SALT LAKE CITY – Rabies? You don’t want that.

Unfortunately, every year, it’s estimated that 40,000 people have to receive rabies prevention treatment due to potential exposure.

While nearly all rabid animals reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control include bats, skunks, raccoon and foxes, there are still cases in cats, dogs, deer and horses.

The Utah Department of Health and local health departments urge all Utahns to avoid the heartache of unnecessarily euthanizing pets and undergoing rabies treatment by ensuring their pets’ rabies vaccines are up-to-date. Utah law requires all domestic dogs, cats and ferrets receive the rabies vaccine.

Any time a pet catches, plays with, or even touches a bat or other high-risk animal there is a risk of rabies being spread to the pet. Because it takes time for the disease to become apparent, pets that are not vaccinated or have a lapsed vaccine status are either euthanized or held at an approved facility for six months, which can cost the owner thousands of dollars. Additionally, people who are exposed to rabies must undergo a series of post-exposure prophylaxis injections (PEP) to prevent the deadly disease.

The UDOH reports bats as being the primary carrier of the rabies virus in Utah, but each month, several different types of animals are tested. In February of this year Box Elder County had one cat tested. Davis County had two dogs tested. Cache County had a deer and a horse tested and Weber County had two cats and one dog tests. Fortunately all of those tests came back negative, but there have been positive cases in previous years.

Since rabies is considered 100 percent fatal once symptoms develop, all potential exposures must be taken seriously, according to a press release issued by UDOH. Not all animal exposures will require, but most people are given PEP due to close contact with domestic animals, such as cats or dogs. Knowing how to prevent rabies can reduce your risks and save pets from unnecessary grief.

The rabies virus infects the central nervous system, according to the CDC. Early symptoms in people include fever, headache, weakness and discomfort. As the disease progresses symptoms can include insomnia, confusion, anxiety, hallucinations, agitation, an increase in saliva, fear of water, difficulty swallowing, slight or partial paralysis and excitation. Death occurs within a few days of these symptoms.

In animals, petmd.com states reports two form of rabies: furious and paralytic. Symptoms of furious rabies include an extreme change in behavior such as overt aggression, an increase in drool and attack behavior. Paralytic rabies includes loss of coordination and weakness.

In addition to vaccinating your pets, UDOH is asking the public to follow these guidelines to help reduce your risk for getting rabies.

• Keep your pets confined. Keep your pets inside and supervise them when outside. This will help keep your pets from coming in contact with wild animals.

• Report stray animals to local authorities. Call your local animal control officials to report stray dogs and cats.

• Don’t approach wild animals. Wild animals with rabies may seem unafraid of people. It’s not normal for a wild animal to be friendly with people, so stay away from any animal that seems unafraid. If you see a wild animal acting strangely, report it to animal control.

• Keep bats out of your home. Seal any cracks and gaps where bats can enter your home. If you know you have bats in your home, work with a local expert to find ways to keep bats out or contact the Utah Division of Wildlife Services.

• Consider the rabies pre-exposure vaccine if you’re traveling. If you’re traveling to a country where rabies is common and you’ll be there for an extended period of time, ask your doctor whether you should receive the rabies vaccine.

• Take action if you are bitten. If you are bitten by any animal (domestic or wild), immediately wash the wound well with soap and water and see a health care provider. Contact animal control if you are bitten by an animal, to assist in capturing the animal for observation or rabies testing.

For more information on rabies, visit http://health.utah.gov/epi/diseases/rabies/.