OOLOGAH — A rabies scare in Oologah recently has brought a safety reminder home to at least one family after discovering a skunk killed by the family dogs had rabies. Now one of those dogs is in quarantine by order of the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH).

An up-to-date vaccination will protect your beloved pet from possible exposure to this dangerous virus said veterinarian Dr. Ron Wallace of Will Rogers Animal Hospital in Oologah.

Public Health Specialist Larry Tate said this is the first case of rabies in Rogers County this year to his knowledge,  but the virus is common in skunks.

“It is common in skunks, raccoons and bats,” said Tate. “We track the incidence of rabies in Oklahoma because it is a transmittable disease. We need to make sure all our pets are up-to-date on rabies vaccinations. In Oklahoma that includes dogs, cats and ferrets.”

Tate said state law requires immunization by age four months. Some communities require animals to be routinely vaccinated as well.

“Most veterinarians charge $10 or less for a one-year rabies vaccination,” said Wallace.

Wallace said it’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to the safety of your pet. Wallace had a clinic in Claremore for over 20 years and has been in Oologah for the past eight years. In his many years as a veterinarian in Rogers County, he has sent in a lot of skunk heads for rabies testing.

“I’ve never had one that wasn’t positive,” said Wallace. “They (skunks) have become adapted to the rabies virus.”

Most skunks will not die of rabies.

“Once you have the rabies virus, normally you’re going to die in three to five days,” said Wallace. “Skunks can live with the virus in their brain.”

Raccoons can also be a concern.

“Any warm blooded animal can have rabies, but rabbits are going to die,” said Wallace. “Skunks or raccoons are the ones we worry about.”

Wallace said the Oologah family came home from church and found the dead skunk on front porch. They couldn’t tell whether their dogs had killed it, but both had a skunk odor so presumably that was what happened, said Wallace.

The family brought the dead skunk to Wallace, and it was confirmed with rabies. At the point where rabies is confirmed, OSDH steps in and has jurisdiction, said Wallace.

The OSDH requires written proof of vaccination. One of the dogs was vaccinated. The other had been purchased from someone else and no verification of vaccination within a timely manner was available. Rabies can take time to manifest. If a dog is vaccinated, a 10 day quarantine is required. For a dog that hasn’t been vaccinated it’s six months because the virus can be dormant in nerve fibers around bite wound before it migrates to the brain, said Wallace.

In the Oologah case, the family opted not to have the dog euthanized. Normally, an average veterinary clinic charges $15 a day for quarantine. In this case, Wallace worked out a special deal to help this  pet owner who chose not to euthanize the dog.

Wallace charges $9.85 for a rabies shot. That’s also cheaper than having a dog euthanized.

In rural areas where there are a lot of skunks, OSDH recommends dogs be vaccinated annually. In some places, a three-year shot may be administered, but make sure you know if your pet had the 1-year or 3-year vaccination, said Wallace.

Skunks are nocturnal, but they have adapted to the presence of people and aren’t afraid of anyone. In Rogers County, Wallace said there are a lot of places for skunks to hide.  In the spring, the numbers of skunks we see dead on county roads is an indication of how many are out there, carrying rabies, said Wallace.

In the Oologah case, Wallace believes the affected dog will survive.

“At this point and time, I think the chances are extremely well that he will be OK,” said Wallace.  “I don’t think there will be a problem.”

“Bats, raccoons, skunks, foxes, and coyotes have strains of rabies virus adapted to their species. The rabies viruses found in Oklahoma include the ones adapted to skunk and bats,” according to the OSDH.

As of March 2010 there have been 14 laboratory confirmed animal rabies cases in Oklahoma, according to OSHD. The case in Oologah makes the statewide count 15. Since 2003 Rogers County has had seven cases of rabies, with a high of three cases in 2005.

Wallace warns that all skunks should be considered carriers.

Tate said more detailed information on rabies is available online at www.heath.ok.gov.