Southgate Veterinary Hospital requires our patients to be vaccinated and stay up to date against rabies to receive services at our clinic. Click Here for More Information

NBC news story released on Aug. 31, 2025- CDC surveillance shows outbreaks of rabies rising across the U.S.

How does this affect us in Fargo-Moorhead?  
Our area has had reported cases of rabies. Rabies is nearly 100% fatal once symptoms appear, making prevention critical. People exposed to a suspected rabid animal undergo post-exposure prophylaxis, a series of injections required to help the body fight off a possible rabies infection.  
It’s the law! Within the Fargo–Moorhead-West Fargo city limits, all dogs and cats are legally required to be up to date on their rabies vaccination.  Veterinary professionals are at a three-times higher exposure risk to a rabid animal than the public. For the health, safety, and protection of our team members and the community,

Southgate Veterinary Hospital requires our patients to be vaccinated and stay up to date against rabies to receive services at our clinic.  

 

Common questions: 
What if I am bit by a dog or cat?
This could be a public health concern. You should: contact the owner of the dog or cat to verify vaccination status, contact the local police department, and contact your medical provider.

What if my pet is bit by another dog or cat?
This could be a public health concern. You should: contact the owner of the dog or cat to verify vaccination status, contact your veterinary office, and determine if the local police department needs to get involved.

What if my pet is bit by wildlife?  
This could be a public health concern. Contact your veterinarian.  The only way to confirm a rabies infection is by testing non-frozen brain material.  If the wild animal needs to be tested, safety precautions must be used when handling the wild animal.

Do I need to vaccinate my pet if I live in an apartment?
Yes, all dogs and cats within local city limits and surrounding areas are legally required to be kept up to date on their rabies vaccination.

For more information on the human rabies vaccine series, visit the ND Gov website: Rabies Vaccine Information | Health and Human Services North Dakota

AAHA Logo

AAHA stands for American Animal Hospital Association.

What is AAHA ?

The AAHA standards are the metric to which we constantly measure the worth of our hospital. We voluntarily choose to be AAHA accredited because it is the model by which we want to be recognized, defining our brand and our character. We want your pets’ caregivers to be held to the highest possible standards in veterinary care. Pets do not choose their veterinary hospital, pet parents do. AAHA is their voice. Accreditation indicates that we are serious, unwavering, and a dedicated part of a team larger than ourselves. A team of 15% of veterinary hospitals throughout the United States and Canada that hope to someday raise the bar for all veterinary practices by making AAHA Standards a state and province-wide requirement. Our goal is for pet parents to demand nothing less from their pets’ healthcare providers because we expect nothing less from ourselves and for our patients and their families. Accreditation is not about standing out; it is about standing up for the care and safety of pets as well as upholding our own moral and ethical character in our community. We get an evaluation every 3 years.