Wild animals such as raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats are common carriers of this serious and commonly fatal virus. Any bite from a wild rabbit should be taken care of by a doctor. From 239 quotes ranging from $200 - $2,000. Wild animals like skunks, raccoons, and bats also carry this virus and can spread it to humans. Rabies is a nasty virus that affects the central nervous system. Prevention … If other pets are on your property or have been exposed to your rabbit,  discuss the appropriate quarantine measures that should be taken with the public health official. For owners that have been exposed to the disease the risk of rabbit to human infection is very rare, however it is important that they evaluate their health very carefully and contact a public health official. Despite the cases of infection being rare, rabbits are highly susceptible to the rabies virus. In the United States, cats are infected at a higher rate than dogs, thought to be associated spillover infection from fewer cat vaccination laws and the roaming tendency of cats to roam and fight. Due to it’s highly infectious and zoonotic nature it is vital that if you suspect your pet may have been exposed to or is suffering from this disease, you contact your veterinarian. If Pasteurella gets into a rabbit bite, you could develop an infection. Abnormal neurological problems which are unaccounted for may be a sign of rabies. Bites that cause a minor scrape or scratch have a minimal risk of infection. This disease is caused by lyssaviruses in the rhabdovirus family. Unlike other infected animals that may display aggressive signs of the illness, this disease is predominantly manifested in paralytic signs in rabbits. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM. Rabies is a viral disease that causes inflammation of the brain in humans and other mammals. The rabies virus is usually transmitted through a bite.Animals most likely to transmit rabies in the United States include bats, coyotes, foxes, raccoons and skunks. Rabies is a highly infectious, zoonotic disease, meaning it can easily pass from animal to human. Any animal demonstrating mood and behavior changes, especially “aggressive” tendencies, must be tested for rabies. Rabies is a virus that attacks the central nervous system. Your veterinarian may perform the following diagnostic tests: In order to provide official diagnosis, post-mortem testing must take place, the following are possible diagnostic tools that may be performed in that event. A rabbit bite does not normally present a significant health hazard. Once the tissue is infected the virus moves through the peripheral nerves to the spinal cord and brain. 22 years experience Infectious Disease Rabbit bite:For a rabbit bite to cause rabies would be extremely unusual. The first sign of rabies is usually a change in the animal’s normal behavior. Rabies, caused by the rabies virus, primarily infects mammals.In the laboratory it has been found that birds can be infected, as well as cell cultures from birds, reptiles and insects. In developing countries of Africa and Southeast Asia, stray dogs are the most likely to spread rabies to people.Once a person begins showing signs and symptoms of rabies, the disease is nearly always fatal. Other symptoms that can be seen are: This disease often progresses very quickly in rabbits, leading to death 3 to 4 days following onset of symptoms. Rabies is usually transmitted from the bite of another infected animal. Your rabbits should however, depending on your location be vaccinated against myxomatosis and viral haemorrhagic disease which are more dangerous to rabbits than rabies. This is a frightening disease that can cause you to panic if you encounter a wild animal, especially if … Small rodents like squirrels, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, chipmunks, rats, and mice) and lagomorphs including rabbits and hares are almost never found to be infected with rabies and have not been known to transmit rabies to humans. It can be life-threatening, but is treatable with antibiotics. Rabies is a deadly virus spread to people from the saliva of infected animals. If the rabbit is diagnosed with rabies, it will likely be put down (euthanized) because the disease is fatal. All rabbits suspected of, or formally diagnosed with, rabies receive inpatient care, and must be isolated and quarantined, sometimes for up to six months. Rabies is a viral zoonotic neuroinvasive disease which causes inflammation in the brain and is usually fatal. Unfortunately, there is no treatment for this disease. Despite the cases of infection being rare, rabbits are highly susceptible to the rabies virus. There might be a chance that I have to make my bunnies outside pets but they are inside, but if they have prevention from rabies then it will be okay and I was wondering if there is? There are no formal treatments for the disease, and unfortunately, most animals diagnosed with rabies are euthanized. Does cat bite cause rabies? Rabbit bites can cause infections. Typically, the signs and symptoms include: Rabies is usually transmitted from the bite of another infected animal. It is actually not common among rabbits, but can affect them. As the virus is shed intermittently in the saliva, infection is often caused following the transfer of infected saliva from a rabid animal into a bite wound. Whether the bite is from a family pet or an animal in the wild, scratches and bites can carry disease. Rabies is almost 100% fatal. Infected wildlife and stray animals pose a risk factor for the spread of this disease so preventing contact with these animals is a major consideration in order to reduce the chance of exposure for your pets. Your veterinarian will begin the clinical visit with a neurological examination of your pet and discuss his history with you. The virus cannot pass through intact skin. It is uncommon for rabbits to be infected with rabies or to transmit rabies. The bites and scratches are researched to carry a disease called CSD—the cat scratch disease, which