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RABIES CONCERN!!! PLEASE HRRY WITH AN ANSWER! THANK YOU.

DuPri

RABIES CONCERN! My 8 yr old lab, DuPri, got into a scuffle with a possum last Thursday night. I could not find any cuts, scratches or punctures on him, however, due to the fact that it is a wild animal, I took him to a neighborhood vet, as our regular vet was closed. I am very concerned as his rabies booster shot was due in April but somehow I didn't realize it. He did not kill the possum, in fact, it "played possum" for about 30 mi nutes then walked away just fine. The vet I took him to gave him his booster shot and told me to watch him for any different or unusual behavior.
I followed up with his regular vet on Saturday morning and they were quite upset. They said he should have quarantines the dog for 10 days and not have given him the booster shot. They explained that I needed to watch him carefully for any unusual behavior changes.
It has been 7 days and Ihave not seen any real changes in him. I notice heis panting a lot but it has been very hot and humid here in NY and he is a big dog. When the a/c is on, he breathes better.
Can you tell me what I should be looking for? Last night he seemed a bit restless and when I was petting him under his chin he was looking at me a bit oddly but I don't know if he really was or I am just looking "too hard" for symptoms. I am very worried about him and am hoping you can give me some specific information about "different behavior" and, perhaps when the first symptoms, if any, might show up? I mark the caledar every day, thinking only a little while more and he will be fine but in the meantime I am afraid if he gets aggressive towards my daughter, myself or my cats.
I hope someone can please help me understand this. It is a terrible feeling to basically be on a "death watch" for a pet who is a family member and has been loyal and loving....especially knowing what must happen when he is euthanised.
Thank you so much.

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•   Andrea Selner says:

  July 03rd, 2009 at 11:05 PM

  Opossums are not mammals they are marsupials therefore they do not carry Rabies. That is a mammalian disease. 

  Dogs that have exposure to a possible rabid animal depending on the area where you live there are guidelines which your Public Health Dept. can help you with. Routinely, here in Florida we are required to give a booster injection after exposure and monitor the animal for 10-14 days afterwards.  You can also look up information on Rabies on the CDC's website they give detailed information on what you should look for. 

  Usually the first signs are what are called the prodromal phase usually starts between 2-3 days after exposure: fever, slow corneal and palpebral reflexes, sublet beahvior changes, Furious phase: days 2-4 days post exposure irritability, restlessness, barking, ataxia, seizures; Paralytic phase: 2-4 days post exposure paralysis, depression, coma, and death.

  Also if you get a Rabies vaccine yearly most of the vaccines in the United States last longer than 1 year.  According to the reference books I looked at they are saying that a vaccinated pet is very rare to contact rabies.

  I hope this information has helped and if you have further questions you should contact your local Public Health Department and ask to speak to someone familiar with your Rabies program.  Good luck, but I don't think there is anything to worry about.  Andrea

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• Donna says:

  July 03rd, 2009 at 11:52 PM

  Thank you so very much! Of all the many experts I have spoken to, or been in contact with, you are the only one to point out that oppossums are marsupials and NOT mammals. I knew they were marsupials but never thought to make the connection to mammals. In any case, thank you for putting my mind at ease and I plan to share your answer with most of the people I spoke with.

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•   Andrea Selner says:

  July 04th, 2009 at 11:36 AM

  You are very welcome. Andrea

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•   Derek McCoy says:

  August 29th, 2009 at 07:04 PM

  Unfortunately I have to disagree with Andrea on one point.  Opossum are not technically mammals, but in rare cases have absolutely been documented to carry rabies and since rabies is nearly 100% fatal to pets and animals, the common sense action is to always assume that ANY bite from a wild animal COULD transmit rabies.  The veterinarian who did the initial exam and vaccine could actually get into a lot of trouble for not reporting the incident to public health since veterinary professionals are actually reqired by law to doccument and quarantine any animal which poses ANY risk of a rabies infection.   Many have lost their licenses for failing to do so.

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• Donna says:

  August 29th, 2009 at 08:18 PM

  Actually, I did do some research throughout this whole incident and oppossums do, on rare occassions, carry rabies. However, DuPri, as of now, is doing very well. I understand the disease can lie dormant for quite a long time but I believe he is fine. He has not exhibited any typical symptoms or change in his behavior. He's just his normal self, acting like a 110 pound lap dog!. Thank you for your comment, it is always good to gain more knowledge.

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• Donna says:

  August 29th, 2009 at 08:24 PM

  Perhaps the reason the initial vet took the action he did was because there were no scratches, puncture wounds or any physical signs of a fight what so ever? I am just glad he is ok!

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• Gabriella suggests:

  September 26th, 2009 at 11:32 AM

  Although he's doing fine, I would still suggest watching him just in case. But, he probably doesn't have it... Here's some information I found on a website. Hope this will help!!! Good Luck, Gabriella Symptoms "If the bitten animal is a skunk, it may not show any symptoms at all but could become a lifelong carrier After coming in contact with the virus, the bitten animal may go through one or all of several stages. With most animals, the virus will spread through the nerves of the bitten animal towards the brain. The virus is relatively slow moving and the average time of incubation from exposure to brain involvement is between 3 to 8 weeks in dogs, 2 to 6 weeks in cats, and 3 to 6 weeks in people. However, incubation periods as long as 6 months in dogs and 12 months in people have been reported. After the virus reaches the brain it then will move to the salivary glands where it can be spread through a bite. After the virus reaches the brain the animal will show one, two, or all of the three different phases. Prodromal phase The first is the prodromal phase and usually lasts for 2-3 days in dogs. Apprehension, nervousness, anxiety, solitude, and a fever may be noted. Friendly animals may become shy or irritable and may snap, whereas, aggressive animals may become affectionate and docile. Most animals will constantly lick the site of the bite. In cats, the prodromal phase lasts for only 1-2 days and they usually develop more fever spikes and erratic behavior than dogs. Furious phase From the prodromal phase, animals may enter the furious stage; cats are particularly prone to developing this phase. The furious stage of the disease in dogs usually lasts for 1 to 7 days. Animals become restless and irritable and are hyperresponsive to auditory and visual stimuli. As they become more restless, they begin to roam and become more irritable and vicious. When caged, dogs may bite and attack their enclosures. Animals progress to become disoriented and then have seizures and eventually die. Paralytic (dumb) phase Animals may develop the paralytic phase either after the prodromal or furious stage. The paralytic phase usually develops within 2 to 4 days after the first signs are noted. Nerves affecting the head and throat are the first to be involved and animals may begin to salivate as a result of their inability to swallow. Deep labored breathing and a dropped jaw may result as the diaphragm and facial muscles become increasingly paralyzed. Animals may make a choking sound and many owners think that there is something lodged in the dog’s throat. The animal will get weaker and eventually go into respiratory failure and die. "

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•   Andrea Selner says:

  September 27th, 2009 at 10:00 PM

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