Potlatch Vet Clinic

09/29/2026

Rabies can be fatal to humans, if not immediately treatment. In Idaho, the main source of rabies infections is from bats. Bats are sneaky and can slip into houses through very openings. Or an injured bat on the ground can look like a fun toy to your pets. Though rare, rabies is still found in our area. In June of this year, a bat tested positive for rabies here in Latah county.

Please keep your pets (and yourself) safe and keep your pets up to date on their rabies vaccination.

LEWISTON, Idaho — Public Health–Idaho North Central District reported a rabid bat in Latah County and urged people to avoid contact with bats and get help quickly after any possible

09/28/2026

Today is World Rabies day! Please make sure your dogs, cats, and ferrets are all up to date on their rabies vaccinations to protect us all from this deadly disease. Give us a call if your pets are not up to date and we can get them vaccinated. 208-875-4838.

In honor of World Rabies Day, we are providing $5 rabies vaccinations with exam. all week long.

09/27/2026

Rabies is a scary disease and cases still occur! Tomorrow is World Rabies Day. To help prevent this disease in animals and people please vaccinate your pets.

This week Potlatch Vet Clinic is having a rabies vaccination special: $5 rabies vaccination with exam. Please give us a call to get scheduled! 208-875-4838.

A rabid bat was found at the school in Asotin, and several children came in contact with it.

According to the Asotin County Health District, it was found Wednesday and multiple children had confirmed, direct contact with the bat. A school administrator quickly contacted them for guidance. The bat was safely captured and taken to a local veterinarian to be euthanized and then submitted for rabies testing. Yesterday, they confirmed it was positive for rabies.

They’re now working with the school district and local hospitals to inform families and initiate post-exposure treatment for children with confirmed exposure.

The Health District says Rabies is a viral infection that is almost 100% fatal. Exposure to a rabid animal is taken extremely seriously. Rabies can be prevented but cannot be treated once symptoms start. Treatment, known as Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) for rabies requires a series of four vaccinations given over 14 days plus a dose of rabies immunoglobulin with the first vaccination to boost the body’s immune response.

The incubation period of rabies can range from several days to several months. While it is best to begin PEP soon after exposure, it can be started up to a year after exposure if the person has not developed symptoms of rabies.

Rabies is spread through a bite or scratch from an animal or contact with the animal’s saliva. It is not spread through the air or by casual contact with items or surfaces touched by the rabid animal (e.g., touching the grass after the bat was removed is not an exposure). Bat bites and scratches are very small, and you may be unaware of them. Therefore, any bare- hand contact with a bat should be treated as an exposure.

09/27/2026

October is almost here, on Thursday October 1st we have our next Farm/House Call Special in St. Maries. Give us a call to get on the schedule 208-875-4838; try to schedule at least 48 hours in advance. Again, this special is a discounted farm/house call out fee of $48 and we are bringing all our regular mobile services to you for dogs, cats, horses, livestock for all your animal care needs. Call us to inquire about all that the mobile services that we offer (including exams, herd health evaluations, bloodwork, x-rays, vaccinations, equine dental floats, and more).

09/25/2026

Potlatch High School Homecoming parade during our lunch break today! The homecoming football game is at 7pm tonight versus Lapwai! Support our Loggers!

09/25/2026

Thank you to everyone that joined us for September's education night earlier this week. It was a lot of fun to talk about sheep and goats.

As we head into the holiday season (it feels like it is coming upon us so fast now that it is officially fall), our October education night will be about Holiday Toxins as we enter the holiday season. We will talk about Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas toxins to your dogs and cats.

Join us on Tuesday October 20th at 6pm at the clinic. As always, our education night lectures are free and everyone is welcome. Please give us a call to RSVP so we have a head count for space and refreshments. 208-875-4838

09/23/2026

It is homecoming week in Potlatch. Let's all try to get out and support our students this week! We hope to watch the homecoming parade from our porch during our lunch break on Friday!

09/23/2026

Yesterday was the first day of fall! Where did summer go? Give us a call to get your pets on the schedule for their annual care before the craziness of the holiday season is upon us. Give us a call to get your livestock herd health exams before the weather gets cold, rainy, and snowy. Get us a call to get your horses evaluated and teeth float before winter.

09/22/2026

Join us tonight (9/22/2026) to learn and talk all about Sheep and Goats! 6pm at Potlatch Vet Clinic for our free education night/lecture. Always free and all are welcome. Don't miss our on the free raffle for all attendees that is drawn at the end of the night.

We would greatly appreciate if you have a chance to give us a call to RSVP so we have an accurate head count for refreshments and seats. 208-875-4838

09/22/2026

Next week Potlatch Vet Clinic's monthly special is $5 rabies vaccinations with exam.

Rabies is a dangerous disease to both our pets and us! Bats are the main carrier of rabies in our area and while rabies positive cases are rare these days (in part due to vaccination of domestic animals), they still occur. There was a confirmed rabies positive bat in Latah county this summer and multiple positive bats throughout both Idaho and Washington.

Washington state requires vaccination of all dogs, cats, and ferrets over 12 weeks of age. The state of Idaho leaves rabies vaccination requirement laws up to the city and county to decide for resident animals, but requires vaccination for all imported dogs, cats, and ferrets over 12 weeks of age. The city of Moscow does require rabies vaccination, among other cities throughout the state.

Potlatch Vet Clinic strongly recommends keeping your pets up to date on rabies vaccinations to keep them safe and you safe.

https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/news/idaho-reports-increase-rabid-bats-potential-human-exposures

https://www.dailyfly.com/2026/06/04/rabid-bat-confirmed-in-latah-county-public-health-issues-safety-reminder/

https://doh.wa.gov/you-and-your-family/illness-and-disease-z/rabies/rabies-activity-washington

Bats are the primary animal that carry rabies in Washington State. Rabid bats have been found in almost every county in the state. Below is a table showing number of bats that have tested positive for rabies in the state in 2026. Visit our rabies page to learn: