To the editor:

There has been much attention paid to the issue of sick raccoons in Barrington recently. The public should be made aware of what actions should be taken to keep themselves and their pets safe. 

It has been repeatedly proposed that these raccoons are sick with distemper, a viral illness that can affect unvaccinated dogs as well as raccoons. However, no definitive testing has been performed and veterinarians in Rhode Island are not seeing canine cases of distemper, which must be reported to the state veterinarian. 

Post-mortem testing, the only definitive test for rabies, is typically only performed if there has been exposure to humans or domestic animals through a bite or a deep scratch. The neurologic signs of distemper are indistinguishable from those of rabies, and it is just as likely that these raccoons were sick with rabies. Rabies is uniformly fatal in humans and small animals if they do not receive prompt post-exposure treatment. 

There are two very important things the public can do when exposed to a sick raccoon or other sick wildlife. The first is to report any human or domestic animal contact with sick wildlife to animal control, so that the DEM can be notified and determine if post-mortem testing is warranted. The second is to notify health care providers so that appropriate treatment can be instituted for themselves or their pets. 

It is the law that all domestic animals must be up to date on their rabies vaccine. A dog who is up to date on core vaccines, which include vaccination against rabies and distemper, should be protected from both diseases, however a rabies vaccine booster is typically warranted with exposure to sick wildlife. 

If your dog is not up to date on vaccines, or your young puppy is not fully vaccinated, you should keep them leashed and away from wildlife until they are fully vaccinated. 

Children should also be taught to stay away from wildlife, particularly rabies vector species which include raccoons, bats, woodchucks, skunks and foxes. Because there is no evidence thus far as to what disease is affecting the raccoon population in Barrington, we should assume it is likely to be rabies, and take necessary precautions to protect public health.  

Shelly Pancoast, DVM 

Barrington