Yes, they can be infected and still act normal. The only thing odd about the skunk that I shot was it was in my poultry pen. It isn't until the virus really starts taking over that they begin acting strange.
Be carefull cat owners. Dumb thing I did.
- Thread starter John White
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atsah
Elite Member
If I got bit by an animal that is known to carry rabies, I would be spending
Money on shots immediately..
Money on shots immediately..
oosik
Epic Contributor
I've lived out here in the boondocks now for 38 years. I guess it's my experience from the years with the Health Dept in AK, but one of the first things I did. Check to ensure my supplemental medical insurance would cover myself and family, in case we needed rabies shots, tetanus shots or shots/treatment for poisonous snake bite.
Then I had a serious discussion with the family regarding contact with our native wildlife out here.
Then I had a serious discussion with the family regarding contact with our native wildlife out here.
MossRoad
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About 3 years, but the only way to know for sure is a titer test for the antibody levels. Some veterinarians and people that handle animals freqeuntly get theses tests and re-up their rabies booster when the level drops.
MossRoad
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That's an obvious one. But it's the animal that you don't know that had rabies so you must get the shots to be sure.
atsah
Elite Member
Yup you never know..
MossRoad
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Several years back, maybe 10-12, there was a girl in Indiana that died of rabies. She was diagnosed in October and died in November. Apparently she had contact with a rabid bat several months earlier and showed no signs of the disease up until October. She was the first case of human rabies in Indiana since the 50's. Out of precaution, about 30 other people had to get rabies shots after that.
It was also a horror story for the family, as there was a divorce before that, mom and dad had some trust and custody issues, mom never told dad about the bat incident, etc.... you can google it and there's even a book about it.
The point being, animals (and humans) can carry the rabies virus for months and months before showing signs. So the advice that you're getting about probably being OK if the animal looks normal is not good advice. While the chances are slim that you will contract rabbles from an animal bite, it's statistically 100% fatal if you develop the disease. There's no such thing as catching it early with this disease. Once symptoms show up, you're a dead man.
It was also a horror story for the family, as there was a divorce before that, mom and dad had some trust and custody issues, mom never told dad about the bat incident, etc.... you can google it and there's even a book about it.
The point being, animals (and humans) can carry the rabies virus for months and months before showing signs. So the advice that you're getting about probably being OK if the animal looks normal is not good advice. While the chances are slim that you will contract rabbles from an animal bite, it's statistically 100% fatal if you develop the disease. There's no such thing as catching it early with this disease. Once symptoms show up, you're a dead man.
atsah
Elite Member
Scary stuff..
Wagtail
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I agree that this rabies is more than horrifying... and I thank the Lord, and strictly enforced Australian quarantine laws, that Aus is 100% rabies free.
Heck,we recently had a case of someone trying to smuggle in squirrels as an exotic pet. Idiots!!!
(and don't get me started on the actor Jonny Depp & his wife bringing their own little dogs in on their private jet without going through Customs/quarantine...)
atsah
Elite Member
Ya those actors are real special.. So special they are, so they think anyway....