Preventing Rabies Infections Through Dog Licensing

It’s that time of year again; time to have your beloved family pet licensed with the town. Pursuant with Connecticut law, all dogs over six months of age must be licensed with their respective towns each year by June 30th. In order to have your dog licensed, they must have a current rabies vaccination. Did you know that vaccinating pets helps prevent the spread of rabies and is a public health initiative? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all companion animals that are mammals and carnivorous by nature (dogs, cats, ferrets, etc.) be vaccinated for rabies.

Rabies is a viral infection that is almost always deadly if left untreated. It enters the body through saliva’s contact with broken skin, often from an animal bite. The virus then travels to the brain and causes inflammation and subsequent symptoms of the infection. Symptoms include anxiety, stress, tension, convulsions, drooling, muscle spasms, and difficulty swallowing, among others.  These symptoms are witnessed after an incubation period of 3-7 weeks.

In the past, these infections have often come from dog bites. Through vaccination efforts, the rabies infection is often harbored by wild animals; including bats, foxes, skunks and raccoons, today.  92% of all reported rabies cases are found within wild animals. The public health initiative to have all pets vaccinated for rabies has been effective in preventing the potential deadly consequences of the infection for humans and pets alike. The universal vaccination of pets in this country has decreased the number of deaths attributed to the infection drastically, but cases are still reported. The most recent Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) data reports that eight cases of rabies were found in New London County in 2010.

It’s been estimated that in the early 20th century more than one hundred human fatalities could be attributed to the disease annually. Today, there are only two to three deaths annually in the United States. These deaths are often due to bat bites that may go unnoticed and therefore untreated. Early treatment of the infection proves to be the most effective means of preventing loss of life. If any person should be bitten, or their pet be bitten, by a stray or wild animal they should immediately wash the wound with soap and water and consult with their physician as soon as possible to determine if a course of anti-viral medications should be administered.

One of the primary goals of public health is to prevent the spread of disease, but the health department alone cannot accomplish this goal. Citizens of New London County can do their part to help control this deadly infection and promote public health by vaccinating their pets against rabies. If you suspect an animal may be rabid, please contact your local animal control office. More information on rabies can be found on the DPH website at http://www.ct.gov/dph/cwp/view.asp?a=3136&q=396178. If you need a form to license your pet this June, please refer to http://www.munic.state.ct.us/BOZRAH/forms/ApplicationDogLicenseJune26200....

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