Veterinary Technician Advice Rabies:
The Rare but Deadly Disease
By Kami R. Guy, CVT
Rabies is the most well known but misunderstood diseases of dogs. Although it
is a rare disease, it is deadly to almost all warm-blooded animals including
people. In this article, I will describe this disease and the importance of
vaccinating your dog.
Rabies is a viral infection that attacks the brain
and other parts of the nervous system and is transmitted by any bodily fluids
such as urine, saliva and blood. The most common form of transmission is by the
saliva of one animal to the next or from animal to human by a bite. The most
common wild animals to carry this disease are the skunk, raccoon, bat and fox.
In domesticated animals the number of cats that are infected by Rabies has
surpassed that of the dog because of the cats ability to roam more freely. This
disease is found in all continents except Antarctica. Although this vaccination
is required in the United States, and other countries, many countries do not
require it, and rabies is still highly endemic to both animals and humans.
There are three phases in the course of the disease in animals; these
phases are prodomal, furious, and paralytic. The prodomal phase lasts
two-to-three days and may pass unnoticed or may include some or all of the
following signs. The signs include behavioral changes such as a quiet dog
becoming agitated and a active dog becoming nervous or shy, fever, slow eye
reflexes, dilated pupils, excessive drooling, chewing at the bite site and
snapping at imaginary objects. The Furious phase usually lasts two-to-four days
with very erratic behavior. This behavior can include, but not limited to,
irritability, restlessness, barking, episodic aggression, vicious attacks on
inanimate objects, unexplained roaming and abnormal sexual behavior. Ataxia,
disorientation, and seizures may develop before the third stage begins. The
Paralytic phase is when the paralysis of the limbs and body starts to occur.
Paralysis first attacks the limbs, followed by the larynx, causing changes in
the bark and dyspnea, followed by pharyngeal paralysis, causing drooling and
dysphagia, and finally masticatory paralysis causing a dropped jaw. Depression,
coma, and eventually death from respiratory paralysis soon follows. Death
usually occurs 3-7 days from onset of symptoms.
There are a number of
diseases that can mimic rabies, so definite diagnosis is made by a special test
performed on brain tissue. The incubation period of the rabies virus from the
time of exposure to the time that Central Nervous System (CNS) signs appear is
usually 2-8 weeks but can be as long as 7 months. If you or your pet has been
bitten by any animal that is believed to be rabid, then the wound should be
cleaned and then allowed to bleed to allow the wound to rid itself of the virus.
Contact your veterinarian or doctor immediately. Even though the chance of
getting rabies from rodents or squirrels is small, if a bite was to occur then
you should contact your doctor and/or veterinarian immediately.
Although
Rabies vaccinations are not required to travel it is a good idea if you are
planning to spend time doing outdoor activities and nighttime outings. If you
plan on getting Rabies vaccinations for yourself, you will have to get three
injections over four weeks and a booster every two years if risk continues. If
you are not vaccinated and are bitten by an animal that is expected to be rabid,
then post-exposure vaccinations are given at zero, three, seven, fourteen and
twenty-eight days to try to eliminate the virus from the body. If this
precaution is not taken and the virus has been contracted, the disease is
fatal.
The best prevention for your pet is canine vaccinations, the first
of which starts at three to four months of age and then every one to three years
depending on the vaccine and local laws. Please call your veterinarian or doctor
if you believe that a rabid animal has bitten you or your pet or if you have any
questions on the vaccination status of yourself or your dog.
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