To our valued clients:
Animal Hospital of the Sierra has to update the protocols regarding Rabies vaccination of pets being seen at our hospital or who are hospitalized for treatment and/or surgery. We are now requiring a rabies vaccination to be either up to date or be administered prior to elective surgeries during visits where it’s medically safe to do so.
Rabies is an INCURABLE disease for which there is NO treatment once the virus gains access to the central nervous system. This happens when the virus at the bite site gains access to local nerve endings and climbs up the nerve to the brain. Unvaccinated pets who have bitten someone MUST be quarantined for 10 days after the incident and be monitored closely for neurological signs. Pets who had the virus in their saliva at the time of bite will begin to show neurological signs within that 10-day period. The victim of the bite takes significant risks waiting for the quarantine period to end to seek treatment.
A bite received by a patient of unknown rabies vaccination status requires expensive and painful treatment for the victim bitten – even while the pets in question are in quarantine. This could be applied to yourself as the owner as well, should you be bitten by an animal/pet of unknown rabies vaccine status.
The rabies vaccine is a killed virus and is very safe for your pets. After the initial vaccine, a booster in 1 year should be given, and then the rabies vaccine will be boostered every 3 years.
We appreciate your help in keeping all pets and humans safe.