Rabies Exposure Guidelines - Laserfiche WebLink

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The Animal Control Officer monitoring the case will make contact with the owner at or around the 21- day period and again at the end of the 45-day period to make notes on the animal’s progress and determine if the animal is still with the owner and healthy. After 45 days, the Officer will notify the owner that the animal can resume normal activities without restriction. Dogs/Cats That Have a Lapsed Vaccination A dog or cat that has received a rabies vaccination in the past, but does not have a current vaccination will be subject to the same requirements as those having a current vaccination as long as acceptable documentation in the form of a certificate of vaccination or other approved document can be provided. If a certificate of vaccination can be provided to Animal Services, the cat or dog will need to receive an exam and post exposure booster and have the above period of control and observation. Dogs and cats without documentation of a past vaccination will be treated as unvaccinated and subject to a quarantine of four (4) months. If a booster shot is received within 96 hours and a certificate can later be provided, the cat or dog can be removed from quarantine and placed under the owner’s control and observation (see above) at any point during the 4 months. Note that if an owner instead chooses to pursue blood testing to confirm vaccination history at his or her own cost, a booster vaccine cannot be given until after the blood draw (but it should still occur within the 96-hour time frame). Until the results of the blood testing are available and the Health Director and Animal Services Director have made a final determination about its status, the animal must be quarantined at a veterinary clinic. Dogs/Cats That Are Unvaccinated Dogs and cats that have never have never had a rabies vaccination, whose owners cannot provide proof of vaccination, or who are vaccinated but have not received the required booster within 96 hours of exposure, must either be euthanized or quarantined at a veterinary office for a period of four (4) months at the owner’s expense. On rare occasions, a home quarantine may be permitted by Animal Services/the Health Director and for those cases, a strict confinement of the animal will be required where the cat or dog has no contact with other animals or people during the quarantine. Most cases will not be permitted to have home quarantines and will be required to quarantine the animal at a veterinary establishment that allows such quarantines. Ferrets Ferrets That Have a Current Vaccination Any ferret that has a current vaccination with acceptable documentation of that vaccination must receive an examination and booster shot by a licensed veterinarian immediately after any exposure to a rabies suspect. The post-exposure booster must be given within 96 hours (4 days) or the animal will be subject to a quarantine of six (6) months at the owner’s expense. Following the exam and booster shot, the ferret must be under the control and observation of its owner for a 45-day period (from the date of exposure). During this time, the ferret should not be taken to areas where it will be exposed to outside animals or people. Vet visits during this time should be