Member

Posts: 291
From:Australia
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 11-24-2003 09:10 PM         

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I have a somewhat morbid fascination with Rabies. Ever since I watched that movie Cujo when I was a kid I've been fascinated by the disease. We don't have it in Australia and I was wondering how common it is in America?? Has anyone had first hand experience with it, like a vet or something and most importantly, do dogs that have Rabies react like Cujo in real life??

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Member

Posts: 68
From:stockton
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 11-25-2003 04:45 AM         

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Hi, you and me both! LOL I live in NY state and in the county that has the highest rabies rates in the state. Not too happy with that. It's because we are so rural and flooded with racoons and other animals that get it. We also have a billion bats that come out at night and we all know that if you go into your barn in the middle of the night and you flip the light on you are asking for it. LOL

A friend of mine, who happens to be a doctor, found a dead bat on the steps inside his house and everyone in the family had to get rabies shots. That is how careful everyone is around here. Because a bat can scratch you in the night and you would never know it and rabies can be transmitted thru a scratch. Bats are always getting into houses and apartments through the chimney or attic.

Obviously most bats do not have rabies, but many of them do. Come to our county sometime. LOL

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Posts: 1392
From:
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 11-25-2003 06:30 AM         

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I am fairly certain that rabies is transmitted through saliva and therefore cannot be transmitted through a scratch. It is a nasty disease, though, and I would err on the side of caution.

Jamiya

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Member

Posts: 36
From:Canada
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 11-26-2003 01:15 AM         

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http://www.purinaone.com/catcare_cond_atoz_article.asp?Seed=645&ArticleNumber=32&ICDB_Session=1

here's a good article on rabies... the disease itself, transmission, the stages of infection, etc. Very interesting. After reading that article I'd have to say that no, Cujo is not a reality, Old Yeller is more like it. Also Hawaii doesn't have rabies. The only state in the US that doesn't. I grew up there.

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Member

Posts: 291
From:Australia
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 11-26-2003 02:10 PM         

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Oh yeah, I remember watching old yeller too when I was a kid, he was a labrador or something hey???

Hey annie, I'll give it a miss!! LOL I HATE bats!!!

Thanks for the info, I'll read that article now!

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Member

Posts: 291
From:Australia
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 11-26-2003 02:20 PM         

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Holy God!!!! I didn't know people could get it!!! That's terrible!! It says if a person gets it, death is certain if they don't have a series of shots right away. I'm glad that dogs don't go around attacking people though, except their owners! LOL

Thanks for the article Rosie's mum. It was very helpful.

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Member

Posts: 1392
From:
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 11-26-2003 04:00 PM         

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Yes, people can get it. That's why it's such a huge issue. And unfortunately, there is no way to test an animal for rabies without killing the animal. So, if an animal bites someone and you do not have proof that the animal has been vaccinated...

I think I have heard that the shots aren't as bad as they used to be. It used to be a series of shots in the stomach. I don't know what they do now. I should probably go look at that site.

Jamiya

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