rabid racoon in my back yard!

[Cinder & Smoke]

Rabies Information *links* >>>

A private information site - that gives citations for many of its information points >
http://www.rabies.com/html/welcome.html


The US CDC (Center for Disease Control) site >>>
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies/prevention&control/preventi.htm

From the CDC page:
"Postexposure prophylaxis
Postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) is indicated for persons possibly exposed to a rabid animal. Possible exposures include animal bites, or mucous membrane contamination with infectious tissue, such as saliva. {For more information on types of exposures, see Human Rabies Prevention - United States, 1999 Recommendations of the Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (ACIP).} PEP should begin as soon as possible after an exposure. There have been no vaccine failures in the United States (i.e. someone developed rabies) when PEP was given promptly and appropriately after an exposure.

Administration of rabies PEP is a medical urgency, not a medical emergency. Physicians should evaluate each possible exposure to rabies and as necessary consult with local or state public health officials regarding the need for rabies prophylaxis.

Postexposure prophylaxis regimen
In the United States, PEP consists of a regimen of one dose of immune globulin and five doses of rabies vaccine over a 28-day period. Rabies immune globulin and the first dose of rabies vaccine should be given as soon as possible after exposure. Additional doses of rabies vaccine should be given on days 3, 7, 14, and 28 after the first vaccination. Current vaccines are relatively painless and are given in your arm, like a flu or tetanus vaccine.

What to do after a possible exposure
If you are exposed to a potentially rabid animal, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water, and seek medical attention immediately. A health care provider will care for the wound and will assess the risk for rabies exposure."

/s/ Phred

[Twisterdog]

If your dogs were current on their rabies vaccinations, why would they be quarantined at all? Is that a state law? Yikes.

My state law says that if you can show lifetime proof of rabies vaccinations, your dog will not be quarantined, killed, etc. if they are bitten by a rabid animal or if they bite a person or another animal. If you cannot prove they have had rabies vaccinations, they will be killed.

One of my employees was bitten by a stray cat. The cat ran away and they could never find it. So she had to get the shots. Painful, and expensive! Sorry you have to go through that!

[TamanduaGirl]

no vaccine is 100% effective. They are worried about human health risk. Most states, and i think CDC recommends a quarantine for an animal bitten by an animal suspected for rabies. My state used to require any dog bitten by a wild animal be killed and tested! They now allow a quarantine if bitten and vaccinated a longer one if not vaccinated and you are willing to pay the price if not then killed and tested too.