World Rabies Day occurs every September 28th and is a vital tool in helping educate the public about the dangers of this deadly disease. The more you learn about rabies in animals, the better you can protect yourself, your family, and your pets from exposure.
This blog explains what rabies in dogs and other animals is, the symptoms that occur, the available treatment for rabies, and how rabies protection for all species starts with a simple vaccine.
What Is Rabies in Animals?
Rabies disease is a dangerous virus carried in the saliva of infected mammals, which is why almost all cases of transmission are done via bites. It can, however, also be transmitted if the saliva gets into an open wound or via the mouth or eyes. In fact, 99% of rabies in dogs results from dog bites in regions where the disease is prevalent, particularly in third-world countries with high populations of stray dogs. In the U.S., the most common animals to spread the virus are raccoons, coyotes, bats, skunks, and foxes. These animals often spread the disease to household pets, leading to cases of rabies in dogs and other domestic animals. Thankfully, fewer than three people in the U.S. become infected with rabies each year, but animals made up 3,579 reported cases of rabies in the U.S. in 2022.
Types of Rabies Disease
There are two forms of rabies disease: Furious and Paralytic. Furious rabies is the type more commonly associated with the disease. This form is characterized by psychosis, hallucinations, irrational actions, fear of light and water, and hyperactivity. The other type, paralytic rabies, is almost the exact opposite. It is characterized by lethargy, neurological slowness, paralysis, and even comas.
Different Stages of Rabies & Common Rabies Symptoms
Rabies in animals and humans has several distinct stages of infection:
- Incubation Period: This is right after the virus enters the body and before symptoms begin. It can take anywhere from one week to one year for symptoms to occur, depending on how fast the virus moves from the body to the brain. This stage is where treatment is possible if administered early.
- Prodromal Phase: This is where milder symptoms occur. Symptoms include fever, sore throat, cough, nausea, headache, sore joints, and general flu-like symptoms.
- Acute Neurologic Period: This is when the virus has reached the brain, causing more aggressive symptoms such as convulsions, muscle spasms, confusion, aggression, foaming at the mouth, and other obvious signs associated with rabies in dogs and humans.
At the end of its progression, rabies leads to coma and death.
Rabies in animals presents with a range of symptoms, often starting with behavioral changes such as increased aggression, anxiety, or unusual shyness. As the disease progresses, animals may exhibit excessive drooling, difficulty swallowing, and signs of paralysis, particularly in the hind limbs. In advanced stages, they may suffer from seizures, extreme sensitivity to light or sound, and ultimately, respiratory failure leading to death. It's crucial to seek immediate veterinary care if any of these symptoms are observed, as rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear.
The Reality of Treatment for Rabies in Animals
There is no treatment for rabies in animals or humans after symptoms occur. If someone, pet, or person, is bitten by an animal confirmed or suspected to have rabies, they must seek immediate medical attention to have the best chance of stopping infection. To minimize the number of viral particles entering the bloodstream, it is recommended to wash out the bite or open wound with soapy, antibacterial water for 15 minutes. Then, the individual MUST seek medical attention. Treatment of rabies in dogs or humans before symptoms occur is possible via a series of shots immediately after exposure. If symptoms occur, it is usually too late to expect effective treatment. Very few people have survived rabies, and if infected, healthcare professionals will do everything they can to make the infected individual comfortable.
But why is there no treatment for rabies once symptoms occur? According to the Cleveland Clinic, “There’s no cure for rabies once it’s moved to your brain because it’s protected by your brain’s blood-brain barrier. Your blood-brain barrier is a layer between your brain and the blood vessels in your head. Its job is to protect your brain by keeping toxins and other dangerous substances from getting into your brain from your blood. It’s like a very fine strainer. Researchers aren’t sure how, but rabies locks this barrier down even further, so medications that might destroy it can’t get through.”
Rabies Prevention
So how can you protect yourself and your pet from rabies in animals? The answer is simple: Vaccination Prevention. Only certain humans qualify for the pre-exposure vaccination, typically those more likely to be exposed, such as wildlife workers, veterinarians, etc. As stated earlier, the most common way for an individual to be exposed to rabies would be through a wild animal infecting a household pet, leading to cases of rabies in dogs.
The most effective way to prevent the spread of rabies in animals is to keep your pet current on the rabies vaccination and have regular visits with the veterinarian. It's also important to keep your pets indoors and supervise them when they are outside. A cat is much less likely to be bitten by a rabies-infected animal if they're safely in your home cuddled up on their cat bed. Spaying and neutering all pets is also crucial because if your un-neutered pet gets outside and breeds with another unneutered stray, that pet will have babies, and those babies will be unvaccinated, increasing the risk of rabies spreading in your neighborhood.
The More You Know About Rabies the Better
Rabies is a frightening disease, but the good news is that it's also highly preventable. If you or your four-legged family member ever experience a bite, don't hesitate — get medical help right away, no matter the vaccination status of the animal involved. And let's not forget the power of prevention: keeping your pet's vaccinations up-to-date, especially for rabies, can make all the difference. So let's be proactive and give our pets the protection they deserve
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This blog was first seen on Family Pet Veterinary Center/a>.