The Latest Case of Rabies in Oregon

Last week Oregon had another rabies case. This case was a goat, which is unusual for the Pacific Northwest. Most of the rabies cases in Oregon and Washington can be traced back to bats. Animals like the goat, probably get rabies because they notice the sick bat on the ground and go over to investigate it. They then get bitten in the nose by an other wise peaceful animal and contract rabies.

In Oregon and Washington, bats are the animals most often found with rabies. If you ever find a "sick bat" leave it alone and keep your pets away from the bat. Use a shovel to put the bat into a bucket and consult with your local veterinarian or health department about what to do with the bat. NEVER ALLOW the bat to bite you!

The best protection against rabies is to have your animals vaccinated against rabies. In this area we recommend that all dogs cats and horses be vaccinated for rabies. Dogs and cats have vaccines that are protective for 1 or 3 years, depending on the vaccine. Horse vaccine is protective for 1 year. Check with us if you are not sure if your pet is protected.

Michael A. Foss DVM
Alpine Veterinary Hospital