Curious about rabies
 

Hi,
I was thinking about this last night. Yesterday I found and caught a
stray/feral kitten, which managed to give me a bite (mistaking my thumb for
food rather than out of fear/aggression!) This is not the first time I've
been bitten by a feral. Fortunately in Australia we don't have rabies, so
I've never been too worried about handling stray/feral animals. How does
rabies impact on handling unknown domestic animals in US? What happens if
you get bitten by an animal you don't know? Does this affect the average
animal lover's ability to catch/handle stray animals?

Just wondering...

Thanks,
Purplecat

Purplecat wrote:

How does rabies impact on handling unknown
domestic animals in US? What happens if you get bitten by an animal
you don't know? Does this affect the average animal lover's ability
to catch/handle stray animals?

Just wondering...

Thanks,
Purplecat

If I have to handle a feral cat I wear gloves. Thick ones. I've been
bitten by foster cats and kittens I've rescued; serious bites. The
foster cat who bit me the worst I've ever been bitten was quarantined
in my home and I just watched her, the bite site, and would have taken
action if it was needed. The cat would have been quarantined any
ways, 2 weeks here. In my state they will allow quarantine in my
home. Any strays that I've trapped for neuter I don't get close
enough to them to get bitten. It's trap, trip to the clinic in the
trap, release to my house in the bathroom still in the trap overnight
(or in their own familiar environment) and release. The ones I feed
haven't been aggressive enough after neutering to worry about a bite
but I get them rabies shots and other shots and vetting when they are
neutered.

--
Cheryl

Purplecat wrote:

How does rabies impact on handling unknown
domestic animals in US? What happens if you get bitten by an animal
you don't know? Does this affect the average animal lover's ability
to catch/handle stray animals?

Just wondering...

Thanks,
Purplecat

If I have to handle a feral cat I wear gloves. Thick ones. I've been
bitten by foster cats and kittens I've rescued; serious bites. The
foster cat who bit me the worst I've ever been bitten was quarantined
in my home and I just watched her, the bite site, and would have taken
action if it was needed. The cat would have been quarantined any
ways, 2 weeks here. In my state they will allow quarantine in my
home. Any strays that I've trapped for neuter I don't get close
enough to them to get bitten. It's trap, trip to the clinic in the
trap, release to my house in the bathroom still in the trap overnight
(or in their own familiar environment) and release. The ones I feed
haven't been aggressive enough after neutering to worry about a bite
but I get them rabies shots and other shots and vetting when they are
neutered.

--
Cheryl

in article , Purplecat at
wrote on 7/6/03 8:43 PM:

Hi,
I was thinking about this last night. Yesterday I found and caught a
stray/feral kitten, which managed to give me a bite (mistaking my thumb for
food rather than out of fear/aggression!) This is not the first time I've
been bitten by a feral. Fortunately in Australia we don't have rabies, so
I've never been too worried about handling stray/feral animals. How does
rabies impact on handling unknown domestic animals in US? What happens if
you get bitten by an animal you don't know? Does this affect the average
animal lover's ability to catch/handle stray animals?

Just wondering...

Thanks,
Purplecat



Usually if the animal has no reason to be suspected of having rabies, the
person can undergo rabies shots (expensive!!!) and the animal quarantined.
Otherwise the animal will be destroyed and the head sent off for testing.

Karen

in article , Purplecat at
wrote on 7/6/03 8:43 PM:

Hi,
I was thinking about this last night. Yesterday I found and caught a
stray/feral kitten, which managed to give me a bite (mistaking my thumb for
food rather than out of fear/aggression!) This is not the first time I've
been bitten by a feral. Fortunately in Australia we don't have rabies, so
I've never been too worried about handling stray/feral animals. How does
rabies impact on handling unknown domestic animals in US? What happens if
you get bitten by an animal you don't know? Does this affect the average
animal lover's ability to catch/handle stray animals?

Just wondering...

Thanks,
Purplecat



Usually if the animal has no reason to be suspected of having rabies, the
person can undergo rabies shots (expensive!!!) and the animal quarantined.
Otherwise the animal will be destroyed and the head sent off for testing.

Karen

So basically it is an issue to be taken seriously when handling these
animals...
I've always taken for granted that I can catch/handle strays or feral
kittens (and wounded wildlife) with relative safety, which means I've been
able to rescue a few "on the spot" without any gloves or cages - fortunate
for them because I would not have always been able to go back for them
easily another time. Something I guess is not so easy for you guys. Wow.

Purplecat

"Karen Chuplis" wrote in message at



Usually if the animal has no reason to be suspected of having rabies, the
person can undergo rabies shots (expensive!!!) and the animal quarantined.
Otherwise the animal will be destroyed and the head sent off for testing.

Karen

So basically it is an issue to be taken seriously when handling these
animals...
I've always taken for granted that I can catch/handle strays or feral
kittens (and wounded wildlife) with relative safety, which means I've been
able to rescue a few "on the spot" without any gloves or cages - fortunate
for them because I would not have always been able to go back for them
easily another time. Something I guess is not so easy for you guys. Wow.

Purplecat

"Karen Chuplis" wrote in message at



Usually if the animal has no reason to be suspected of having rabies, the
person can undergo rabies shots (expensive!!!) and the animal quarantined.
Otherwise the animal will be destroyed and the head sent off for testing.

Karen

Usually if the animal has no reason to be suspected of having rabies, the
person can undergo rabies shots (expensive!!!) and the animal quarantined.
Otherwise the animal will be destroyed and the head sent off for testing.

Karen

IIRC, if there's no reason to suspect an animal has rabies, the person bitten
doesn't start the rabies series. Not unless the animal can't be located for
testing or quarantine. The series isn't without risk itself, and they don't
routinely vaccinate people just because they're bitten. Wild/stray animals are
automatically euthanized and tested, but owned/vaccinated animals are
quarantined. I think they laws vary from state to state though.

Sherry

Usually if the animal has no reason to be suspected of having rabies, the
person can undergo rabies shots (expensive!!!) and the animal quarantined.
Otherwise the animal will be destroyed and the head sent off for testing.

Karen

IIRC, if there's no reason to suspect an animal has rabies, the person bitten
doesn't start the rabies series. Not unless the animal can't be located for
testing or quarantine. The series isn't without risk itself, and they don't
routinely vaccinate people just because they're bitten. Wild/stray animals are
automatically euthanized and tested, but owned/vaccinated animals are
quarantined. I think they laws vary from state to state though.

Sherry

"Sherry " wrote in message
...
How does
rabies impact on handling unknown domestic animals in US?

There's a pre-exposure vaccine that high-risk people take; like vets,
taxidermists, animal control officers, etc. Really, I don't get too
freaked out

Ah, that makes a big difference. I was wondering how people in high risk
categories approached the problem.

Thanks,
Purplecat