Rabies and human contact!

[Lady D]

Can a human contract rabies from their dog sniffing where a dead sick raccoon had been? It was very lethargic and could hardly stand on our driveway Friday evening. Didn't touch it but did throw some food toward it and sat some water nearby but it didn't drink it. Wet it down with the sprinkler. Thought it might be heat prostration, it had been so hot! Our dog is having to stay in the basement now because he just stuck his head down in that hole where the thing had died and was sniffing. He has a rabies shot every year. Any danger to us by being in contact with him just from that. Just wondering.

 

[Mango]

Re: Rabies and human contact

Just curious if anyone knows if a human can catch rabies from their dog sniffing in a hole where a sick raccoon had died. The poor thing was on our driveway Friday evening and could hardly stand up and was very lethargic. I didn't touch it but turned the sprinkler on it thinking maybe it was suffering from heat prostration. It had been awfully hot and it was a baby. It seemed to perk up some from the water and the cooler air later that evening. Tried to throw some food near it and tried to sit a cup of water near it but it touched nothing. It burrowed itself in a hole by a fence full of pine needles and died Saturday morning. Now the dog is not allowed in the house because he just stuck his head in that hole and was smelling while we were outside. He has had his rabies shot. Any reason for us to be concerned as to contracting it just from that???

1) How do you know the racoon had rabies? Usually with rabies, an animal is extremely thirsty, but can't swallow due to the pain. If it drank water, maybe something eles was wrong with it. Usually with rabies, the animals are agressive, although there is a softer form of rabies that just shows as lethargy.

I would call the Health Dept., let them get the racoon out, and test it to see if indeed had rabies or not. I would also make sure the dogs vaccines are up to date. The vet could tell you if the dog should get a back up shot. One rabies shot does not protect an animal for life. Boosters are required.

 

[Lady D]

Well, we don't really. Dead animal pickup came and picked the thing up yesterday morning. I am hoping not. I felt sorry for the thing as it was a baby. Hubby is freaking because of him sticking his head down in there. Got mad because he wasn't kept away from the spot where he was. I guess we should have filled it back in after he came and got it. I did this evening but not with my hands. I did hear it making a weird growling type noise early Saturday morning. Our dog had a rabies shot back in December. This one wasn't drinking anything. Not even eating. It seemed to like the water hitting it though but was awfully thin. No foaming at the mouth but wobbly back legs.

 

[Mango]

Re: Rabies and human contact

Well, we don't really. Dead animal pickup came and picked the thing up yesterday morning. I am hoping not. I felt sorry for the thing as it was a baby. Hubby is freaking because of him sticking his head down in there. Got mad because he wasn't kept away from the spot where he was. I guess we should have filled it back in after he came and got it. I did this evening but not with my hands. I did hear it making a weird growling type noise early Saturday morning. Our dog had a rabies shot back in December. This one wasn't drinking anything. Not even eating. It seemed to like the water hitting it though but was awfully thin. No foaming at the mouth but wobbly back legs.

You may want to just put some gloves on for safety, and give the dog a good bath with soap especially around the mouth and eyes. This would be for your protection.

 

[Lady D]

I definitely need to do that. Or take him to the vet and get him a good bath and tell them why.

 

[Mango]

Re: Rabies and human contact

I definitely need to do that. Or take him to the vet and get him a good bath and tell them why.

Maybe the vet has a good doggy mouth rinse! ;-)

 

[Lady D]

Maybe the vet has a good doggy mouth rinse! ;-)

:funn: BTW, our pooches rabies shot is a yearly booster but I will call the vet tomorrow and ask if there is any risk to him or us, and if another is necessary.

 

[audie]

Re: Rabies and human contact

be sure to keep us posted on the pooch .....

 

[Jdarg]

Re: Rabies and human contact

Sounds like the sick racoon probably had distemper. There was a huge outbreak here the past 2 years. My mother had them stumbling around her yard.


Campus News

Area residents cautioned on increase of canine distemper virus in racoons​

Posted on Feb 25, 2005
Recent findings related to raccoons has alerted Murray State University?s Breathitt Veterinary Center to a high occurrence of canine distemper virus infection in the local raccoon population. These findings are supported by animals that have been received at the Center for rabies testing, reports from the public, personal sightings of sick raccoons, and an increased number of road-killed raccoons.

Sudden increases like this tend to recur in cycles. Dr. Wade Northington, BVC director, says these reports indicate that this area in the midst of an outbreak of canine distemper virus infection in the local raccoon population.

?Canine distemper is a highly contagious disease, caused by a virus that is in the same family with the human measles virus,? explains Dr. Lewis L. Pittman Jr., head of BVC pathology. ?It can infect dogs, members of the weasel/skunk family, and raccoons ? but is not infectious for humans.?

Outbreaks of canine distemper frequently occur when raccoon populations are high. The virus is widespread, and mortality is frequently very high, with young animals more severely affected than adults. Outbreaks often occur on a yearly basis and can wipe out entire colonies of raccoons. A review of case records at the Southeast Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study at the University of Georgia indicated that from 1972-1989, 62 percent of the raccoons examined from southeastern states had succumbed to canine distemper virus infection.

Transmission of the distemper virus occurs through an aerosol-droplet route, direct contact, or possibly by contact with contaminated objects. The virus is shed in urine, feces and respiratory secretions of infected animals. The usual route of infection is through the upper respiratory tract, following inhalation of the infectious virus.

Canine distemper disease in raccoons starts slowly, initially appearing as an upper respiratory infection, with a runny nose and watery eyes, developing into conjunctivitis. As the infection progresses, the raccoon may develop pneumonia. Infected raccoons may be thin and debilitated and diarrhea is a common clinical sign. In the final stage of the disease, the raccoon may begin to wander aimlessly in a circle, be disoriented and unaware of its surroundings, suffer paralysis or exhibit other bizarre behaviors as a result of encephalitis.

There is no treatment for canine or feline distemper, and most infected animals die as a result of the infection. Pittman suggests that infected raccoons should be euthanized.

Control of distemper outbreaks includes the removal of dead animals' carcasses, vaccination of at-risk domestic species (dogs, cats, ferrets), and reduction of wildlife populations, which also reduces the number of potential hosts. The canine distemper virus is inactivated by heat and most disinfectants. Disinfecting the premises with a 1:30 dilution of chlorine bleach in water will help to reduce spread.

Signs of neurologic disease observed in raccoons with canine distemper are often mistaken for rabies, which can only be definitively diagnosed by laboratory testing.
?Fortunately, at this point in time, the raccoon strain of the rabies virus is not present in western Kentucky,? Northington said. ?Not a single case of raccoon rabies has been diagnosed in this part of the state in the past 30-plus years. Nevertheless, should you or your pet encounter a ?sick? raccoon ? one that is out in the open in daylight, appears to be thin or weak, or is exhibiting bizarre behavior, the best thing to do is to avoid any and all contact with the animal in the event that it might be rabid.? In cases like this, Northington said persons should contact their local animal control or wildlife conservation authorities for recommendations or assistance regarding dispatching, removal and disposal of affected or dead raccoons.

Fully accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, the Breathitt Veterinary Center is a diagnostic laboratory facility located in Hopkinsville that provides diagnostic testing for Kentucky veterinarians and livestock producers. It is operated by Murray State University?s school of agriculture and also serves as a teaching facility for pre-veterinary and animal health students. The facility is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information call (270) 886-3959.

 

[Beach Runner]

Re: Rabies and human contact

I'd definitely call the dog's vet and my primary physician.