World Rabies Day on 28 September is a reminder that protecting our pets also helps protect our families. Rabies remains a reality in South Africa, and knowing how to prevent it, recognise a possible exposure and respond quickly can save lives. For pet owners, the most important message is straightforward: keep dogs and cats vaccinated, take possible exposure seriously and seek medical care immediately. Once symptoms develop, rabies is almost always fatal. However, appropriate treatment given promptly after exposure can prevent human rabies. What is rabies Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord. It affects mammals, including people, dogs, cats, livestock and wildlife. The virus spreads mainly through infected saliva entering a bite wound, broken skin or the moist surfaces of the eyes, nose or mouth. Rabies occurs across South Africa, so owners should not assume that living in a particular province removes the risk. Cases have also been identified in Cape fur seals, making safe distance from wildlife important at the coast too. What counts as a possible exposure A serious bite is not the only concern. Possible exposure includes a bite that breaks the skin, a scratch or abrasion, saliva entering an existing cut, or saliva splashing into the eyes, nose or mouth. Minor scratches can require treatment even without visible bleeding. Children may dismiss a small injury or hesitate to tell an adult, so teach them to report every bite or scratch immediately. Simply touching an animal or being licked on completely intact skin is not considered a rabies exposure. Nevertheless, if you cannot tell whether skin was damaged or saliva reached a wound, ask a healthcare professional to assess the incident. What to do immediately Wash wounds straight away with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes. Do this even when the injury appears small. Thorough washing helps remove saliva and virus from the wound, but it does not replace medical treatment. If saliva enters your eyes, rinse thoroughly with clean water, without soap. Rinse other exposed mucous membranes with water too. Go immediately to a clinic, hospital or emergency department and explain that you may have been exposed to rabies. Do not wait for symptoms, an animal test result or a vaccination certificate before seeking assessment. If the incident happened days ago and you have not received care, go now. Do not assume that a delay means treatment cannot help. What medical treatment involves Post-exposure prophylaxis, often called PEP, is preventive treatment after a possible exposure. A healthcare professional decides what is needed based on the incident and your vaccination history. Treatment may include a course of rabies vaccine. Certain exposures also require rabies immunoglobulin, which provides ready-made antibodies and is usually placed into and around wounds. Attend every scheduled appointment and complete the prescribed treatment. Tell the clinician if you have previously received rabies vaccinations, because this changes the recommended approach. Previous vaccination does not mean a new exposure can be ignored. The medical team can also assess the injury for infection, tetanus protection and other wound care. Antibiotics or a tetanus injection alone do not prevent rabies. Can you recognise a rabid animal Forget the idea that every infected animal is aggressive or foaming at the mouth. Warning signs can include sudden behavioural changes, unusual tameness, excessive drooling, difficulty swallowing, weakness, paralysis or unusual vocalisation. An animal may seem quiet or unresponsive instead of aggressive. Appearance alone cannot reliably rule out a risk after a bite or scratch. Keep people and pets away from a suspicious animal. Contact your veterinarian or State Veterinary Services, and leave capture and investigation to trained personnel. Do not attempt to examine its mouth or handle it yourself. What if your pet has been exposed If your dog or cat has been bitten by, fought with or had suspicious contact with a potentially rabid animal, contact your vet immediately, even if your pet is vaccinated. Keep your pet apart from people and other animals if this can be done safely. Avoid contact with saliva and do not risk being bitten while trying to restrain a frightened animal. Your vet and State Veterinary Services will decide the next steps using your pet’s vaccination history and the exposure details. Any person potentially exposed during the incident also needs urgent medical assessment. Is vaccination compulsory in South Africa Yes. South African law requires owners to vaccinate their dogs and cats against rabies. Indoor pets are included. The first vaccination is given at 12 weeks, or three months, followed by a second vaccination between one and 12 months later. Thereafter, boosters are required at least every three years. Annual vaccination is strongly advised in high-risk areas. Your veterinarian can confirm the appropriate schedule for your pet, taking local risk and the vaccine used into account. Keep vaccination certificates safely and set reminders for boosters. If records are missing or vaccinations are overdue, ask your vet how to get your pet protected. Do antibody tests replace vaccination A rabies titre test measures antibodies in the blood and can help assess a response to vaccination. It does not replace South Africa’s required rabies vaccination schedule. A positive result is not an absolute guarantee of protection and cannot tell you whether an exposed animal is incubating rabies. Discuss individual health concerns with your veterinarian before changing any vaccination plan. Make prevention part of everyday care Check vaccination records before travelling, keep dogs under control on walks and prevent pets from approaching wildlife or unfamiliar animals. Teach children to give animals space and to tell you immediately about any bite, scratch or saliva exposure. World Rabies Day is a good opportunity to make these conversations part of family life. Everyone who cares for your pets should know where vaccination records are kept and whom to contact in an emergency. Contact Welgelegen Animal Clinic to check your pet’s rabies vaccination status and arrange any vaccinations that are due. For possible human exposure, seek immediate care at a medical facility. Acting quickly protects the lives we love.
