Dear Bat: If your dog is up-to-date on her vaccinations then she should be okay for any exposure. However, if it’s been a few years since you got a three-year shot you may want to have a booster just to up the protection. You can check your rabies certificate for the expiration date. Your vet may advise you to get a booster just to be on the safe side.

I’d be more concerned if the dog had the bat in her mouth rather than the cat. Of course, these precautions apply to the cat as well. Rabies can be transmitted through the bite of an infected animal, through its saliva or through an open cut or wound.

Rabies is very unstable outside the host and once the saliva dries its transmission rate drops rapidly. It sounds like you already got a negative test back from the health department. But should you have another visit from the leathery little creatures, there are outfits that can come and capture the bats and sent them off to the health department for you.

If your dog was bit and you suspect rabies you might notice some symptoms such as disorientation, running in circles or aggression but that might not show up until a few weeks later.

The best medicine is prevention. Rabies does exist in many other wildlife species such as foxes, skunks and raccoons, so keeping the dog within eyesight during walks in the woods will limit exposure as well. Eating a newly killed or dead, rabies positive animal can also cause problems for your dog even if she is vaccinated.

Remember that the vaccine your dog gets whether it is a one-year or three-year booster is the same shot. The only difference is what the vet marks on the certificate as dictated by law. If you allow the rabies certificate to expire, then your dog is only eligible for a one-year renewal. If you renew your shot before the expiration date you can get a three-year certificate. The only exception is with young puppies, their first booster is always a one-year certificate.

            

Lisa’s Pick of the Litter

I recently read about how kids heading off to some colleges can bring their pets. Here is an excerpt from an Associated Press article.

 

Since coming to Stephens College, Abbey Road is making friends with her energetic personality, intense eyes and uninhibited kisses – especially when the little dog is thrown a slobber-slick tennis ball. The Jack Russell terrier moved in last week with owner Alexandra Geisler at the college’s Prunty Hall, where the first floor debuted as a pet-friendly zone for dogs, cats and rabbits.

While Stephens is not the first to allow pets, most colleges and universities only permit fish or small reptiles, with legally required exceptions for service animals. Reasons for excluding the pets include noise, smell, allergies and concerns about bites and scratches. And there’s a potential for neglect when the appeal of a cute pet is overtaken by the hectic pace of student life.

Dogs must be 40 pounds or less. All pets must be kept in crates or cages when the student is out of the room. A fenced dog run has been built outside Prunty. And the program will be evaluated constantly, including whether pet noise is below an acceptable level.

Funny? Some colleges allow horses!

Lisa Peterson, a breeder and exhibitor of Norwegian Elkhounds, is a Delegate to the American Kennel Club. Reach her at ask@lisa-peterson.com or Dogma Publishing, P.O. Box 307, Newtown, CT 06470.