Type of animal bite	Evaluation and disposition of animal	Recommendations
Dog, cat, ferret	Healthy; observe animal for 10 days	Vaccination should not be initiated unless the animal develops clinical signs of rabies
	Rabid (or suspected)	Vaccination should begin immediately
	Unknown (e.g., escaped)	Public health officials should be consulted; immediate vaccination should be considered
Raccoon, skunk, fox, other carnivore, bats	Regarded as rabid unless the animal tests negative	Consider immediate vaccination; if the animal is being tested, delay vaccination until results are available
Livestock, horses	Consider individually	Public health officials should be consulted; most livestock in the United States are vaccinated for rabies
Rodent, rabbit, hare, other mammal	Consider individually	Public health officials should be consulted; bites of rabbits, hares, and small rodents (e.g., squirrels, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, chipmunks, rats, mice) almost never require postexposure rabies prophylaxis