in humans, causes the inflammation of the lymph nodes. Can Rabbits Bites Cause An Infection? The virus causes flu-like symptoms, including fever, muscle weakness, and an uncomfortable tingling sensation across the body. Cat bites or scratches, even from the kittens, should be a concern, since those can be harmful to the health. The incubation period of rabies in cats usually lasts between one and three months, but a lot of cases showed either a slow incubation period of up to a year, or a very fast one, of just one month.. *Wag! When bitten by either wild or domestic animals, you are not advised to wait until the symptoms of rabies occur to get an anti-rabies serum shot, especially if the animal is potentially suspected of carrying the virus. Bites of squirrels, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, chipmunks, rats, mice, other small rodents, rabbits, and hares almost never require rabies postexposure prophylaxis. After exposure to the virus an incubation period of between 2 and 3 weeks takes place with rapid deterioration following the onset of symptoms. Be sure to follow up with your local veterinarian and state health officials for more information. Anemia / Head Tilt / Lethargy / Nasal Discharge / Paralysis / Weakness, Infection in the Bladder or Urinary Tract, Sexually Transmitted Bacterial Infections, Neurological signs such as teeth grinding, head tremors and ascending paralysis, Radiograph under sedation to check for signs of brain tumor or abscess that can cause neurological symptoms, Hematology to rule out poisoning which may present with similar symptoms, Direct rapid immunohistochemistry test (dRIT), Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Detection of rabies virus-specific antibodies. The bite and surrounding area may also burn or scratch. Rabies virus generally affects the central nervous system and causes inflammation to the brain. ANIMALS THAT CAUSE RABIES: Wild animals like bats, Raccoon, foxes, skunks, deer and a Wild dog can cause rabies infections. They can get rabies, but it almost never happens. Rabies can develop if a person receives a bite from an infected animal, or if saliva from an infected animal gets into an open wound or through a mucous … The answer is yes, your pet rabbit can contract rabies. Rabies is a deadly disease transmitted by saliva and has no cure. In reported cases of this disease signs of being bitten by infected animals were often seen due to visible bite wounds. Animal bites and scratches, even when they are minor, can become infected and spread bacteria to other parts of the body. Yes, humans can get rabies from a rabid rabbit’s salvia in their mouth, eyes or an open wound like a scratch or scrape. However, because it is viral, it can enter through any wound on the rabbit's body. It can also enter through the mucous membrane and spread throughout the sensory neurons -- which relay information to the nervous system -- and salivary glands in the body. Cats, dogs, horses and livestock can also get rabies, if they are not vaccinated for their protection. The most common signs a cat has rabies are sudden and unexplainable behavioral changes and paralysis. Typically, you can treat a rabbit bite by applying standard first aid care. In either case, the rabbit would be quite ill, and would most likely soon die. The veterinarian will collect a sample of nervous tissue. Rabbits can carry tularemia (rabbit fever) and rabies (hydrophobia). After exposure to the virus an incubation period of between 2 and 3 weeks takes place with rapid deterioration following the onset of symptoms. Animals like domestic dogs, cats and rabbit can transfer the virus to humans through bite or scratches. This is an uncommon but serious disease, caused by bacteria that rabbits can carry. Cat scratches, even from a kitten, can carry "cat scratch disease," a bacterial infection. If on the rare occasion that a pet rabbit contracts rabies. Does every dog bite cause rabies? Though rare in domestic rabbits, rabies can be fatal … The virus is transmitted through saliva or blood of an infected host. Is there anything I can give my bunnies to keep them from getting rabies? However, the good news is that rabbits are very rarely infected. To inactivate the virus, you need to disinfect (with bleach) any areas in the home where the animal was. Rabies is a very severe and almost always fatal viral disease that occurs commonly in warm-blooded animals, including rabbits. However, because it is viral, it can enter through any wound on the rabbit's body. Rabies. Early symptoms can include fever and tingling at the site of exposure. Rabies is a disease that is transmitted through bites/attacks from other animals which are infected. Rabies is a fatal disease caused by lyssaviruses especially the rabies virus and Australian bat lyssavirus. In rare cases, the infected saliva is transferred through existing fresh wounds or through the mucous membranes. This highly neurotropic disease can be traced back thousands of years, and despite extensive scientific, research remains responsible for thousands of human fatalities world wide. Other diseases that may cause these types of neurological symptoms may include brain tumors or abscesses, lead poisoning, parasitic infections or tetanus. The symptoms of rabies vary depending on the species affected. An animal need not be … Humans handling the animal should be investigated for disease exposure, as well. Although the cases of rabies have dramatically declined due to the routine vaccination of pet animals over the last 60 years a few hundred cases are still reported each year and stray animals and wildlife still pose a risk. Unfortunately, there is no known treatment for this disease. This article explains how it’s transmitted, what it looks like, and what to do if you’re bitten by an animal that might be infected. The signs and symptoms of this disease vary depending on the species affected, as rabies can affect other animals, including dogs and cats, and even people. The most salient question is whether this was a wild rabbit or