Louisiana has confirmed rabies in a dog for the first time since 2014. The diagnosis in Region 4, also known as Acadiana, is only the fifth canine case recorded in the state during the past 20 years, making it rare but relevant to any owner checking a pet’s vaccination status.
The Louisiana Department of Health announced the case on Sept. 11. Officials did not provide details about the dog, how the animal became infected, possible human exposures or the outcome.
Louisiana has confirmed an average of approximately six rabies-positive animals a year since 2000, according to the department. Most cases involve wildlife, particularly bats and skunks.
Rabies is a viral disease that can infect mammals, including people. It can spread through bites or scratches and through direct contact with saliva or nervous-system tissue from an infected animal.
Mark Mitchell, a professor of zoological medicine at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, described the diagnosis as an uncommon event among domestic pets. “This single case should not be of great concern because it is an infrequent occurrence in domestic pets,” Mitchell said.
He nevertheless identified a clear lesson for owners: Keep dogs and cats vaccinated. Louisiana law requires dogs, cats and ferrets older than three months to receive a rabies vaccination administered by a licensed veterinarian.
What owners should do after possible wildlife contact
Vaccination status affects how authorities manage a pet after confirmed exposure to a rabid animal. Under Louisiana’s rules for exposed domestic animals, a currently vaccinated dog must be revaccinated promptly and confined for 45 days.
An unvaccinated dog exposed to a rabid animal faces more restrictive options. State rules call for the animal to be euthanized or, if the owner declines, vaccinated and placed in strict quarantine for four months. Dogs overdue for boosters may be handled differently depending on whether there is documentation of an earlier vaccination.
Those decisions require veterinary and public-health involvement. The health department advises owners to contact a veterinarian and local animal control or public-health authorities promptly if a pet is bitten or otherwise exposed to an animal that may have rabies.
Owners should not try to handle the potentially infected animal. Officials also advise keeping pets from interacting with wildlife and contacting animal control or wildlife authorities when a wild animal appears sick, injured, unusually tame or aggressive.
A bite triggers a separate public-health process
Louisiana distinguishes between managing a pet exposed to rabies and observing a domestic animal that has bitten a person. Under the state rule for human exposure to domestic-animal bites, a dog, cat or ferret that bites someone must be confined for at least 10 days or submitted for rabies testing.
Vaccination should not be given during that observation period because a reaction could be confused with signs of rabies. Any concerning signs during confinement must be reported immediately to the local health authority, with a veterinarian or state public-health veterinarian involved in determining the response.
For a person bitten or scratched by an unfamiliar or wild animal, officials advise immediately washing the affected area thoroughly with soap and water. Contact with saliva or nervous-system tissue through broken skin, the eyes, nose or mouth also warrants prompt contact with a health care provider or public-health professional.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a risk assessment after a potential exposure to determine whether post-exposure preventive care is needed. That assessment can depend on the type of contact, the animal involved and the person’s previous rabies vaccination status.
Louisiana’s canine diagnosis remains unusual. Its practical message is narrower and immediate: Verify that a dog’s rabies vaccination is current, limit contact with wildlife and involve veterinary, medical and public-health professionals quickly when an exposure may have occurred. What would you do if your dog were in this situation? Share your thoughts in the comments.
By Sarah Mitchell — 8 years as a local-news reporter covering animal welfare, shelters, neighborhood disputes, and public-safety pet stories.
