How common is the plague in the U.S. and how can I protect my pets from it?

Question

There are SO many field rats in my yard. Ours dogs kill them everyday in their pins and I always get them out with a shovel and toss them into the woods.

One of my dogs became very ill recently.I took her to the vet about a week ago, and was told by the veterinarian that she shows early symptoms of the bubonic plague.

He prescribed her with antibiotics and she's already starting to show improvement.

How can I protect myself, my family, and my pets from this in the future?

Answer 1

Well i havent heard of this really effecting many people or animals in this century but maybe read this artical i found and it will help you know what to stay away from.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubonic_pla...

Hope this helps :)

Answer 2

In the United States, it is estimated that on average 10 to 20 people each year get the plague.  On a global scale, between 1000 to 3000 people get the plague.  The mortaility rate of the plague in the United States is about 14% (1 in 7).  

So this means out of those 10-20 people who get the plague, two of them die in a year.  There is a total of 303.8 million people living in the United States and only two people die a year from it.

1,136 people won a million dollars or more in the lottery in a year and 91 people were killed by lighting during the same year.  You have a more likely chance of winning the lottery or dying from lighting then from dying by the plague.

Answer 3

What the first answerer said is not true. The bubonic plague MAY NOT come back, but there are other diseases that may come up or diseases like it. You should move your dogs to another side of your house or backyard. I wouldn't suggest you put rat poison out there because your dogs could eat it or little kids . And plus, the outside is where the rats live so you are coming into their home. Just regularly bring your dogs and/or other pets to the vet's to get recent shots and check ups.

-kenesha

Answer 4

The plague is NOT common and please, don't worry over things that are never going to happen.  We have plenty else to worry about.