a pet. © 2020 Wag Labs, Inc. All rights reserved. Rabies in rabbits is a very rare, yet fatal condition. Has your dog attacked or eaten a dead skunk, racoon, rabbit, bat, or cat recently? If the bite causes a cut, the person is at a higher risk of developing an infection. It typically results in the swelling of the brain and nervous system, which can result in paralysis, blindness, aggression, mood changes, and other symptoms. Bites of squirrels, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, chipmunks, rats, mice, other small rodents, rabbits, and hares almost never require rabies postexposure prophylaxis. If an animal is rabid, then it can infect other animals. Unfortunately, rabbits are unable to be immunized against this illness. If you suspect your rabbit may be suffering from this illness it is vital you discuss any changes of mood or behavior such as increased aggression. Only mammals can get the disease. Bites From These Species are Not a Rabies Concern in Minnesota* All amphibians All birds All reptiles Chipmunk Gerbil Gopher Guinea pig Hamster Hare Hedgehog Mole Mouse Rabbit Rat Shrew Squirrel Vole *MDH strongly discourages testing small rodents or rabbits for rabies, but unique situations do occur in which testing may be justified. Tularemia. The quarantine period is a precaution against the remote possibility that an animal may appear healthy, but … Some animals almost never get rabies. Rabbits should be kept indoors or in elevated enclosures without exposed wire mesh floors. Rabies is caused by a virus that affects the central nervous system, particularly causing inflammation in the brain. Other animals that may have come into contact with the infected rabbit should also be checked and probably quarantined, as well. In the United States, bats, foxes, raccoons, coyotes, and skunks are the most common animals that transmit it to human beings. For this reason, treatment to prevent the rabies virus from infecting your body is recommended if the doctor thinks there's a chance you have been exposed to the virus. At the time a rabid animal bites you, there's no way to know whether the animal has transmitted the rabies virus to you. It can be an unpleasant experience, undoubtedly, but it's inevitable: Biting and nipping are part of a rabbit's natural means of communication. Small rodents and other wild animals. Other pets on the property such as cats or dogs should be vaccinated for this disease. Household pets can also … may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. Loss of movement or partial paralysis of limbs, Anxiety or irritability, aggression or other behavioral changes, Dropping of the jaw or lack of mobility in the jaw (slack jaw). The rabies virus, which is present in the saliva of a rabid animal, is transmitted when the animal bites or, very rarely, licks another animal or a person. Items are sold by the retailer, not Wag!. Fortunately, rabbits are low risk rabies carriers, although there have been some cases of a rabbit getting rabies and biting people. Rabbits – Although not common in domestic rabbits, they are highly susceptible to rabies virus infection. Due to the zoonotic risk and grave prognosis if your pet is exposed to rabies it may be highly recommended that your pet is euthanized for humane and public safety reasons. There are state and local regulations that must be followed in such cases. Your rabbit should be supervised at all times, especially when he roams in your yard. What would cause your dog to contract rabies after a vaccination though? These symptoms are followed by one or more of the following symptoms: violent movements, uncontrolled excitement, fear of water, an inability to move parts of the body, confusion, and loss of consciousness. Domestic dogs, cats, and rabbits, … Even domestic dog and cats can also cause rabies infections if already get infected by rabies virus. If this is not done your rabbit will need to be placed in strict isolation with no animal or human contact for 6 months and watched for signs of infection. The virus is usually transmitted through a bite, but it can also be transmitted through contact with an open wound. Wild rabbits, on the other hand, may spread rabies. Infection follows the introduction of the virus into the tissue. However, the CDC states “Small rodents like squirrels, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, chipmunks, rats, and mice) and lagomorphs including rabbits and hares are almost never found to be infected with rabies and have not been known to transmit rabies to humans.” (see Other Wild Animals). Since rabies is a life-threatening viral disease- Seek medical attention if bite breaks the skin’s surface. Some Veterinarians use the same vaccines for rabbits like for dogs and cats, but there are no approved rabies vaccines for rabbits (due to the rarity of infection). "Small rodents (e.g., squirrels, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, chipmunks, rats, and mice) and lagomorphs (including rabbits and hares) are almost never found to … The prognosis for rabbits exposed to rabies is grave. In extreme cases, rabbit bites cause rabies. In the continental United States, rabies among dogs is reported sporadically in states where there is reported rabies in wildlife. The virus is spread through the saliva of infected animals (rabid animals), i.e., transmission is through bites by animals that have this virus. If at all possible, catch the wild rabbit and bring it to be tested for rabies. These include rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, rats, mice, guinea pigs, gerbils and hamsters. It may very well be from a pet, most likely a dog or cat. This disease is caused by the lyssavirus, which is part of the Rhabdovirus family. A very small handful of people have survived through extensive medical care, but these recovery events are extremely rare. It can also enter through the mucous membrane and spread throughout the sensory neurons -- which relay information to the nervous system -- and salivary glands in the body. Rabbits and rabies – prevention.