Thankfully, in the U.S., responsible animal owners have helped protect animal and human life by having their pets vaccinated against the disease, reducing the number of human rabies cases to only three per year. 

“This low number is partially a result of the availability of effective preventive treatment after a person sustains a potential exposure,” explains Dr. James Kazmierczak, State Public Health Veterinarian for the Wisconsin Division of Public Health. “It is estimated that about 40,000 persons receive the preventive rabies shots each year in this country.”   

Although the number of human rabies cases has decreased over the past several decades because of stray animal control ordinances and better rabies vaccination coverage for pets, it is still a disease of significant public health concern. 

“Rabies is a disease that is invariably fatal, and it remains a public health risk because the rabies virus is maintained in wildlife reservoirs such as bats and skunks,” Dr. Kazmierczak explains. 

You can help reduce this risk by protecting your pets and your family.

• Vaccinate your pets against rabies. Wisconsin law makes rabies vaccination mandatory for all dogs. For your pet to be considered legally vaccinated, state law requires that a veterinarian or a certified veterinary technician (under veterinarian supervision) administer the rabies vaccination to the animal. 

• In the United States, rabid cats are more than twice as numerous as rabid dogs, so vaccination of cats is strongly advised by public health agencies. Some town, county and other local ordinances require cats to be vaccinated. Contact your local government to find out more on cat rabies vaccination requirements.

• Do not attract animals to your home by feeding them. Keep tight fitting lids on garbage cans.

• Keep garage and shed doors closed, and cap all chimneys so animals do not nest in these areas or enter your home.

• Avoid contact with stray or wild animals, even if they are babies. Teach
  children to stay away from stray or wild animals as well. 

• Contact your physician if you awaken in a bedroom with a bat, or if a bat is discovered in a room with a previously unattended young child.  Even if you think no bite has occurred, preventive treatment may be necessary. If possible, try to capture the bat using a container or heavy blanket, so it can be tested for rabies.  This can often eliminate the need to receive the preventive rabies shots.

• Some wild animals have become very accustomed to living near people. Always be cautious because you cannot tell for sure if an animal has rabies just by looking at it.

If a person is bitten do the following:

1. Wash the wound immediately with soap and running water for at least ten minutes. 

2. Contact your local public health agency or local law enforcement and see a physician immediately, even for minor wounds.  Post- exposure immunizations may need to be given to prevent onset of the disease.  However, these shots may be avoided if the biting animal can be observed by a veterinarian.

3. Immediately confine the pet and contact  the local animal control  officer or public health  agency and check with  your pet’s veterinarian  for treatment and rabies  vaccination history. 

4. If the bite is from a wild or stray animal, do not try to capture the animal unless you are sure you can do so without incurring further injury.  If bitten by an owned animal, obtain the owner’s name, address, and phone number to pass along to public health officials or to law enforcement. 

5. Do not destroy an animal which has bitten a human or other animal. Contact the local animal control officer, public health agency, or law enforcement. Observation of the animal usually eliminates the need for the rabies preventive shots. 

If Your Pet has been bitten do the following: 

1. Consult your veterinarian immediately and report bite to local animal control authorities. 

2. If your pet has a current vaccination it should be revaccinated immediately, kept under the owner’s control and observed for a period as specified by state law or local ordinances. Animals with expired vaccinations will need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

3. If the animal has never been vaccinated and is exposed to a rabid animal, it may need to be euthanized or placed in strict isolation for six months depending on species.

Everyone needs to help protect the public and our pets from rabies, so keep these tips in mind!

For more information on this topic contact your local WVMA-member veterinarian or the WVMA at wvma@wvma.org.

“Pets should have their eyes examined annually,” says Dr. Peter Accola, ophthalmologist at the Wisconsin Veterinary Referral Center. “Regularly scheduled exams with your veterinarian are the best defense in protecting your pet’s vision against sight threatening abnormalities in the early stages.”

While some breeds and species are more prone to specific eye diseases, all pets should be examined. This important exam should be included in your pet’s annual wellness checkup by your veterinarian. In some cases, further evaluation by a veterinary ophthalmologist may be recommended.

Symptoms of eye problems vary, but may include redness, squinting or pain, discharge, cloudiness to the eye or a reduction in vision. In some cases, an eye lesion may be the earliest indicator of an underlying systemic disease and can help direct further diagnostic tests. Annual exams detect problems in the early stages, allowing treatment to begin sooner.  

“The most important thing an owner can do to help preserve their pet’s eye health and vision is to have an annual exam performed by their veterinarian,” says Dr. Accola.

There are preventive steps that can be taken to help preserve the health of your pet’s vision. If you are concerned about your pet’s eye health, take immediate action. Contact your WVMA member veterinarian to learn more about the symptoms and treatment options. To find a WVMA member veterinarian, go to www.wvma.org. 

“Heartworms can be life threatening for your pet,” says Dr. K.C. Brooks, president of the WVMA. “By meeting with your veterinarian and discussing the best preventative options, you can help to ensure they live a long and healthy life.”

