will depend on your pet’s lifestyle and other factors.  Please ask us which product is right for your pet.  We do not recommend flea shampoos, powders, sprays or collars due to disappointments in efficacy as well as safety concerns.
   • Do not use a product intended for dogs on your cat as this has been frequently linked to toxicity issues in cats and may result in death.
   • Do not attempt to split out a dose designed for one pet to more than one pet.  Products are not homogenous; the active ingredient may not be equally dispersed throughout the liquid.  Attempting to split a dose to multiple pets may cause overdose and possible toxicity to one pet while under-dosing another pet and not protecting him from fleas.  Secondarily, the under-dosed pet is exposing a population of fleas to substandard doses of the active ingredient, facilitating these fleas to develop resistance to the medication.  When resistance occurs, it will fail to work on all your pets even when you subsequently apply it correctly.
4. If you already have a flea problem, treat the environment too.
   • Wash all pet bedding in hot soapy water and dry in the dryer.
   • Vacuum all areas frequented by pets, especially areas near where they like to sleep, then immediately dump your vacuum’s contents outside so that eggs and larvae cannot mature in the vacuum bag and find their way out into the home again.
   • Use an antiparasitic area spray or room fogger that is specifically labeled for treatment of fleas.  If possible, use one that also contains and Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) so that any eggs or larvae that remain in the environment are halted from maturing into adult fleas and recontaminating your home within a few weeks time.
   • Alternatively, if you are concerned about chemical sprays and treatments in your home, you can contract with a company like FleaBusters ® to treat your home in a non-toxic way and guarantee no more fleas in your home for up to 1 year.

   

Some dogs will survive the disease if treated immediately & aggressively. Even still, many dogs will not survive no matter how aggressively it is treated, and treatment is expensive.  Your pet will need to be hospitalized on intravenous fluids and broad spectrum antibiotics for several days.  Costs for care can easily reach or exceed $1000.  And even after you’ve spent this, your pet may still die.

Vaccination is the best prevention.  Properly administered and appropriately timed boosters will help provide your dog with the best hope of avoiding this deadly disease.  I urge everyone to please check your dog’s records, make sure the first vaccinations were done properly and that boosters followed.  If you need help evaluating this to ensure best protection from disease, that’s what I’m here for.  Bring your pet, bring your records and we will discuss what needs to be done. This is not an optional vaccination; this one is required to protect your pet.  My heart is breaking for all the puppies I have seen dying of this disease, only to have their owners say that they thought he had all his shots, and they just didn’t know he wasn’t protected.