Rabies - Symptoms, Preventions, and Treatments

Rabies is one of the most well known viruses among pets and it is very important to know the symptoms so it can be treated quickly and effectively. Preventing the virus and taking the necessary precautions against it could save your life and the life of your pet. I hope this post sheds more light on the subject and you are better equipped to handle the rabies virus.

First, let’s talk about the virus itself and how it is spread. There are only a few countries on Earth where you will be completely safe from rabid animals. This includes Australia, the British Isles, and Antarctica - in these countries there is no rabies virus at all. In the United States it depends on what area of the country you live in as to how you are most likely to contract rabies. Rabies is contracted by coming into contact with the saliva of an infected animal (such as being bitten). Speculation has said that only 15% of exposed people will contract the disease.

If you live in the mountain states of the U.S. you have the lowest number of contacts with an infected animal. People living in the Plains, the Midwest, and Texas are most likely to catch rabies from a skunk; and as you head east, raccoons are the big carrier. Bats were at one time considered to be the main carrier of rabies, but that fact is simply not true. There are far more cases of humans contracting rabies from a skunk than from a bat.

When you are trying to determine if your pet has contracted rabies, it can be very difficult. Animals can go through one or all of several stages, the virus is relatively slow moving and will develop in roughly 3-8 weeks in dogs, 2-6 weeks in cats, and 3-6 weeks in people. The virus spreads through the nerves of the infected animal and head for the brain, after it reaches the brain, it will move to the salivary glands where it can then be spread through a bite. There are three different stages an infected animal may go through (he may go through one, two, or all three of the stages) they are described below:

• the Prodromal Phase: This stage usually last between 2-3 days in dogs and will include symptoms such as: apprehension, nervousness, anxiety, solitude, and a fever. Animals that have been friendly would now act shy or irritable and may snap. Aggressive dogs will be docile and become more affectionate. Animals will usually constantly lick the site of the bite.

• the Furious Phase: Animals may enter this stage after the Prodromal phase, and in dogs it usually lasts between 1-7 days. Your dog will become restless and irritable. They will also become incredibly sensitive to noises and sights. The more restless they become, they will begin roaming and become increasingly vicious. Animals in this stage can progress to becoming disoriented and can eventually have seizures and die.

• the Paralytic (or dumb) Phase: This stage can be developed either after the Prodromal or Furious phases and develops within 2-4 days after the first symptoms are noticed. The nerves affecting the head and throat will become involved and animals may salivate due to their inability to swallow. Deep labored breathing may develop and the jaw may drop as the muscles in the face become paralyzed. The dog may make choking sounds and owners may think something is lodged in their throat - do not make this assumption!! Many people are exposed to the virus by sticking their hands inside their dogs mouth and getting bitten. The animal will get weaker and will eventually go into respiratory failure and die.

Rabies is diagnosed by submitting the brain to microscopic testing and there is no cure for rabies. Once it has been developed in humans, death is most likely the outcome. There have been a few reports of dogs being infected and surviving, but they are very rare.

The best way to prevent rabies is through vaccinations. The rabies vaccine is mandatory for dogs in all states and when animals are properly vaccinated, they stand very little chance of contracting the virus. Dogs are vaccinated at 3 or 4 months then again at 1 year of age. Following the 4 month old vaccination, a 3 year rabies vaccination is highly recommended.

If you are bitten by animal you think is rabid, the animal will be quarantined and observed for a period of at least 10 days. People that have been exposed to rabies will be given a 5 shot post-exposure treatment to protect them against becoming infected.

If you haven’t done so, please make sure your pets are current with all their vaccinations and if they aren’t - get them in to see your veterinarian as soon as possible! The rabies virus can be deadly if it is developed in pets and humans, so it is up to us as responsible pet owners to keep rabies under control!!

Thanks for reading! As always your participation in comments and discussions are encouraged and greatly appreciated!!

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