Animal type	Evaluation and disposition of animal	Postexposure prophylaxis recommendations
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.