Dogs and cats become infected with heartworms after being bitten by an infected mosquito. With the weather warming, this is the time to take preventive steps. Heartworm preventatives are most effective when they are started before mosquitos are in full force.

There are no clinical signs of heartworm disease in the early stages, which is why it’s so important to test annually and continue preventive medications year-round. After a pet has been infected, symptoms range from subtle to obvious and may include coughing, weight loss and lethargy. If left untreated, kidney disease and heart failure will result.  

Treatment for infected animals can be difficult and carries some risks, which makes heartworm preventatives so important. With annual visits to the veterinarian heartworms shouldn’t be a worry for your pet.

There are a variety of medications available to help prevent heartworm disease in both dogs and cats. Options include chewable tablets, long lasting injections and topical medications. By meeting with your WVMA member veterinarian, together you will be able to decide which medication option is best for your pet.

If your pet is showing symptoms of heartworm disease or is in need of preventative, take immediate action. Contact your WVMA member veterinarian to learn more about the symptoms and the preventative options. To find a WVMA member veterinarian, go to www.wvma.org.

MADISON- Dr. Paul McGraw has been appointed State Veterinarian and Administrator for the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection’s (DATCP) Animal Health division.

DATCP Secretary Ben Brancel made the announcement today saying, “Dr. McGraw has served the people of Wisconsin well as Assistant State Veterinarian for the past nine years and I look forward to his leadership in the years ahead. He’s very familiar with our animal health rules and regulations and he has already established good working relationships with partners, stakeholders and counterparts in other agencies.

In addition to his role as Assistant State Veterinarian, Dr. McGraw also served as Bureau Director of Animal Disease Control within the Animal Health division.

“I am honored by this appointment and humbled to be following in the footsteps of Dr. Bob Ehlenfeldt who did a great job in this role for 27 years,” said Dr. McGraw. “We have a great team in the Animal Health division and we will keep working to protect the health of the state’s $34-billion livestock industry.”

Dr. McGraw has always worked with animals and agriculture starting with his days growing up on a dairy and swine farm in Dodgeville, Wisconsin. After completing undergraduate studies at University of Wisconsin-River Falls and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at the Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, UW-Madison, Dr. McGraw worked in private veterinary practice for sixteen years before coming to DATCP as Assistant State Veterinarian in 2004.

During his time at DATCP, Dr. McGraw has served as Program Manager for the state’s Livestock Premises Registration program and the state’s Animal Dealers, Animal Truckers and Animal Markets programs. He is the USDA’s Designated Brucellosis Epidemiologist for the State of Wisconsin and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the School of Veterinary Medicine at UW-Madison. He’s also a past President of the Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association (WVMA) and past Chairman of the WVMA’s Public Health and Food Safety Committee.

The State Veterinarian is Wisconsin’s chief of regulatory veterinary medicine. He oversees surveillance, prevention and response to diseases in the state’s multi-billion animal agriculture sector. As administrator of the Division of Animal Health, his oversight also includes the local humane officer training program, rabies epidemiology, and the dog sellers’ licensing program. The Division works closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Veterinary Services and Wildlife Services and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, as well as other state and federal agencies, private practice veterinarians, and local law enforcement.

Dr. McGraw and his wife Heidi have two daughters Kelly and Maggie.

Dr. McGraw will begin his new duties April 22.

Wisconsin joins Illinois, Georgia, Oklahoma and Rhode Island declaring 2013 Year of the Veterinarian.

Gov. Steve Bullock of Montana wrote a letter stating that although he does not issue proclamations of this type, he is encouraging Montanans to acknowledge 2013 at the “Year of the Veterinarian.”

In addition, the Iowa House of Representatives issued Resolution 16, expressing deep appreciation for the contributions that the veterinary profession and the AVMA have made and continue to make to animal health, public health, animal welfare, and food safety in Iowa.

The American Veterinary Medical Association thanks the Iowa, Montana, Oklahoma, Rhode Island and Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Associations for assisting AVMA is securing these resolutions and acknowledgments.

Each year, at the conclusion of the Easter holiday many young chickens and rabbits are turned into local shelters because their holiday appeal has faded. Mainly because new owners did not do their research before purchasing.

As with other family pets, research needs to be completed before deciding to take in a new one. Families must assess and decide if they have the dedication and resources to care for a new pet in the years to come.

Another concern with adopting chickens and rabbits is their ability to carry various diseases which can cause illness for children. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), many people do not realize the potential danger baby chicks and ducklings can pose to small children. Young, healthy-appearing birds often carry harmful bacteria called Salmonella, and each spring children become infected with Salmonella after receiving a baby chick or duckling for Easter.

Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream, and then to other body sites and can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics. Infants and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness.

Before making any animal impulse buys this spring season make sure to consider the risks and responsibility with owning a pet. For more information contact your local veterinarian or find a WVMA member veterinarian at www.wvma.org.

The mission of the Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association is to advocate and promote veterinary medicine, while enriching animal and human health. Founded in 1915, it has more than 2,300 members

Dr. Nordlund has been a member of the WVMA since 1989 and works at the University Of Wisconsin School Of Veterinary Medicine. Since joining the WVMA Dr. Nordlund has served a two year term on the Public Health and Food Safety Committee. 

