Low-Cost Rabies Clinic in Toccoa-Stephens County This Weekend
Common carriers of the rabies virus include raccoons, fox, skunks, and bats
A reminder for pet owners who need to get their pets vaccinated for rabies, the Currahee Veterinary Clinic will be holding low-cost rabies clinics Saturday at various locations around Tocoa-Stephens County.
Rabies vaccines will be offered for $8 for a one-year shot or $20 for a three-year.
Dr. Lila Windus tells WNEG News she will also be offering other vaccines for dogs and cats at a reduced rate.
On Saturday, Dr. Windus and vet techs will be at the Shiloh Fire Department at 9a, the Whitman St. Center at 11a, the parking lot of the Currhaee Vet Clinic at 1p and at New Hope Baptist Church at 3p.
County Environmental Health Director Shad Slocum tells WNEG News it has been a relatively calm year for cases of rabies in Toccoa-Stephens County, but he says you should still get your pets vaccinated against this deadly disease.
“Rabies never leaves us. It is always here. We have low years and high years,” Slocum said. “As it runs through a community it will kill off the populations suseptible to it and then there will be a low year. Then, you’ll hava a year when animals become suseptible again and it will spread from animal to another.”
The rabies virus can be transmitted to humans through a bite from an infected animal and is always fatal unless a series of post-exposure shots are given immediately. https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/index.html
Slocum said there are specific signs to watch for in your pet or wild animals that indicate they might have rabies.
The first is, if you see a wild animal that normally comes out at night, such as a raccoon, fox, or skunk, wandering in the daytime, you need to steer clear and call 911 or the County Health Department.
Other signs, according to Slocum include how the animal behaves.
“The rabies virus is a neurological disease and affects the brain. It affects motor skills and personality. So, if you see an animal and they can’t walk good, like they’re in a drunken stupor, or their legs go out from under them, that’s one indication,” he said.
Other signs include normally friendly pets suddenly becoming very aggressive, wild animals that would normally run from you start to attack instead, and excessive salivating or drooling.
Slocum says if you see a pet or wild animal exhibiting those symptoms you need to call 911 immediately.