Rabies in dogs

Overview

The very word "rabies" elicits fear, and well it should. When the symptoms of this virus appear, it always results in death within a matter of days. In 1953, there were about 6,000 reported cases of rabies in cats and dogs in the United States. Due primarily to the use of vaccines, the number had dropped to 344 by the early 1990s. The most common carriers are bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes. Unvaccinated pets that are allowed to roam are most likely to become infected should they come in contact with a rabid wild or stray animal.

Symptoms

• Disorientation or staggering, caused by paralysis of the hind legs
• Foaming at the mouth, caused by paralysis of the throat and jaw muscles
• Loss of appetite
• Weakness
• Sudden aggression in a normally well-behaved dog
• Extreme behavioral changes; for example a wild animal normally seen only at night may become active in the daytime, and vice versa
• Seizures
• Sudden death
• Inability to chew food or drink water (inability to swallow)

Causes & prevention

Rabies, which attacks the central nervous system of warm-blooded animals, including humans, cats and dogs, is most often transmitted through a bite from an infected animal. It can also be passed from mammal to mammal when infected saliva enters the body through the eyes or an open wound. The virus may incubate anywhere from days to weeks to months. When it does become active, symptoms of the disease usually appear in 3 to 5 days.

The only form of protection is prevention. Make sure that your dog's rabies vaccination is current. Depending on the type of vaccination used, he will require a booster every year or every three years. In many areas, it is mandatory that all domestic dogs be vaccinated at the age of 16 weeks. Vaccinating your pet not only protects him from getting rabies, it protects him if he bites someone. Most local ordinances require a biting dog be quarantined or euthanized for rabies testing if his vaccination is not current.

Is your dog really at risk of contracting rabies? Experts believe that you can greatly decrease the chances by keeping your dog on his leash whenever he is outside. If you think that a rabid animal has bitten your pet, put on gloves to protect yourself from infection and take him to the vet immediately.  Also notify local animal control officers if the animal that bit your dog is still at large and can be identified and caught.

Wild animals

Avoid contact with unknown animals. Should you come across a wild animal, do not attempt to handle or capture it. To minimize exposure to animals who carry rabies, including bats, experts recommend the following simple steps to safeguard your home:

• Cover any holes on the outside of your home that are larger than a quarter, and caulk cracks that are 3/8-inch or more wide.
• Make sure your window screens are intact.
• Install chimney caps.
• Cover attic vents with screens and keep all doors closed tightly.
• Fence your yard

If you discover a dead wild animal in your home, put on sturdy leather work gloves and place it in a box. Take care to tape the box shut so no one will accidentally touch it. Contact your local health department or animal control agency for information about where to take the animal for rabies testing.

Treatment

Bad news. Unfortunately, there is no treatment for a dog infected with rabies.  Your pet will be euthanized and tested to confirm that rabies was indeed the cause of his illness.  This testing is required by law if your dog has come in contact with humans and could have potentially spread the disease.  You may have to undergo preventative treatment to insure you don't get rabies too, but don't worry, these shots are not given though the stomach anymore!