They pull off the freeway and look under the hood, there sits a kitten curled up on the engine. She goes to pull the cat out and puddy don't like that, so it proceeds to bite her hand. Bad puddy tat.
Puddy tat runs away. Person comes to the ER a day later. There is no swelling or redness on the fingers that were bitten, but doc calls someone who connects her to the "state veterinarian" (who knew we had a state veterinarian? And why do we need one?) That person tells her that last year there were 7 cases of rabies from cat bites. Sounds bogus to me, but then I'm no the one decidin' what to do.
The patient will have the rabies injection. When a rabies series is given it is given in 3 steps. The first step is to take half of what is ordered and "infiltrate" the area around the wound. (stick a needle into it) Ouch. Then the other half is given by injection - 2 shots. Next step another shot one week later. Next step another shot 2 weeks after that. No fun for anyone concerned. Naughty kitty.
State vets are important.....especially in rural states, sadly. For example, with the concern for zoonotic disease transmission, like when several high school boys utilize the same poor ewe for untoward purposes. And one boy just happens to have a nasty case of the clap and there is a concern of disease transmission via sheep. You call the state vet. No shit. True story.
ReplyDeleteThe state vet is around so that no one dies of rabies...
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