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time of the bite, the dog or cat must be PEARLS & CONSIDERATIONS • An immediate booster vaccination in immu-
euthanized and its brain submitted imme- Comments nized dogs and cats potentially exposed to
VetBooks.ir within 24-48 hours, there is adequate time • If clients are concerned regarding possible • Avoid modified live vaccine (MLV) for pet Diseases and Disorders
rabies is advised.
diately for exam. If infection is confirmed
to begin human postexposure prophylaxis.
or known human exposure to rabies, they
animals.
• Unvaccinated dogs or cats that are exposed
must see their physician immediately.
to a known rabid animal or to any bat or • Veterinarians should notify the local public • Disinfect contaminated cages, food dishes,
and instruments with a diluted solution of
wild, carnivorous mammal health officials about potential human exposure. 1 part bleach to 32 parts tap water.
○ Unowned animals are often euthanized at • Signs take weeks to months to develop after
presentation for immediate rabies testing. exposure, but after signs occur, death ensues Technician Tips
○ If the animal is wanted, the dog/cat is quickly (<2 weeks). • Gloves should be worn during exam of
placed in quarantine for up to 6 months. • The 10-day quarantine of pets after a bite all unknown or unvaccinated animals and
○ The dog/cat must be monitored for the does not guarantee that the animal is not during exam of bite wounds of unknown
onset of clinical signs and euthanized harboring rabies virus but ensures that the origin as protection against rabies.
immediately if signs consistent with rabies pet was not shedding virus in saliva at the • The classic vicious, foaming at the mouth
occur. It the animal remains healthy, it time of the bite. image is true for only ≈10% of rabid dogs.
should be vaccinated for rabies 1 month • Travel to rabies-free areas has been facilitated A majority of dogs with rabies are lethargic
before release. by a vaccinate-microchip-and-blood test and poorly responsive but highly infectious.
• Vaccinated dogs or cats that are exposed to protocol that shows adequate neutralizing Strict precautions to avoid being bitten are
a known rabid animal or to any bat or wild, antibody levels (e.g., > 0.5 IU/mL) and warranted around animals with these signs.
carnivorous mammal no clinical signs of rabies typically over • Document rabies vaccination date for every
○ Immediate revaccination for rabies is a 6-month period before departure. This patient so that the information is available
indicated. reduces the burden of travel on the pet in case a bite occurs during veterinary care.
○ A period of monitoring must follow, (previously a 6-month quarantine in the
typically for 45 days. destination country/state). The specific Client Education
• When a dog or cat with an expired rabies jurisdiction can provide detailed requirements • Emphasize the importance of rabies vaccina-
vaccination status is exposed to a rabid (e.g., for the United Kingdom, www.gov.uk/ tion for all dogs and cats.
animal, individual factors determine the take-pet-abroad). • Keep pets from roaming (leash laws).
recommended course. Clinicians should • A new Rabies Rapid Screen Saliva test (Dyne • Inform clients about state and local policies.
contact the state/regional veterinarian. Immune) has not yet undergone sensitivity • Advise the client to bring the animal to
and specificity testing and cannot be recom- a veterinarian immediately if exposure is
PROGNOSIS & OUTCOME mended at this time. suspected. With human exposure, individuals
• Worldwide, > 50,000 people per year die should immediately contact a physician.
• Cats and dogs typically succumb within 7-10 of rabies; more than one-half of these are • Additional travel/quarantine informa-
days after onset of clinical signs. children. tion is available at www.aphis.usda.gov/
• The human Milwaukee protocol is no animal_welfare/pet_travel/pet_travel.shtml
longer recommended due to 26 reports of Prevention
failure. • A new initiative by the CDC aims to elimi- SUGGESTED READING
• Experimental treatment with nanoviricides nate dog-transmitted human rabies deaths Wallace RM, et al: Elimination of dog-mediated
has shown a 30% survival rate compared with by 2030 by mass vaccination campaigns. human rabies deaths by 2030: needs assessment
standard treatment (0% survival); currently • All dogs and cats should be vaccinated for and alternatives for progress based dog vaccination.
being investigated by the Centers for Disease rabies after 12 weeks of age, again at 12 Front Vet Sci 4:9, 2017.
Control and Prevention for use in humans months of age, and then every 3 years or AUTHOR: Maureen A. McMichael, DVM, DACVECC
with rabies. yearly, depending on state regulations. EDITOR: Joseph Taboada, DVM, DACVIM

Raw Diets Client Education
Sheet

BASIC INFORMATION Epidemiology posed by the handling of contaminated meat
A 2008 survey found that 16.2% of dogs and potential for zoonotic transmission of
Definition and 9.6% of cats in the United States and pathogens from the dog or cat to humans,
Raw diets are based on uncooked ingredients of Australia were fed raw meat or bones daily, and even when the pet does not show any signs
animal origin and can include skeletal muscle, an additional 7.4% of dogs and 0.9% of cats of disease. Although dry commercial foods
offal, bones, and eggs or dairy. Plant ingredients were fed these items at least weekly. (kibble) can also be contaminated, it is much
can also be included. Raw diets may be home less common than for raw animal products
prepared or commercial products (fresh, frozen, SPECIES, AGE, SEX due to the thermic processes applied to kibble
or freeze dried). Dogs and cats of any age and sex for microbiological safety.
• The FDA analyzed hundreds of pet foods
Synonyms CONTAGION AND ZOONOSIS for Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes and
Biologically appropriate raw food (BARF; a • The U.S. Food and Drug Administration found that 31.6% of the raw samples were
trademarked term by a raw diet company for (FDA) does not recommend feeding raw positive for either microorganism, but only
its associated products) diets to pets due to the public health risk 0.4% of the kibble samples were positive

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