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#1
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Curious about rabies
Hi,
I was thinking about this last night. Yesterday I found and caught a stray/feral kitten, which managed to give me a bite (mistaking my thumb for food rather than out of fear/aggression!) This is not the first time I've been bitten by a feral. Fortunately in Australia we don't have rabies, so I've never been too worried about handling stray/feral animals. How does rabies impact on handling unknown domestic animals in US? What happens if you get bitten by an animal you don't know? Does this affect the average animal lover's ability to catch/handle stray animals? Just wondering... Thanks, Purplecat |
#2
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Purplecat wrote:
How does rabies impact on handling unknown domestic animals in US? What happens if you get bitten by an animal you don't know? Does this affect the average animal lover's ability to catch/handle stray animals? Just wondering... Thanks, Purplecat If I have to handle a feral cat I wear gloves. Thick ones. I've been bitten by foster cats and kittens I've rescued; serious bites. The foster cat who bit me the worst I've ever been bitten was quarantined in my home and I just watched her, the bite site, and would have taken action if it was needed. The cat would have been quarantined any ways, 2 weeks here. In my state they will allow quarantine in my home. Any strays that I've trapped for neuter I don't get close enough to them to get bitten. It's trap, trip to the clinic in the trap, release to my house in the bathroom still in the trap overnight (or in their own familiar environment) and release. The ones I feed haven't been aggressive enough after neutering to worry about a bite but I get them rabies shots and other shots and vetting when they are neutered. -- Cheryl |
#3
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Purplecat wrote:
How does rabies impact on handling unknown domestic animals in US? What happens if you get bitten by an animal you don't know? Does this affect the average animal lover's ability to catch/handle stray animals? Just wondering... Thanks, Purplecat If I have to handle a feral cat I wear gloves. Thick ones. I've been bitten by foster cats and kittens I've rescued; serious bites. The foster cat who bit me the worst I've ever been bitten was quarantined in my home and I just watched her, the bite site, and would have taken action if it was needed. The cat would have been quarantined any ways, 2 weeks here. In my state they will allow quarantine in my home. Any strays that I've trapped for neuter I don't get close enough to them to get bitten. It's trap, trip to the clinic in the trap, release to my house in the bathroom still in the trap overnight (or in their own familiar environment) and release. The ones I feed haven't been aggressive enough after neutering to worry about a bite but I get them rabies shots and other shots and vetting when they are neutered. -- Cheryl |
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#6
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So basically it is an issue to be taken seriously when handling these
animals... I've always taken for granted that I can catch/handle strays or feral kittens (and wounded wildlife) with relative safety, which means I've been able to rescue a few "on the spot" without any gloves or cages - fortunate for them because I would not have always been able to go back for them easily another time. Something I guess is not so easy for you guys. Wow. Purplecat "Karen Chuplis" wrote in message at Usually if the animal has no reason to be suspected of having rabies, the person can undergo rabies shots (expensive!!!) and the animal quarantined. Otherwise the animal will be destroyed and the head sent off for testing. Karen |
#7
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So basically it is an issue to be taken seriously when handling these
animals... I've always taken for granted that I can catch/handle strays or feral kittens (and wounded wildlife) with relative safety, which means I've been able to rescue a few "on the spot" without any gloves or cages - fortunate for them because I would not have always been able to go back for them easily another time. Something I guess is not so easy for you guys. Wow. Purplecat "Karen Chuplis" wrote in message at Usually if the animal has no reason to be suspected of having rabies, the person can undergo rabies shots (expensive!!!) and the animal quarantined. Otherwise the animal will be destroyed and the head sent off for testing. Karen |
#8
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Usually if the animal has no reason to be suspected of having rabies, the
person can undergo rabies shots (expensive!!!) and the animal quarantined. Otherwise the animal will be destroyed and the head sent off for testing. Karen IIRC, if there's no reason to suspect an animal has rabies, the person bitten doesn't start the rabies series. Not unless the animal can't be located for testing or quarantine. The series isn't without risk itself, and they don't routinely vaccinate people just because they're bitten. Wild/stray animals are automatically euthanized and tested, but owned/vaccinated animals are quarantined. I think they laws vary from state to state though. Sherry |
#9
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Usually if the animal has no reason to be suspected of having rabies, the
person can undergo rabies shots (expensive!!!) and the animal quarantined. Otherwise the animal will be destroyed and the head sent off for testing. Karen IIRC, if there's no reason to suspect an animal has rabies, the person bitten doesn't start the rabies series. Not unless the animal can't be located for testing or quarantine. The series isn't without risk itself, and they don't routinely vaccinate people just because they're bitten. Wild/stray animals are automatically euthanized and tested, but owned/vaccinated animals are quarantined. I think they laws vary from state to state though. Sherry |
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"Sherry " wrote in message
... How does rabies impact on handling unknown domestic animals in US? There's a pre-exposure vaccine that high-risk people take; like vets, taxidermists, animal control officers, etc. Really, I don't get too freaked out Ah, that makes a big difference. I was wondering how people in high risk categories approached the problem. Thanks, Purplecat |
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