Healthy Pets
Types of Exposure to Rabies
There are two types of exposure to the rabies virus:
- Bite. An animal bite occurs any time your skin has been penetrated by the teeth of an animal. The location of the bite does not change the need for treatment.
- Nonbite. Nonbite exposures (which occur when an open cut in the skin or mucous membrane is exposed to the rabies virus) rarely lead to rabies but will need treatment.
Having contact with blood, urine, or droppings (feces) from a rabid animal does not transmit the rabies virus, so no treatment is needed. But you should always avoid touching or handling wild mammals, especially bats, because of the small chance of a nonbite exposure to the rabies virus. If a bat is found in a room with a sleeping or unconscious person, contact a doctor immediately even if there is no sign of a bite. Children should also be taught to avoid bats and other wild animals whenever possible.
Top 10 Winter Skin and Paw Care Tips
Exposure to winter’s dry, cold air and chilly rain, sleet and snow can cause chapped paws and itchy, flaking skin, but these aren’t the only discomforts pets can suffer. Winter walks can become downright dangerous if chemicals from ice-melting agents are licked off of bare paws. Says Dr. Louise Murray, ASPCA Director of Medicine, “During the winter, products used as de-icers on sidewalks and other areas can lead to trouble for our animal companions, potentially causing problems ranging...
Read the Top 10 Winter Skin and Paw Care Tips article > >
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
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