Rabies vaccination clinics planned for Boston area

April 3, 2:06 PMBoston Pets ExaminerMia Carter

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The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, in conjunction with the Massachusetts Animal Coalition, has announced that rabies vaccination clinics will be hosted throughout the Bay State over the coming weeks.

The rabies vaccination clinics are being held in more than 200 Massachusetts cities and towns throughout the spring. Massachusetts dog, cat and ferret owners are required to keep their pets up-to-date on rabies vaccinations.

This series of pet vaccination clinics is the result of more than 150 confirmed rabies cases in the Commonwealth in 2008. Of those 154 animals that tested positive, nine unvaccinated pets had to be euthanized after they were exposed to the deadly disease.

Symptoms of Rabies

Rabies often affects the animal's salivary glands, making animal bites a common mode of transmission of rabies. Rabies is also known to create a condition called hydrophobia, or extreme fear of fluids and drinking. This occurs as a result of the extreme pain associated with swallowing, paired with intense thirst.

In a dog, cat or ferret, rabies targets the central nervous system. Symptoms of rabies include lethargy, drooling, paralysis, disorientation and personality changes like shyness or aggression. Usually once an animal is exhibiting symptoms of rabies, the illness has typically progressed to a point where it is fatal.