Cujo – Rabies Vax Would Have Prevented That

Its that time of year again.  Fall, Halloween, scary movie marathons and hot apple cider.  Fall is always my favorite time of year.  Although I suffer from raging fall seasonal allergies, its so pleasant to be outside, the air is usually dry and the sky is usually blue.  This year, not so much. Its been wet and gloomy, but luckily my allergies have been kept to a dull roar.

Since the weather has been so cruddy and we have been relegated to staying inside I’ve been watching horror movie marathons on tv non-stop.  I have already seen my most/least favorite twice this year.  Yep you guessed it, Steven King’s epic psychological horror Cujo.  Its my favorite for the obvious, it’s about a beautiful Saint Bernard, but is my least favorite because this whole sordid tale could have been easily avoidable had the idiot farmer not been such an irresponsible pet owner and made sure Cujo was inoculated against rabies.  I know you must be thinking that’s a very over generalized statement, but it’s completely, 100% true.

Cujo, the story of the idiot who didnt rabies vaccinate his dog

I think most people were busy at the concession stand buying snacks during the previews or still flipping through commercials and managed to miss the first 3:45 of the movie where the beautiful, sweet Saint Bernard is frolicking through the sunny fields, playfully giving chase after a bunny. (I mean seriously, what Saint Bernard worth their keg wouldn’t take the opportunity) And of course the most crucial 5 seconds of the whole movie where the dog’s nose is bitten by a rabid bat.  They only remember the subsequent melee that happens next, resulting in the deaths of a multitude of people.

The movie is scary has hell and has resonated with people for decades (yes decades, the movie came out in 1983).  It has instilled fear of Saint Bernards in many people.  I see this fear quite freqently when I take my boys out.  People shriek ”oooh Cujo”.  Gee, ha ha!  Very original, like I’ve never heard that one before.  They are still missing the point.  The dog was rabid.  Something like this should NEVER happen.  The US requires, by law, that all dogs and cats be vaccinated for the Rabies Virus.

From Wikipedia Rabies (From Latin: rabies, “madness”) is a viral disease that causes acute encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) in warm-blooded

animals. It is Zoonotic (i.e., transmitted by animals), most commonly by a bite from an infected animal. For a human, rabies is almost invariably fatal if post-exposure prophylaxis is not administered prior to the onset of severe symptoms. The rabies virus infects the central nervous system, ultimately causing disease in the brain and death.

The rabies virus travels to the brain by following the peripheral nerves. The incubation period of the disease is usually a few months in humans, depending on the distance the virus must travel to reach the central nervous system.Once the rabies virus reaches the central nervous system and symptoms begin to show, the infection is effectively untreatable and usually fatal within days.

Fortunately, the U.S. has been successful in eliminating a particular kind of rabies – known as canine rabies – that is responsible for rabies spreading from dog-to-dog.  However, canine rabies has not been controlled in many regions of the world, further threatening the health of humans and animals in these areas. Some areas of the world have problems with large numbers of stray dogs, which can often come in contact with wild animals that have rabies. This often causes an increased number of rabid animals that have the potential to transmit the virus to humans.
The good news is that people can easily take steps to help prevent and control rabies.

More than 90% of all animal rabies cases reported to CDC each year occur in wild animals. The main animals that get rabies include raccoons, bats, skunks and foxes.

One of the best ways to protect yourself and your pet is to avoid contact with wild animals. Do not feed or handle them, even if they seem friendly.  Unfamiliar animals that are often thought of as pets, such as dogs and cats, should also be avoided. These animals are often in contact with wildlife and can also transmit rabies to humans.

If you see an animal acting strangely, report it to animal control. Some things to look for are:

General sicknessProblems swallowingLots of drool or saliva (exception, Saint Bernard Drool lol)An animal that appears more tame than you would expectAn animal that bites at everythingAn animal that’s having trouble moving or may even be paralyzed

Sometimes, people may come across a dead animal. Never pick up or touch dead animals. The rabies virus may still be present in the saliva or nervous tissue, especially if they have only been dead for a short time. If you see a dead animal, call animal control to take care of the animal’s body.

Make sure to take your pets, such as dogs and cats, to the veterinarian each year. A veterinarian can make sure your pets are up to date on their rabies shot, which can protect them from getting rabies.  Talk to your veterinarian about spaying or neutering your pet. This helps cut down on the number of unwanted and stray animals. These animals often do not have their rabies shot and are in close contact with wild animals.

Rabies vaccinations are required by law in all 50 states. The first vaccination is good for one year. In most states subsequent vaccinations are good for three years.  However there are some states (such as Alabama and Arkansas) they are only valid for one year. Please check with your vet to determine the legal requirements in your county and state. Vaccinating your pet for rabies may literally save its life. Aside from it being a horrible and painful disease, an unvaccinated pet who bites a human being, even by accident, is subject to long quarantine periods or even death for the purpose of testing for rabies infection. Are you willing to take that risk?

Most county Health departments/animal control offer low cost rabies vaccination clinics.  Check with your local county auditor for availability of these clinics.  In addition, Petco and other large chain pet suppliers offer clinics through out the year.  Contact your local store for availability.

No matter where you live, rabies can threaten your family’s health. Fortunately, there are things you can do around the home to help reduce the risk of getting rabies.

Keep your pets indoors. When a dog goes outside, make sure an adult is there to watch it and keep it safe.Do not feed or put water for your pets outside and keep garbage securely covered. These items may attract wild animals or stray animals to your yard.Teach children never to handle wild animals or unfamiliar domestic animals.

 Feel like being scared? Buy CUJO on Amazon

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