Rabies 

what you should know

Please schedule an

appointment with your 

veterinarian to discuss any 

questions or concerns!

Always keep your pet’s rabies vaccine up-to-date!

 Your Veterinary Treatment Facility can help!

References: Zoonotic Disease

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 

http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/ 

World Health Organization (WHO) http://www.who.

int/topics/rabies/en/

http://phc.amedd.army.mil

1-800-222-9698

APHC Animal Health

This information brochure was written by Army 

Veterinary Services personnel and published by the 

Army Public Health Center to inform and educate 

Service members, beneficiaries, and retirees about 

Animal Health. Comments or questions regarding 

content can be directed to ARMY-VSPublications@

mail.mil. Locate your local Veterinary Treatment 

Facility at https://phc.amedd.army.mil/topics/

animed/vtfo/Pages/Veterinary-Treatment-FacilityInteractive-Map.aspx.

Approved for public release, 

distribution unlimited. 

TA-359-0418

What should I do if my pet 

is bitten or scratched by an 

animal?

If your pet is bitten or scratched by an animal, 

avoid contact with the wound and contact a 

veterinarian immediately. Local and state laws will 

dictate what to do for your pets. Each jurisdiction 

has different requirements based on your pet’s 

vaccination status, exposure, or potential exposure 

to rabies. Your local veterinarian is the most 

knowledgeable person that can provide the current 

rabies post-exposure requirements.

What are the symptoms of 

rabies in humans?

It is important to seek treatment from a medical 

provider immediately after any animal bite or 

scratch, even if no symptoms are present. Early 

symptoms of rabies may be similar to those of 

the flu and include weakness, discomfort, fever, or 

headache. Other symptoms include irritability and 

itching or pain at the exposure site. It is important 

to note that by the time any symptoms appear, 

rabies often cannot be successfully treated. 

DOGS CATS POCKET BIRDS PETS RABBITS HORSES REPTILES /

AMPHIBIANS

Army Public Health Center Animal Health
Always keep your pet’s rabies vaccine up-to-date 

according to state and local laws. Also, report the 

presence of strange behaving animals, animals 

wandering or unattended in your neighborhood, or 

wildlife loose in the area to the proper authorities. 

Do not approach, feed, or handle wild or stray 

animals or any animal that you do not know.

How can I tell if an animal 

has rabies?

It is not always possible to tell if an animal has 

rabies. Not all animals infected with rabies appear 

sick or display abnormal behavior, such as foaming 

at the mouth or aggressive behavior. Contact a 

medical provider right away if you or your pet are 

bitten or scratched by any wild or stray animal or 

any animal you do not know.

While not all animals present the same symptoms 

of rabies, most will demonstrate one of two sets of 

symptoms:

1. Furious rabies. Symptoms include restlessness, 

wandering, howling, drooling, and attacks on 

other animals, people, or inanimate objects. 

Affected animals often swallow foreign 

objects such as sticks and stones. Wild animals 

frequently lose their fear of humans and may 

attack humans or animals they would normally 

avoid. Nocturnal animals (e.g., foxes, raccoons, 

skunks, bats) may be out during the day. Death 

usually occurs 4 to 8 days after symptoms 

appear. 

2. Paralytic or “dumb” rabies. Symptoms include 

slow, progressive paralysis. The throat and 

jaw/facial muscles become paralyzed, and 

the animal is unable to swallow or bite. The 

animal will usually salivate profusely. Laryngeal 

paralysis can cause changes in vocalization, 

which may include abnormal bellowing in 

cattle or a hoarse howling in dogs. Biting is 

uncommon. Death usually occurs within 2 to 6 

days as the result of respiratory failure. 

What should I do if I am bitten 

or scratched by an animal?

If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, 

immediately wash the area with soap and water 

and report to the nearest medical provider. A 

medical provider will evaluate the injury for 

potential infections, including rabies, and will 

determine what treatment is necessary. 

Bat exposure presents a special scenario. Due to 

their size, bites from bats often go unnoticed. 

Anytime a bat is found inside your home, whether 

or not a bite has occurred, seek medical advice 

immediately. 

Bottom Line Up Front:

Rabies infection is almost always fatal in people. 

Rabies is ALWAYS fatal in animals.

Rabies is preventable. Always keep your pet’s rabies 

vaccine up-to-date according to state and local 

laws. Do not approach, feed, or handle wild or stray 

animals or any animal that you do not know. 

It is not always possible to tell if an animal has 

rabies. Not all animals infected with rabies appear 

sick or display abnormal behavior.

If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, 

immediately wash the area with soap and water, 

and seek immediate medical attention.

If your pet is bitten or scratched by an animal, avoid 

contact with the wound and immediately contact 

a veterinarian.

What is rabies?

Rabies is a virus that affects the central nervous 

system of mammals, including people. It causes 

disease in the brain; if left untreated, it is almost 

always fatal in people and is always fatal in animals. 

How do people and pets 

get rabies?

People and pets get rabies from contact with 

infected animals, generally through bites and 

scratches. It is also possible to get rabies if an area 

of broken skin or mucous membranes (e.g., eyes, 

nose, mouth) come into contact with a rabid 

animal’s saliva or from contact with brain/nervous 

system tissue of infected animals. Cases of personto-person rabies transmission are extremely rare. 

Seek advice from a medical provider if you have 

questions about a potential rabies exposure for you 

or your pet.

How do I prevent rabies?

Rabies is 100% preventable, and fortunately, 

treatment before symptoms develop is highly 

effective and life-saving in humans. Please 

consult with your family doctor if bitten for further 

information and assistance.

Contact a medical provider right 

away if you or your pet are bitten or 

scratched by any wild or stray animal 

or any animal you do not know.