Rabies is probably one of the most lethal diseases affecting pets, and dogs aren’t exception. The disease is caused primarily by a virus injected into the nerve tissue, causing death within two days. Most cases of rabies in dogs, and perhaps also humans, are due to a bite from an infected mammal. The most common carrier of rabies in dogs is the raccoon, but other animals such as squirrels, skunks, raccoon hybrid and bats can also carry rabies. Rabies is spread through bites, saliva, blood, and mucous membranes, which are easily contaminated with this viral disease.
There are several symptoms associated with rabies in dogs. Fever, weakness, muscle fatigue, and loss of appetite are common to all forms of rabies in dogs. Loss of coordination and speech are also possible symptoms. If you have identified these symptoms in your dog or know of someone who has had these problems, contact your local vet as soon as possible. Early treatment for this disease greatly improves the odds of a full recovery.
Unfortunately, there is no vaccine for rabies in dogs or other pets. Once your pet becomes infected, treatment will depend on what type of infection he has. If the infection is caught early, the chances of full recovery are good. However, if the disease has progressed or been re-infected, there is a good chance that the dog will be hospitalized and may not live past a week or two. rabies in dogs and other pets can be prevented by taking precautions when handling animals and by regularly visiting your veterinarian.
Rabies is a highly contagious disease transmitted through the bites of bats. It is usually detectable after three days from first symptom onset. The symptoms of rabies in humans include lameness, loss of muscle tone, respiratory problems, loss of vision, seizures and frothing of the mouth and stomach. If any of these symptoms occur in humans and exhibit three or more distinct signs of rabies in dogs, it is necessary to see a doctor as quickly as possible for proper diagnosis.
Symptoms in dogs that exhibit rabies in humans include seizures, aggression, depression, incontinence, difficulty breathing, aggression toward humans and dogs, fatigue, and muscle weakness. Rabies in dogs can also be detected through warning signs like wet, open mouth, urinating at strange times, coughing with mucus in the chest, lack of appetite, foaming at the mouth, licking the face and ears, wandering and uncoordinated walk, wandering eyes, and biting. Rabies in cats can include feline laryngitis, arthritis, incontinence, vomiting, dehydration, heart failure, rabies in kittens, congenital defects, mange, eye problems, and feline leukemia and lymphoma. Rabies in reptiles like skunks, raccoons and squirrels can also result in death.
In most cases, how do you know if an animal has rabies before you bring him into your home? If you have not vaccinated your pet and the previous owner did not have rabies vaccination and the animal has not been exposed to the previous cat or dog, you should contact your local health department and ask for advice. Rabies vaccination is generally available for cats and dogs but requires a physician’s recommendation. Rabies vaccination is generally recommended for every pet, whether they are owned by humans or other animals.
How do you know if an animal has rabies if you come across other signs and symptoms appear in association with the disease? Rabies has a high fatality rate, so it is important to immediately seek veterinarian care when you observe any of the symptoms mentioned above. Symptoms include loss of coordination, seizures, foaming at the mouth, loss of consciousness, breathing difficulty or frothing from the mouth or nasal mucus, paralysis, coma, death caused by loss of blood, nervous tics, loss of speech, swallowing irregularities, asymmetry in the skin, and abnormal nervous system activities. Rabies develops in the nervous system and brain, so if you see these signs in conjunction with your pet’s early warning signs of rabies such as frothing from the mouth or respiratory signs or symptoms, you should contact your local health department for advice.
How do you know if an animal has rabies if you come across other symptoms and signs of illness that are similar to rabies in humans? These symptoms include visible or dark red patches of skin (called rashes) that will not heal, a lump under the skin that does not go away, persistent coughing with a white or grayish tint to it, a depressed skull, swollen lymph nodes or bleeding gums, paralysis of muscles or a drooling problem, a loss of vision and hearing, weakness in the upper body, problems with the muscles of the jaw and swallowing, drooling, and abnormal behavior. Rabies and distemper have similarities but are completely different viruses, so if an animal acts like both dogs and people with rabies, then it probably has the other virus. In order to be absolutely sure, a specimen must be taken from the animal and sent to the laboratory for testing.