Dogs Rabies – Rabies Signs and Symptoms

Signs and Symptoms of Rabies

Once a dog is exposed, the virus almost always migrates slowly through the dog’s nervous system until it enters the brain. This process typically takes from three to eight weeks in dogs, although occasionally it requires as long as six months. no rabies symptoms become apparent until the brain becomes involved, so this time period also represents the incubation period of rabies. once the virus invades the brain, it then moves to the dog’s salivary glands. at this point, the virus is in the dog’s saliva and the disease can be transmitted through a bite.

Once the virus reaches the brain, the disease may progress through one, two or three distinct stages. the prodromal phase is the first, and in dogs it typically lasts for two to three days. This stage of rabies is characterized by anxiety, nervousness, apprehension and a desire for solitude. a fever may or may not be present. Drastic personality changes, where friendly dogs become irritable or shy, and aggressive dogs become friendly and affectionate, are possible. during this phase, most infected dogs continuously bite, chew or lick the area where they were bitten.

The next phase of rabies is called the furious phase. In dogs it typically lasts for one to seven days. This stage of the disease is characterized by restlessness, irritability and hypersensitivity to touch as well as visual and auditory stimuli. Biting or snapping at other animals, people or even inanimate objects is possible. As the restlessness increases, an infected dog might start roaming and become more irritable, possibly even becoming vicious. Eventually, many dogs become disoriented, experience seizures and die during this phase of rabies.

The remaining stage of rabies is known as the paralytic phase. a dog can enter this phase following either the prodromal or the furious phase. Typically, the paralytic phase develops within a very few days after the first signs of rabies appear. during this phase, nerves in the throat and jaw are affected and dogs may salivate profusely (“foaming at the mouth”) because they are unable to swallow. once the dog’s facial muscles and diaphragm are affected by progressive paralysis, he or she may experience breathing difficulties, a dropped jaw and appetite loss. the dog might make choking sounds as if a foreign object is lodged in the throat. Staggering, lack of coordination and hindquarter paralysis may also occur. Respiratory failure eventually causes death.

Diagnosis

Currently, the definitive method of diagnosing rabies involves microscopically examining the dog’s brain tissue. Naturally, this technique can only be used to diagnose a dog that has already died. New diagnostic techniques utilizing skin and/or blood samples might be a possible means of evaluating potentially exposed dogs and humans, but these testing procedures are not yet ready for widespread use.

Rabies Treatment

No treatment is available for rabies. once the disease develops, death is almost inevitable.

Rabies Vaccination and Prevention

Vaccination is by far the most effective way to prevent rabies. a properly vaccinated dog is extremely unlikely to become infected, even if bitten by a demonstrably rabid animal. Unfortunately, many dog owners do not have their pets vaccinated against rabies, even though vaccination is required by law everywhere in the US and the vaccine is both safe and effective. a fairly low percentage of unvaccinated dogs will contract the disease after exposure, but those that do are essentially under a death sentence.

Typically, dogs are vaccinated at three to four months of age and then vaccinated once again when they turn one year old. once a dog turns two, three-year rabies vaccinations become the standard prevention protocol.

Almost inevitably fatal, rabies is not a disease one wants to fool around with. any dog bitten by a wild mammal (including a bat) that is unavailable for rabies testing should be considered to have been exposed to the disease. An unvaccinated dog exposed to rabies should be euthanized immediately or placed in strict isolation for observation for six months. a simple vaccination is a far better option.

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Dogs Rabies – Rabies Signs and Symptoms

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