Rabies is a contagious and deadly viral infection spread when infected saliva enters an animal through a bite or broken skin. Dogs and cats can contract this virus when they encounter a wild animal or another pet that has been infected. 

The rabies virus will travel to the brain of an infected animal and trigger widespread inflammation. Rabies is particularly dangerous because those infected may fail to show symptoms for a long period of time but are still able to spread the disease to other animals and humans. 

It is important that pet owners understand the dangers associated with this fatal, yet completely preventable disease. We also want to remind our readers that the rabies vaccination is required by law in the state of Virginia. Your pet can be protected from this virus and many other diseases with some very effective and inexpensive vaccines available at our Portsmouth animal vet clinic.

Vaccinations at Our Animal Vet Clinic Prevent Rabies and Other Dangerous Diseases

At Churchland Animal Clinic, we work hard to spread the word about the importance of pet vaccination to animal owners throughout Portsmouth, Chesapeak, Suffolk, Hampton Roads, and Tidewater. There are many dangerous animal illnesses that can spread rapidly in the pet population, most of which are completely preventable with routine vaccination at our veterinary hospital. Vaccines quickly and reliably provide your pet’s immune system with the antibodies necessary to ward off diseases like rabies if he or she is exposed to an infected animal. They are also very inexpensive when compared to the cost associated with treating a pet that has been infected with a disease like bordetella, parvovirus, coronavirus, or feline leukemia.

If your pet has not been vaccinated, or it has been over a year since your animal’s last round of shots, we hope you will visit our animal hospital as soon as possible. 

What motivates you to get your pet the rabies vaccination or any of the other immunizations recommended by our veterinary clinic?