Rabies
The
Disease
.....Affects
all mammals.
.....It is generally spread by bite wounds through saliva because
the virus cannot penetrate intact skin.
.....The virus enters nerves and travels to the spinal cord and
brain where it causes neurologic abnormalities.
.....It takes 10 days to 4 months for clinical signs to develop.
.....Clinical signs usually involve abnormal behavior.
.....Death usually occurs in 5 days. There is no treatment.
.....This is a reportable disease which means that all suspected
cases must be reported to and handled by the government.
The Vaccine
.....Rabies is a required vaccine for dogs and cats.
.....A rabies vaccine must be administered under the strict supervision
of a veterinarian.
.....As with all vaccines, it is not 100% effective.
.....3 months of age is the earliest that a dog or cat should be
vaccinated (Povey, 1988).
.....The animal is considered immune 28 days post vaccination.
Dog vaccine:
.....The vaccine is a non-living form that is available in 1 year
or 3 year doses in dogs after the initial 3 month and 12 month vaccinations
(CVJ, 1994).
.....The manufacturers generally recommend that animals be vaccinated
annually if rabies is endemic where the animal is or is going to
be. Vaccinating yearly avoids confusion as to when the rabies vaccine
was last given and provides extra assurance if your dog is accused
of biting someone (Sikes, 1971).
.....A three year vaccine also helps to increase the proportion
of immunized dogs in any population.
.....Saskatchewan is considered a high risk rabies area.
.....To travel to the United States with your dog, a vaccination
within the last year is required.
.....Some common brand names of dog vaccines are Rabguard TC and
Rabvac 3.
Cat vaccine:
.....The
joint dog and cat rabies vaccine was known to occasionally cause
fibrosarcoma in cats.
.....Recently a specifically cat rabies vaccine has been developed
that has been demonstrated not to cause this reaction. This newer
cat rabies vaccine lacks the albumin based adjuvants which was thought
to cause the problem (Hendrick, 1992).
.....Cats should be vaccinated yearly as the cat specific rabies
vaccine dose not come in 3 year doses.
.....The cat specific vaccine is made by Merial and called Purevax
Feline Rabies Vaccine. Merial claims the vaccine can be used in
kittens as young as 8 weeks old.
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