World Rabies Day on 28 September is a reminder that protecting our pets also helps protect our families. Rabies remains a reality in South Africa, and knowing how to prevent it, recognise a possible exposure and respond quickly can save lives. For pet owners, the most important message is straightforward: keep dogs and cats vaccinated, take possible exposure seriously and seek medical care immediately. Once symptoms develop, rabies is almost always fatal. However, appropriate treatment given promptly after exposure can prevent human rabies. What is rabies Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord. It affects mammals, including people, dogs, cats, livestock and wildlife. The virus spreads mainly through infected saliva entering a bite wound, broken skin or the moist surfaces of the eyes, nose or mouth. Rabies occurs across South Africa, so owners should not assume that living in a particular province removes the risk. Cases have also been identified in Cape fur seals, making safe distance from wildlife important at the coast too. What counts as a possible exposure A serious bite is not the only concern. Possible exposure includes a bite that breaks the skin, a scratch or abrasion, saliva entering an existing cut, or saliva splashing into the eyes, nose or mouth. Minor scratches can require treatment even without visible bleeding. Children may dismiss a small injury or hesitate to tell an adult, so teach them to report every bite or scratch immediately. Simply touching an animal or being licked on completely intact skin is not considered a rabies exposure. Nevertheless, if you cannot tell whether skin was damaged or saliva reached a wound, ask a healthcare professional to assess the incident. What to do immediately Wash wounds straight away with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes. Do this even when the injury appears small. Thorough washing helps remove saliva and virus from the wound, but it does not replace medical treatment. If saliva enters your eyes, rinse thoroughly with clean water, without soap. Rinse other exposed mucous membranes with water too. Go immediately to a clinic, hospital or emergency department and explain that you may have been exposed to rabies. Do not wait for symptoms, an animal test result or a vaccination certificate before seeking assessment. If the incident happened days ago and you have not received care, go now. Do not assume that a delay means treatment cannot help. What medical treatment involves Post-exposure prophylaxis, often called PEP, is preventive treatment after a possible exposure. A healthcare professional decides what is needed based on the incident and your vaccination history. Treatment may include a course of rabies vaccine. Certain exposures also require rabies immunoglobulin, which provides ready-made antibodies and is usually placed into and around wounds. Attend every scheduled appointment and complete the prescribed treatment. Tell the clinician if you have previously received rabies vaccinations, because this changes the recommended approach. Previous vaccination does not mean a new exposure can be ignored. The medical team can also assess the injury for infection, tetanus protection and other wound care. Antibiotics or a tetanus injection alone do not prevent rabies. Can you recognise a rabid animal Forget the idea that every infected animal is aggressive or foaming at the mouth. Warning signs can include sudden behavioural changes, unusual tameness, excessive drooling, difficulty swallowing, weakness, paralysis or unusual vocalisation. An animal may seem quiet or unresponsive instead of aggressive. Appearance alone cannot reliably rule out a risk after a bite or scratch. Keep people and pets away from a suspicious animal. Contact your veterinarian or State Veterinary Services, and leave capture and investigation to trained personnel. Do not attempt to examine its mouth or handle it yourself. What if your pet has been exposed If your dog or cat has been bitten by, fought with or had suspicious contact with a potentially rabid animal, contact your vet immediately, even if your pet is vaccinated. Keep your pet apart from people and other animals if this can be done safely. Avoid contact with saliva and do not risk being bitten while trying to restrain a frightened animal. Your vet and State Veterinary Services will decide the next steps using your pet’s vaccination history and the exposure details. Any person potentially exposed during the incident also needs urgent medical assessment. Is vaccination compulsory in South Africa Yes. South African law requires owners to vaccinate their dogs and cats against rabies. Indoor pets are included. The first vaccination is given at 12 weeks, or three months, followed by a second vaccination between one and 12 months later. Thereafter, boosters are required at least every three years. Annual vaccination is strongly advised in high-risk areas. Your veterinarian can confirm the appropriate schedule for your pet, taking local risk and the vaccine used into account. Keep vaccination certificates safely and set reminders for boosters. If records are missing or vaccinations are overdue, ask your vet how to get your pet protected. Do antibody tests replace vaccination A rabies titre test measures antibodies in the blood and can help assess a response to vaccination. It does not replace South Africa’s required rabies vaccination schedule. A positive result is not an absolute guarantee of protection and cannot tell you whether an exposed animal is incubating rabies. Discuss individual health concerns with your veterinarian before changing any vaccination plan. Make prevention part of everyday care Check vaccination records before travelling, keep dogs under control on walks and prevent pets from approaching wildlife or unfamiliar animals. Teach children to give animals space and to tell you immediately about any bite, scratch or saliva exposure. World Rabies Day is a good opportunity to make these conversations part of family life. Everyone who cares for your pets should know where vaccination records are kept and whom to contact in an emergency. Contact Welgelegen Animal Clinic to check your pet’s rabies vaccination status and arrange any vaccinations that are due. For possible human exposure, seek immediate care at a medical facility. Acting quickly protects the lives we love.
