What happens if my dog or cat bites a human in Florida?

Rabies is an infectious virus that affects many animals including our dogs and cats. By law, our pets must be vaccinated for Rabies once yearly. Some counties accept vaccination every three years with an approved 3 year Rabies vaccine.

There is no cure or antidote for Rabies once a person or animal is infected. Therefore, these guidelines are strictly enforced. If a dog or cat bites a human and is current on his/her Rabies vaccination they must be quarantined for 10 days at a veterinary facility or approved by animal control for home quarantine.

If a dog or cat is not current on his/her vaccination they must be quarantined for 10 days at a veterinary facility and then vaccinated upon release if deemed healthy.

Unfortunately, the only way to prove if an animal is infected with Rabies is to examine the brain of the deceased animal in question. Bottom line is, keep your pets current on their vaccines to keep everybody healthy.

More resources: 
Understanding Rabies
The Ins and Outs of Rabies

Blog by:

Kim Simons, DVM

Lap of Love

drkim@lapoflove.com

Dr. Kim Simons services all towns in and around Palm Beach county including Boynton Beach, Boca Raton, Highland Beach, Delray Beach, Lake Worth, Palm Beach, and Jupiter.