Rabid Dog Treated At Arlington Vet, Health Division Says

UPDATE: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the bulldog's results were negative for rabies, and he was not a risk to other animals he may have been around at the vet. See the full post here.

ARLINGTON, VA — Arlington County Public Health Division (ACPHD) is seeking people and pets who may have been exposed to a rabid dog.

A bulldog from Washington, DC that was seen at the Cherrydale Veterinary Clinic in Arlington County has died of rabies, the District of Columbia Department of Public Health reports.

The dog was seen at the clinic on Saturday, July 8 between 10-11 a.m., and again on Friday, July 14 from 3-3:30 p.m.

ACPHD is working closely with the clinic staff to identify and contact those people and their pets who may have been exposed to the bulldog there on July 8 and July 14.

If you believe you or your animal may have had contact with this dog at the veterinary clinic on those days and times, please contact ACPHD at (703) 228-5200, option #1, and ask for the nurse of the day. Those who had no physical contact with the bulldog are not at risk.

Rabies is most commonly spread from direct contact with the saliva of a rabid animal. Those with potential exposure can be treated with human rabies immunoglobulin and rabies vaccinations to prevent rabies symptoms. Once a person develops symptoms, there is no effective treatment and the disease is fatal. However, if the rabies vaccine is given before symptoms develop, this will effectively prevent rabies in a person exposed.

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