Hays County Health Department Offers Advice On How To Protect Self And Animals From Rabies

Each year, hundreds of cases of rabies develop among Texas wildlife and domestic animals. In Texas, rabies is most commonly found in bats, skunks, raccoons, foxes, coyotes, wild dogs, and feral cats.

Following is information about rabies and what you can do to protect yourself, your family, and your animals.

So, what is rabies? 

Rabies is a virus of the central nervous system that leads to what has been called “a fear of water.” Actually, it causes the throat to close up, making it impossible to drink water. This is what causes the classic “foaming of the mouth” symptom. Saliva accumulates in the throat, and since the animal cannot swallow, it drools from the corners of its mouth. If a human contracts rabies, symptoms can develop any time between 14 days to 18 months. Rabies in humans has a 100% fatality rate.

How does rabies get transferred? 

Rabies is transmitted by the bite of an infected animal, or from the saliva of a rabid animal into an open wound. This is why it is important to never touch a wild animal with your bare hands. Any open wound you have on your hands could become infected if it comes into contact with the animal’s saliva.

Be sure to talk to children about the dangers of touching a wild animal, dead or alive. 

How do I protect my dog or cat? 

Domestic animals should receive a rabies vaccine every year, and should never be allowed to roam freely around a neighborhood.

If your dog or cat is bitten by an animal that is positive for rabies, it should be put down immediately. If the owner is unwilling to have this done, the animal is required to be vaccinated immediately and placed in strict isolation for 90 days. If your animal is vaccinated within the past year, it should receive a booster vaccination and kept restrained (leashing or confinement) for 45 days.

What if I am bitten by an animal? 

Any time a warm blooded animal (dog, fox, skunk, cat, bat, etc.) bites a human being, there is a danger that the animal is rabid and that the person involved could develop rabies.  These immediate precautions should be taken:

1. Identify and, if possible, confine the biting animal for observation.
2. Wash the would immediately and thoroughly with soap and hot water.
3. Contact Animal Control and provide them with as much information as possible: type of animal including color and size, location of animal, behavior of animal (did it attack you or defend itself).
4. Consult a physician as soon as possible concerning if anti-rabies treatment is necessary.

If you feel you have been exposed to rabies, or have questions about rabies, please contact the Hays County Local Health Department at 512-393-5525.