Rabies Types: Category 1 and Category 2
RABIES PROTOCOL
MANAGEMENT OF DOGS & CATS WHICH BITE HUMANS
(Wolf Hybrids and other exotic pets are considered to be wild animals)
Catagory 1
Visible bite or scratch from a dog or cat, which has been identified and is available for quarantine
- Notify local director of health and local animal inspector
- Biting animal will be placed under strict confinement for 10 days
- If biting animal is healthy at the end of ten days, victim is not at risk for rabies
- If biting animal begins to exhibit signs compatable with rabies, biting animal should be eunthenized and submitted for testing
- If rabies test is negative, victim is not at risk for rabies
- if rabies test is positive, notify Massachusetts Department of Public Helth, Division of Epidemiology
Catagory 2
Visible bite or scratch from a dog or cat, which has not been identified and is not available for testing
- Animal must be assumed to be rabid
- Notify Massachusetts Department of Public Helth, Division of Epidemiology
- Notify local director of Health and local animal inspector
- Furnish local Animal Control with a description of the dog or cat and location where animal was last seen
Additional Details
- Domestic animals other than dogs and cats biting humans should be handled on a case by case basis
- Any non-domestic animal biting a human needs to be reported to the Department of Public Health
- Protocol for ferrets is similar, but notification must be made to the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
- Do not vaccinate any dog or cat which is under a 10-day quarantine
- Any animal euthanized while under a 10-day quarantine MUST be submitted for rabies resting