Animal Alley

If a wild animal or suspect rabid animal fights with your pet or attacks a person, please call the Police at 908-369-4323 or 911. IMMEDIATELY WASH AN OPEN WOUND ON A PERSON. WATCH THE ANIMAL FROM A SAFE POSITION UNTIL POLICE ARRIVE. THE ANIMAL WILL NEED TO BE TESTED FOR RABIES. FOLLOW UP WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. CALL YOUR PHYSICIAN AND/OR YOUR VETERINARIAN.

If your pet is in contact with a wild animal, do not touch your pet without gloves for about 4 hours after this contact. Once the saliva dries, the virus is not alive. Until then, fresh Saliva can possibly get into open cuts on your hands and you will be directed to talk to your physician about possible treatment for a non-bite exposure.

Currently Vaccinated pets exposed to a possibly rabid animal may need a booster rabies vaccination that can be given by your veterinarian within 2 days of exposure. Contact your veterinarian immediately. There may be a period of observation for your pet after the contact and the booster vaccination.

Not Currently Vaccinated pets exposed to a rabid or possibly rabid animal may need to be observed for a period of 45 days, 90 days, or 6 months, or euthanized depending upon the situation. The local health department, using the NJ Department of Health algorithm, will determine the confinement period: Management of Domestic Animal Exposure to Rabies.

RABIES TREATMENT FOR HUMAN EXPOSURE: Treatment must begin before symptoms begin. All bites and non-bite exposures to humans must be evaluated immediately by the health department and your physician. Emergency rooms have the post-exposure treatment injections. Once symptoms begin, treatment will not be effective. The injections are not in the stomach and they are usually spread out over about a month. It is usually 4 injections plus immune globulin injections. The Physician will follow the NJ Department of Health Postexposure Guidelines at nj.gov/health/cd/documents/postexp_rabies_Guide.pdf. RABIES PREVENTION: Make sure your pets are CURRENTLY vaccinated against rabies- even indoor pets. A dog license ensures that you don’t forget to keep your dog’s rabies shot current.

IF BITTEN BY A DOG OR CAT, GET THE NAME, ADDRESS, AND PHONE NUMBER OF THE OWNER, A DESCRIPTION OF THE ANIMAL, OR THE OWNER’S LICENSE PLANTE NUMBER- EVEN IF IT IS AN ANIMAL YOU KNOW.  CALL YOUR PHYSICIAN AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND/OR POLICE DEPARTMENT.ANY BITING DOMESTIC ANIMAL MUST BE OBSERVED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, EVEN IF IT IS CURRENTLY VACCINATED AGAINST RABIES.

• BATS: Bats present unique problems with rabies exposure. Bats eat insects and are important to our ecology. However, they also can carry rabies. It has been reported that in situations in which people have contracted rabies from bats and their exposure route is unknown, either the wound was a small, insignificant bite or scratch, or the victim was asleep or mentally unaware, or a child who may not have noticed any contact with a bat. This is the reason for extreme caution with bat exposures. Any contact with a bat, or possible contact (i.e. sleeping person, child, mentally challenged person in room with bat), should report to a physician immediately, and the health department. For more about bats and health, please visit the New Jersey Department of Health website.
• What to do if there is a BAT in your house
• NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife – Bat Conservation
• FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT RABIES, click cdc.gov/rabies
• Humane Society – Understanding Rabies
• https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/rabies.shtml