What happens if my pet (cat, dog, ferret) is bitten by a wild animal?
Consult a veterinarian immediately and report the incident to animal control. Your pet will likely need to be vaccinated against rabies if they are not current on their rabies vaccination. In some cases, if the wound has become dirty/infected, the vet will need to surgically operate to remove the infected tissue.
Any animal bitten or scratched by either a wild, carnivorous mammal or a bat that is not available for testing should be regarded as having been exposed to rabies. Unvaccinated dogs, cats, and ferrets exposed to a rabid animal should be euthanized immediately. If the owner is unwilling to have this done, the animal should be placed in strict isolation for 6 months and vaccinated 1 month before being released. Animals with expired vaccinations need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Dogs and cats that are currently vaccinated are kept under observation for 45 days. For information on rabies in domestic ferrets, see: Niezgoda, M., Briggs, D. J., Shaddock, J., Dreesen, D. W., & Rupprecht, C. E. (1997). Pathogenesis of experimentally induced rabies in domestic ferrets. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 58(11), 1327-1331.