World Rabies Day on 28 September is a reminder that protecting our pets also helps protect our families. Rabies remains a reality in South Africa, and knowing how to prevent it, recognise a possible exposure and respond quickly can save lives. For pet owners, the most important message is straightforward: keep dogs and cats vaccinated, take possible exposure seriously and seek medical care immediately. Once symptoms develop, rabies is almost always fatal. However, appropriate treatment given promptly after exposure can prevent human rabies. What is rabies Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord. It affects mammals, including people, dogs, cats, livestock and wildlife. The virus spreads mainly through infected saliva entering a bite wound, broken skin or the moist surfaces of the eyes, nose or mouth. Rabies occurs across South Africa, so owners should not assume that living in a particular province removes the risk. Cases have also been identified in Cape fur seals, making safe distance from wildlife important at the coast too. What counts as a possible exposure A serious bite is not the only concern. Possible exposure includes a bite that breaks the skin, a scratch or abrasion, saliva entering an existing cut, or saliva splashing into the eyes, nose or mouth. Minor scratches can require treatment even without visible bleeding. Children may dismiss a small injury or hesitate to tell an adult, so teach them to report every bite or scratch immediately. Simply touching an animal or being licked on completely intact skin is not considered a rabies exposure. Nevertheless, if you cannot tell whether skin was damaged or saliva reached a wound, ask a healthcare professional to assess the incident. What to do immediately Wash wounds straight away with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes. Do this even when the injury appears small. Thorough washing helps remove saliva and virus from the wound, but it does not replace medical treatment. If saliva enters your eyes, rinse thoroughly with clean water, without soap. Rinse other exposed mucous membranes with water too. Go immediately to a clinic, hospital or emergency department and explain that you may have been exposed to rabies. Do not wait for symptoms, an animal test result or a vaccination certificate before seeking assessment. If the incident happened days ago and you have not received care, go now. Do not assume that a delay means treatment cannot help. What medical treatment involves Post-exposure prophylaxis, often called PEP, is preventive treatment after a possible exposure. A healthcare professional decides what is needed based on the incident and your vaccination history. Treatment may include a course of rabies vaccine. Certain exposures also require rabies immunoglobulin, which provides ready-made antibodies and is usually placed into and around wounds. Attend every scheduled appointment and complete the prescribed treatment. Tell the clinician if you have previously received rabies vaccinations, because this changes the recommended approach. Previous vaccination does not mean a new exposure can be ignored. The medical team can also assess the injury for infection, tetanus protection and other wound care. Antibiotics or a tetanus injection alone do not prevent rabies. Can you recognise a rabid animal Forget the idea that every infected animal is aggressive or foaming at the mouth. Warning signs can include sudden behavioural changes, unusual tameness, excessive drooling, difficulty swallowing, weakness, paralysis or unusual vocalisation. An animal may seem quiet or unresponsive instead of aggressive. Appearance alone cannot reliably rule out a risk after a bite or scratch. Keep people and pets away from a suspicious animal. Contact your veterinarian or State Veterinary Services, and leave capture and investigation to trained personnel. Do not attempt to examine its mouth or handle it yourself. What if your pet has been exposed If your dog or cat has been bitten by, fought with or had suspicious contact with a potentially rabid animal, contact your vet immediately, even if your pet is vaccinated. Keep your pet apart from people and other animals if this can be done safely. Avoid contact with saliva and do not risk being bitten while trying to restrain a frightened animal. Your vet and State Veterinary Services will decide the next steps using your pet’s vaccination history and the exposure details. Any person potentially exposed during the incident also needs urgent medical assessment. Is vaccination compulsory in South Africa Yes. South African law requires owners to vaccinate their dogs and cats against rabies. Indoor pets are included. The first vaccination is given at 12 weeks, or three months, followed by a second vaccination between one and 12 months later. Thereafter, boosters are required at least every three years. Annual vaccination is strongly advised in high-risk areas. Your veterinarian can confirm the appropriate schedule for your pet, taking local risk and the vaccine used into account. Keep vaccination certificates safely and set reminders for boosters. If records are missing or vaccinations are overdue, ask your vet how to get your pet protected. Do antibody tests replace vaccination A rabies titre test measures antibodies in the blood and can help assess a response to vaccination. It does not replace South Africa’s required rabies vaccination schedule. A positive result is not an absolute guarantee of protection and cannot tell you whether an exposed animal is incubating rabies. Discuss individual health concerns with your veterinarian before changing any vaccination plan. Make prevention part of everyday care Check vaccination records before travelling, keep dogs under control on walks and prevent pets from approaching wildlife or unfamiliar animals. Teach children to give animals space and to tell you immediately about any bite, scratch or saliva exposure. World Rabies Day is a good opportunity to make these conversations part of family life. Everyone who cares for your pets should know where vaccination records are kept and whom to contact in an emergency. Contact Welgelegen Animal Clinic to check your pet’s rabies vaccination status and arrange any vaccinations that are due. For possible human exposure, seek immediate care at a medical facility. Acting quickly protects the lives we love.
