A familiar foe has stopped in for a visit again. Years have passed and nothing has been heard of this villain, and we might have well assumed that we'd not hear from it any more. But just when we least expect it, BANG! Rabies is making headlines again in Austin County.

This flare-up should really come as no surprise, as we've all certainly noticed the explosion in the skunk population in the past several months. They're everywhere! We see them scurrying in the fields, we smell them all about, and we've certainly seen them squashed on the road. All this spells trouble.

In this part of the country, skunks are practically the sole reservoir for the rabies virus. And when there are lots of them, it's only a matter of time before an outbreak of rabies occurs. At our hospital, we've had a couple of positively confirmed cases already, and we're not even close to summer time - when rabies really seems to become an issue. With this in mind, it's important that we all have a basic understanding of what rabies is, how it behaves, and what we can do to be sure we're not caught offguard by its wrath.

Rabies is caused by a lyssavirus that is harbored in a number of different species of mammals throughout the world. As I mentioned, skunks are the culprit in this part of Texas, but in different regions, other animals are involved. What's peculiar is that in each region only one species seems to reservoir the disease. In South Texas, coyotes are the carrier, in the Midwestern U. S., raccoons do the dirty work, while in still other areas, bats and foxes fit the bill. However, rarely is there any overlap. Therefore, in Austin County, nearly all "natural" infections are in skunks. Cases in other species are incidental and accidental, but believe me, there are plenty of reasons to worry about those "accidents."

The rabies virus of which we speak is infectious to all warm-blooded animals. This of course includes dogs and cats, horses and cattle, and oh yes, even man. In case you need to be reminded, rabies is virtually 100 percent fatal. In other words, animals or people that get it will die ... period! Do I have your attention?

There is some good news about the lyssavirus that might give us a little cautious peace of mind. Fortunately, this virus is extremely fragile and only lives a few minutes outside of a warm-blooded host. If a rabid animal dies, it's decreasing body temperature will not support the virus. This fact limits greatly the possibility that the virus can be transmitted to another animal. Realistically, the only way animals or people get infected is for the virus-containing body fluids of an infected animal to be "inoculated" into the body of another. Primarily, since saliva is particularly rich in the virus, this occurs through the bite of a rabid host. If the skin of the victim is broken, there is potential for the virus to enter its body and for the disease to be transmitted.

There is some speculation that the virus can penetrate mucus membranes of the eyes, mouth, or nasal cavities, but this has not been documented. Intact healthy skin repels the organism. It's not likely that an animal or person will become infected by walking through an area where a rabid animal has been, nor by an animal consuming food or water that has been visited by an infected host.

We're often asked about the incubation period of rabies and the signs it produces. I'd like to tell you that there are some definite answers here, but there truthfully aren't. Rabies can incubate in an animal (or person) for many months before disease is produced, though the "norm" is a couple of weeks. Signs of rabies are extremely variable, and this fact can be quite dangerous.

We're all alert for the "mad dog" sign, where the animal runs crazily about, salivating profusely and biting everything in sight. If this were always the primary symptom, we'd really be in good shape, because everyone would steer clear of such a deranged critter. Unfortunately, this type of behavior rarely belongs to the animal that is the biggest threat to us and our pets and livestock. Any change in behavior or sometimes no change in behavior are the most common early signs. The crazed animal is usually one at the very end of its life, and some die without exhibiting this symptom at all.

Wild animals that act gentle or otherwise unusual are a red flag for sure. In Austin County, skunks currently seen out during daylight hours should be assumed to be rabid. Stray dogs and cats should ABSOLUTELY not be handled under any circumstances, and your animal control officer should be contacted immediately if there is any doubt at all about the behavior of any animal in your neighborhood - wild or domestic.

Since there is no treatment for rabies, prevention is the only method by which we can successfully deal with the disease. The biggest part of prevention is in the exercise of appropriate precautions where animals are concerned. Use common sense in dealing with any unknown or wild animals, and educate your children on these principles.

Vaccination is the other part of a sound preventive program. By law, we are currently required to vaccinate all pets annually against rabies. Texas is termed an "endemic" state, since rabies is always present at some level. This vaccination must be performed by a licensed veterinarian and a three year duration vaccine must be used. There are no exceptions to this law.

We highly recommend that all equines be vaccinated annually, as well. We can never be sure what creatures they may encounter when we're not with them, and vaccination offers a simple and reasonable assurance that we won't be sorry later.

Please feel free to call us anytime or stop by the clinic if you have any questions at all about this dangerous disease. If there is any doubt as to the vaccination history of your animals, err on the side of caution and get them vaccinated TODAY. There's just too much at stake!

Boat will return to his home here at the Texas Belle Cattery, where he will begin his career as a father. His sire is GC Daddys R-U Ready 4 This of Foxykats and his dam is GC Texas Belle Bria of Idlemaine. Boat himself, is the grandson of GC, RW Idlemaine Butler of Texas Belle. As you can see, Boat is not the first GC Maine Coon to carry the colors of the Texas Belle Cattery in national level competition.

Though one career has come to an end... a new one now begins. Our Congratulations to Texas Belle Cattery, Boat, Besty and Pat - and our best wishes for many litters of little Boats!

To learn more, visit the CFA Home Page at: www.cfainc.org or Texas Belle Cattery.

Spaying and neutering makes animals lazy and cuases them to gain weight...

My pet doesn't roam, so he does not need to be neutered....

And the list goes on. There are as many misconceptions about spaying and neutering as there are facts. The benefits of spaying and neutering go beyond reproductive management. Just to help keep the record straight - here are some of the facts that you might not know.

Spaying involves the removal of the female reproductive organs and it is recommended for cats and dogs at 4 - 6 months of age, though a viable surgery at almost any age. At 4 - 6 months of age, the internal reproductive organs are small and they are less traumatic to remove. Spaying at this time also has long term benefits. A dogs first heat cycle begins typically at 7 -10 months of age. Spaying before the first heat cycle eliminates the possibility of malignant mammary tumors. This is the most common malignant tumor of older non-spayed female dogs.

Neutering involves the removal of the male reproductive ograns and it is recommended for cats and dogs at 4 - 6 months of age. Both testicles should be decended and easily palpable at the time of surgery. Neutering at an early age can prevent many of the negative behavior patterns of males from developing. Early neutering also prevents a common problem in older male dogs of prostatic hyperplasia and helps to dramatically reduce other prostate diseases, such as prostatitis.

The facts are that over 1 Million unwanted animals enter Texas animal shelters each year. Be a responsible pet owner and have their pet spayed/neutered - it is never too late to make this choice - for your pet's health!

Bonnie Jo Mathis

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