Rabies in Alberta

[jenn1981]

Just thought that I would give everyone a little reminder as camping season is coming.
Alberta had its first case in quite some time of rabies in a house pet at the beginning of April. 
It was a cat on a farm in Cremona. It is unknown at this time what type of animal had passed it on to the cat.

As we all love to camp and play out in Waiparous and north of Calgary I just want to pass on a reminder to make sure your pets are vaccinated for Rabies.
Also make sure that if you or anyone you know is bitten by any kind of wildlife it is reported and you seek medical treatment as needed. 

Symptoms usually develop between 20 and 60 days after exposure. Rabid animals may become aggressive, combative, and highly sensitive to touch and other kinds of stimulation. And they can be vicious. This is the "furious" form of rabies, the kind traditionally associated with mad dogs.

There is also a "dumb" form of the disease in which the animal is lethargic, weak in one or more limbs, and unable to raise its head or make sounds because its throat and neck muscles are paralyzed. In both kinds of animal rabies, death occurs a few days after symptoms appear, usually from respiratory failure.

Most commonly seen in raccoons and skunks.

As there is no cure for Rabies and it is a very painful way to go....I just wanted to remind everyone to be safe

Jenn
I will see if I can find a copy of the AVMA mail out that went out to Vet Clinics in Alberta and post it up too

[SwampSinger]

I was just about to say that Pepe la Pue was flirting Pussey La Meow.


Thanks for the heads up Jenn... Charlie just got her shot 3 weeks ago and i'm going in Wed. for Buster and Shadow...

Also if your pooch drinks alot out of mud holes and creeks; get the beaver fever shot also. 


 ...and  NO it's not the same fever that Pepe La Pue  & XJHERO has  ....

[jenn1981]

Sadly there is no more vaccine for beaver fever (giardia) trouble with manufacturing has put it on back order for ages. 

Although we don't see a lot of it in Calgary, fleas, lice and ticks are on the rise too. 

[Evil-Jeep]

I actually Had a tick land on me while waiting for a light in Beddington with the top down... It had been a few years since the last time I saw one.

I will also quit biting cats in Cremona...... 

[The Machinist]

Beaver fever has been going around calgary lately I think.  According to my vet both my dogs caught it even though they were supposed to be vaccinated for beaver fever.  They have both been given another vaccination for it so I'm told, took over a month to get rid of it.  They caught it from a dog park in the NE, I wonder if some vets are still selling a guardia vaccination and not actually giving one???

[Raspberry]

...and here I was thinking Beaver Fever was something COMPLETELY different.... :O

[jenn1981]

well the vaccine for giardia isn't 100% effective.  Kinda the same as the one for kennel cough.  But it usually makes it easier for your pet to get over it. 
Another vaccine for giardia when they already have it won't really do anything.
But at least giardia has a cure
Typically you get it from contaminated  water , but dogs then spread it all over the off leash parks of our city.

[FiEND]

last time i had beaver fever was when basic instinct came out on vhs

[The Machinist]

Oh you make a funny!  You made me drop my blackberry!

[SwampSinger]

Sadly there is no more vaccine for beaver fever (giardia) 

My dog got it 3 weeks ago...weird

[jenn1981]

hmm...maybe they had old stock of the vaccine

[FiEND]

they prob gave Charlie a placebo

[Rodjock]

Good thing Buster's a princess and only likes to drink the water I bring for him. And you thought he was a dumb dog...

[WagoneerXJ]

last time i had beaver fever was when basic instinct came out on vhs

Just about choked on my sandwich LOL 

[Spinalguy]

Jenn1981,
do i have this right? ONE farm cat in Cremona gets rabies and every pet should now get a rabies vaccination?
This cat can not be a house cat as a house cat would never be outside???

Anyways, the Vet i see refuses to give rabies shots every year. He recommends every 2nd or 3rd year as the science is now showing that the vaccination is not needed yearly and may cause more harm than benefit.

As for Giardia? My dogs got it in the first 6 months of life but have never gotten it since (4 and 5 yrs later). They spend lots of time drinking from rivers, streams, puddles etc.
Maybe they have built up a natural immunity over time? i am glad to hear that it is not available as it is not effective. i almost felt bad that i was not doing yearly giardia shots.
Now i don't