Anyone that sees an animal that is behaving strangely or acting disoriented is advised not to handle it and immediately call Gloucester County animal control at (856) 881-2828. When to get a rabies shotRabies symptoms mimic flu symptoms, including fatigue, weakness, fever and headache, which can make diagnosis tricky. It can be weeks or months after a bite from a rabid animal before the first symptoms of rabies appear – and about two weeks between early signs and extreme symptoms. Clinicians at an emergency departments can determine whether a potentially exposed person needs a rabies shot. According to CDC guidelines, a person who has not been vaccinated against rabies should first receive a shot of human rabies immune globulin.