“It only takes a few minutes to educate yourself on how to pet-proof your home,” says Dr. K.C. Brooks, president of WVMA, “Taking the correct steps ahead of time will save you the headache and guilt that happens after a pet is accidentally poisoned.”

The most common poison cases involve dogs consuming human medication. Though consumption of human medication is the most prevalent, there are many other household substances which are toxic to dogs. Below are the five most common toxins that poisoned dogs in 2012 according to Pet Poison Helpline.

1. Human Medications – 43 percent of calls were about dogs who had consumed over-the-counter or prescription medications.
2. Human Foods – 16 percent of calls were for dogs that helped themselves to food not meant for canine consumption. The most common foods were chocolate, raisins and grapes, garlic and table salt.
3. Insecticides – 7.5 percent of calls were for dogs that had ate insecticides in the form of sprays, granules and insect bait stations. Some insecticides are tolerable if consumed, however, certain types can be life-threatening even if consumed in small amounts.
4. Rodenticides – 6.5 percent of the calls were for dogs that had consumed mouse and rat poison. Depending on the type of poisoning, symptoms can range from subtle to severe.
5. Dietary Supplements and Vitamins – 5.5 percent of calls concerned dogs which ingested dietary supplements and vitamins. The negative effects of ingestion can range greatly. Vitamins C, K and E are fairly safe, while iron and Vitamin D can be highly toxic.

If you ever have reason to believe your pet has consumed a toxic substance, take immediate action. Contact your WVMA member veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline at 1-800-213-6680. To find a WVMA member veterinarian go to www.wvma.org.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) published the 2013 edition of the AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals.  Led by a 13-member panel, more than 60 experts—including veterinarians, animal scientists, behaviorists, physiologists, psychologists and an ethicist—deliberated more than three years to create the 2013 Guidelines.

Since the first Panel on Euthanasia was convened 50 years ago, the AVMA Guidelines have helped veterinarians protect the welfare of animals by setting criteria for euthanasia and specifying appropriate methods and agents. As the Guidelines have become increasingly influential (and in some cases recognized as a legal standard), their specificity and scope have increased.

Specifically, the 2013 Guidelines acknowledge euthanasia as a process that involves more than just what happens to an animal at the time of its death. In addition to providing more information about techniques used for euthanasia across a broader range of species, this edition includes attention to ethical decision-making, provides detailed information about animals’ physiologic and behavioral responses to euthanasia, considers euthanasia’s effects on those performing and observing it, and takes into account the practicality and environmental impacts of various euthanasia approaches. 

“As we learn more about animals—their physiology and psychology—it’s important to update and sometimes change our approaches to euthanasia to ensure we

continue to protect their welfare as best as possible,” explained Dr. Steven Leary, chair of the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia. “This was the most professionally diverse panel on the euthanasia of animals ever assembled. As a result, the latest update of our euthanasia guidelines offers much more depth and breadth of expertise in the affected species and the environments in which euthanasia is performed. Panel members take their responsibility extremely seriously because we recognize the AVMA Guidelines are used by everyone from veterinarians in private practice, to caretakers on farms and researchers in biomedical facilities, to law enforcement, to governmental regulators.”

The first edition of the AVMA’s highly respected, authoritative euthanasia guidelines was issued in 1963. With each update, the guidelines have reflected knowledge gained through advancements in research and practical experience. New in the 2013 edition are:

• Euthanasia methods for invertebrates and other lower-order species;

• Advice on humane handling of animals before and during euthanasia;

• Information on collection of animals for scientific investigations, handling injured wild animals, and removal of animals causing property damage or threatening human safety;

• Additional information about confirmation of death and disposal of animal remains; and

• Flowcharts, illustrations, tables and appendices that clarify recommendations.

“The value of the genetics of hog breeders in Wisconsin requires that we protect the industry from this devastating disease,” said Secretary Ben Brancel.  “The first step toward providing this protection is having knowledge of the status of PRRS in the pigs entering the state.” 

PRRS is a virus that causes reproductive failure in breeding stock and respiratory illness in young pigs. Subclinical infections are common. First reported in North America in 1987, it is estimated that the disease costs the United States swine industry over $600 million annually. 

The new import permit will have no cost to the producer. The process involves the producer, veterinarian or clinic staff filling out the general import permit application form found at animalmovement.datcp.wi.gov and sending it along with the certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI) for the animals to DATCPAnimalImports@Wisconsin.gov or faxing to (608) 224-4871. A department veterinarian will review the CVI for the correct statement disclosing the PRRS status along with correct official identification.  Once approved, the permit number will be faxed back. The permit number should then be written on all copies of the CVI. This service is available 8:00 AM to 4:15 PM Monday through Friday. Permits are not issued after hours or on weekends or holidays, however blanket permits can be issued ahead of time for weekend sales. Call (608) 224-4874 for more information.

For more information about swine import requirements, visit animalmovement.datcp.wi.gov.  You can also connect with us on Twitter at twitter.com/widatcp or Facebook at facebook.com/widatcp.