The Orange County Health Department has issued a Rabies Alert for the East Orlando area which includes all areas surrounding East Orange Animal Hospital!  This alert was issued after 3 wild raccoons were found to have Rabies in late March '09.  Three dogs came in contact with these racccoons, which initiated Orange County Animal Services to capture & test them after the 3 separate incidences.
 
    We want to inform all of our clients & potential clients of this Rabies Alert to ensure that you know how to protect yourselves, as well as your pets & families, from this potentially deadly disease!  We urge you to discuss this with your children to make them aware of the dangers of touching/approaching wild & stray animals!  Any domestic animal is at risk if not vaccinated (& kept up to date) for the Rabies virus.  
 
    Some ways to protect yourself & your families/pets and prevent the spread of rabies are:
 
        * Keep EVERY pet in the household fully immunized against Rabies.
 
        *Do NOT approach wild or stray animals!  If an animal is injured or acting unusual, we recommend you contact Orange County Animal Services (407-836-3111) to care for the animal!
 
        *Rabies is transmitted by the saliva & blood of an infected animal, therefore anyone who is bitten, scratched, or has the animals' blood/saliva enter an open wound (even if the wound isn't caused by the animal in question), should report the incident to their physician immediately!  The Orange County Health Department should also be contacted if an encounter with an animal showing signs suspicious for rabies (407-521-2630).
 
        *Secure outside garbage in a covered container to avoid attracting wild animals!
 
        *Do not leave or store pet food outside - this also attracts other animals!
 
        *Avoid contact with all wildlife, especially raccoons, bats & foxes.
 
    If you have further questions, or need to get your pets immunized agaisnt Rabies, please contact us at (407) 275-3856!  For further information on the Rabies virus, you can visit the Florida Department of Health's website (www.doh.state.fl.us/disease_ctrl/epi/diseases) or contact the Orange County Health Department at (407) 521-2630.