{"id":5480,"date":"2019-04-24T14:36:13","date_gmt":"2019-04-24T18:36:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ohiovma.org\/news\/?p=5480"},"modified":"2019-05-24T13:02:46","modified_gmt":"2019-05-24T17:02:46","slug":"cat-exposed-to-rabies-in-tuscarawas-county","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ohiovma.org\/news\/?p=5480","title":{"rendered":"Cat exposed to rabies in Tuscarawas County"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The New Philadelphia City Health Department is asking for veterinarians\u2019 help in locating a cat that was exposed to rabies in the New Philadelphia area of Tuscarawas County. The cat reportedly left a bat, which was confirmed positive for rabies by the Ohio Department of Health Laboratory on April 12, in a residential yard. The resident reporting the incident believed someone in the area owns the cat, though it has yet to be identified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you believe one of your clients owns this pet or you examine a cat with unexplained neurologic symptoms and abnormal behavior, please contact the New Philadelphia Health Department or the Ohio Department of Health (see below for contact information)<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once identified, if the exposed cat is asymptomatic, a rabies booster should be administered as soon as possible, after which the New Philadelphia Health Department will issue a quarantine order for the animal. The length of quarantine will depend on the animal\u2019s rabies vaccination history. In the event the owner declines the booster\/quarantine, an owner is not found, or the animal is ill, euthanasia and rabies testing will be required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Signs of rabies in animals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Signs and symptoms may vary depending on the species, overall health, vaccine status, and rabies virus variant. The initial symptoms may be nonspecific and include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n