This woman I work with found her young healthy dog with a bat so she brought it to the vet and they euthanized all her three dogs for fear of rabies. How could this had been avoided? Was this really neccessary??
2006-08-10 15:38:43 · 18 answers · asked by ? 4 in Pets ➔ Dogs
The dogs were never tested..
2006-08-10 15:41:59 · update #1
Torbaynewf's answer was right on the money and very thorough. Our state has similar laws.
There was a story in the paper last year about a woman in our area who came home and found a dead bat in her house. She had a house cat who was not vaccinated for rabies. The bat tested positive for rabies . The cat was euthanized, because there could have been exposure to rabies. I'm not saying it was right, but legally she had no recourse.
This also proves why all cats and dogs should be vaccinated for rabies, even if the cats never leave the house. For less time than it takes to go out for dinner, she could've made an appointment with her vet for a vaccine that would've have saved its life. Had the owner taken the time to vaccinate her cat, the story would've had a much happier ending.
My heart goes out to your coworker.
2006-08-11 04:18:35 · answer #1 · answered by GSDoxie3 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you get your dog vaccinated, this would not be an issue!!! If the bat WAS tested and found to be rabid, the dogs may need a booster, but that is it. If the dogs were UNvaccinated, and the bat HAD been tested and found rabid, the Health Department can have the dogs euthanized or quarantined for 6 month. (Depending on the state regulations). This is in fact the case in the state and county where I live.
That is the reason to keep the rabies vaccine current and have the proof available!!!!!!!!
In my area, it would also be illegal for a vet to euthanize a dog exposed to rabies without notifying the Health Department. The vets may not have been told by the woman, but then you would wonder what vet would have put the dog to sleep!!!!!!!!
IF the dogs were tested, they would be DEAD!!! The only test is to send out a peice of the brain tissue. No animal SURVIVES the TEST!!!!!
In most states, they are not allowed to vaccinate after exposure on a unvaccinated animal. Only a booster if the animal IS vaccinated. The quarantine period varies. If an animal bites someone and the animal is not vaccinated, the quarantine can be 10 days. If the animal had contact with a POSITIVE animal and was NOT vaccinated, it is 6 months.
The laws can be VERY complicated and vary from state to state.
When in doubt, always call the local Dept. of Health.
2006-08-10 22:46:45 · answer #2 · answered by ARE YOUR NEWFS GELLIN'? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all, if all of the dogs had their rabies vaccine, there would be no chance of the dogs getting rabies from the bat. However, if the dogs did NOT have their rabies, vaccine, the most humane thing would have been to have the dogs quarantined, first, to determine if it contracted rabies. She should have gotten confirmation that the dogs actually did have rabies, before killing them. The action taken by the owner and the vet was irresponsible and inhumane.
2006-08-11 02:22:31 · answer #3 · answered by kaschweigert 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is a such a sad story!
I was actually bit by a bat a few years ago. I had to go through a series of rabies shots, & while they were absolutely no fun, I did not have a single problem.
She could have just waited to see if they started getting sick. You cant test for rabies in the dog (but yes in the bat) & couldve waited for something to show.
Those poor doggies!!!
2006-08-10 22:50:12 · answer #4 · answered by emvannattan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They should not have been put down! That is crazy. They could have captured the bat or collected it if it was dead and tested it, and then the dogs. Rabies is not all that common nowadays, very few cases in the last 20 years in the US. The dogs could have been treated for rabies if they could not test the bat, just in case, there was no need to kill them.
2006-08-10 23:21:39 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am surprised any vet would have done this without testing the dogs. I'm sure her dogs had their rabies shot, which is the law, so who knows if they would have got it, and whos to say the bat had it. Just because its a bat doesn't mean it has rabies. Rabies is also treatable if treatment is started right away.
2006-08-10 22:46:59 · answer #6 · answered by Michelle 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the dog was current on the shots then they would have no fear. But still rabies can be treated without being put down. Sounds like someone just took the easy way out.
2006-08-10 22:47:14 · answer #7 · answered by llll_bouncer_llll 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They never should have put the dogs down. They should have immediately given them medicine for rabies. They needed to have been placed in quarantine at the vet and given rabies shots and then after a time tested for rabies.
2006-08-10 22:44:59 · answer #8 · answered by ursula_higgs 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the vet should be reported & the dog owner SLAPPED!!!!
Were the dogs up to date on their vacinations??? INCLUDING RABIES????
If NOT, WHY???
If they WERE, then they were more than likely FINE!!!!!!
My mom's cats catch bats all the time, but they are current on ALL vaccines & wormings!!!!!
The dog owner had no business allowing the vet to euthanize her dogs. She should probably refrain from owning pets in the future because she is probably not responsible enough have them.
2006-08-10 22:54:55 · answer #9 · answered by More Lies & More Smoke Screens 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I thought that dogs get rabies shots so that they can be protected from just that scenario.
Did she take them for rabies shots?
If not, then yes, it was necessary. I'm not a vet, but it's a law in Illinois for dogs to have rabies shots for a reason...
2006-08-10 22:50:58 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