Dogs, cats and ferrets | Healthy and available for 10 days of observation. | Persons should not begin prophylaxis unless animal develops clinical signs of rabies.* |
Rabid or suspected rabid. | Immediately vaccinate. |
Unknown (e.g., escaped). | Consult public health officials. |
Skunks, raccoons, foxes and most other carnivores; bats | Regarded as rabid unless animal proved negative by laboratory tests.† | Consider immediate vaccination. |
Livestock, small rodents, lagomorphs (rabbits and hares), large rodents (woodchucks and beavers), and other mammals | Consider individually. | Consult public health officials. Bites of squirrels, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, chipmunks, rats, mice, other small rodents, rabbits and hares almost never require antirabies postexposure prophylaxis. |