Oklahoma Pet Owners Urged To Be Aware Of Increase In Rabies Cases

Veterinarians and state agriculture leaders are urging pet and livestock owners to be cautious about rabies.

So far this year, the state has seen 54 rabies cases, which is nearly double the number for the same time period last year.

Cases have been confirmed in 34 Oklahoma counties.

Pet owners are urged to watch out for aggressive behavior and unexpected irritability in their animals.

Livestock owners are also urged to watch out for horses and cattle.

Dr. Dave Sparks, Veterinarian, said, "The main way that it is spread is through the saliva. And any kind of cut or scrape or break in the skin, that virus is going to come in, and that's not what we want to see."

Veterinarians say animals and people in more suburban locations could especially be at risk, because those areas are increasingly becoming a mix of family pets, livestock and wildlife.