Annual Rabies Clinics in Bladen County Offers Protection for Animals and Humans

North Carolina law states that “the owner of every dog and cat over four months of age shall have the animal vaccinated against rabies.” In Bladen County, the owners of dogs and cats which have not been vaccinated in accordance with the law are subject to a civil penalty of $200.

If a pet is due for a 3-year vaccine, owners are asked to bring proof of a previous vaccine.

Rabies is transmitted primarily in saliva through a bite. Livestock infected with rabies usually appear depressed and lack appetite; difficulty eating, drinking or swallowing; profuse salivation; blindness; head-pressing; circling; vocalization; fever; strained defecation; increased sexual excitement or activity; limp tail, anus, or tongue. Constant yawning, itching, or nibbling may also be a sign of rabies. Rabies can be associated with neurological problems such as incoordination, decreased muscle tone and reflexes, shifting lameness, or partial-to-complete paralysis. Horse owners should be aware that rabies can often mimic colic symptoms in horses.

The incubation for rabies is between two weeks and six months. Once symptoms appear, the disease is almost always fatal.

Other ways to protect yourself and animals:

• Do not feed or attract wildlife to your yard or try to capture wild animals.

• Call your local animal control if you notice a nocturnal animal out during the day and demonstrating strange behavior such as no fear of humans or aggressive behavior.

• If you hunt, use gloves while skinning animals, particularly when handling nerve tissue or organs.

• If you are scratched or come into contact with the saliva of an animal you suspect was rabid, seek medical attention immediately.

Livestock owners should discuss with their veterinarians the risk of rabies in their area and preventive vaccinations.