how-do-dogs-get-rabies

They say that if there is anything in this world that is worse than cancer, it would be rabies. Imagine something that can turn your sweet and happy pet to a snarling monster. Or imagine putting your once active and playful dog into a complete state of paralysis in a matter of weeks. If not this, imagine creating so much havoc to the once peaceful bond you enjoyed with your furry pal.

Yes, that’s rabies. It causes severe physical, emotional, and psychological turmoil. To pet owners, it’s a nightmare.

 

What Is Rabies?

Rabies is a life-threatening viral disease that can cause by the virus lyssa viruses. It spreads through infected saliva that transmits when rabid animal bites or scratches a human or another animal.

It is a zoonotic infection which also means it can transmit from animals to humans. The most common reservoir of this virus is the house dogs or domesticated dogs. There are two types of rabies based on clinical manifestation. These are the Furious and Paralytic type.

With the exemption of Antarctica, Rabies has become endemic in many continents, and for the past 4,000 years has continued to plague us. Of all the thousands of people that have been afflicted with the disease, approximately 95% are from Africa and Asia.

Rabies is a tropical disease which predominantly affects poor populations living in urban, distant locations. The most frequent victims are children 5-14 years old.

The rabies virus can survive in different animal species, which can include bats, foxes, raccoons, wolves, coyotes, skunks, weasels, cats, cattle, ground house bear, and other wild carnivores. Amongst these, dogs are still the principal host in some parts of America, Asia, and Africa.

 

Rabies Statistics

Each year, an average of 55,000 people dies due to rabies each year. In Asia alone, estimates show around 31,000 human deaths each year. 20,000 of this comes solely from India. This number decreased to about 2,000 per annum by the year 2011. In spite of this, Rabies ranks at 3rd position with the highest death rate among A and B infectious diseases.

 

Rabies Symptoms in Dogs and Humans

The onset of symptoms of rabies depends on the affected dog. While others immediately show odd changes in behavior, some dogs don’t initially show signs.

Below are just some of the common signs of rabies infection :

  • Excessive salivation
  • Irritability and increased aggression
  • White, frothy substance coming out of the mouth
  • Dysphagia or difficulty in swallowing
  • Poor muscle coordination
  • Paralysis
  • Seizures

 

Infection in Humans

The incubation is typically 1- 3 months in humans. But, incubations can be long and short. They can be as quick as four days but can extend to as long as six years. So the initial signs and symptoms are as follows:

  • Fever
  • A headache
  • Inflammation of the meninges of the brain
  • Paralysis
  • Anxiety
  • Insomnia
  • Confusion
  • Agitation
  • Paranoia
  • Hallucinations
  • Delirium
  • Hydrophobia
  • Coma

We will discuss Hydrophobia, which is quite hard to understand. It means fear of water. Moreover, it refers to symptoms present during the latter phase of the disease wherein the patient is thirsty but cannot physically tolerate fluids.

It goes together with dysphagia or difficulty in swallowing. With hydrophobia, a patient panics in the presence of water. Hydrophobia is often associated with furious type rabies, which also affects about 80% of infected people.

 

How Can You Prevent Rabies?

1. Vaccination

Before 1885, when Emile Roux and Louis Pasteur developed a vaccine, almost all patient who gets infected with rabies dies. Treatment is currently the best way to prevent rabies. It applies to both pets and animals, especially for those who live in areas where there is a higher likelihood of getting the disease.

In some US states, vaccination of pets against rabies is a requirement of law. Regardless of what area you live in, it is essential to have your pets vaccinated to protect them and yourself.

 

2. Be alert

To prevent your pets from getting infected through other outdoor animals; it is best to keep them indoors as much as possible. Similarly, it lessens the likelihood of them coming in contact with other animals that may be infected.

 

3. Stay away from stray and strange animals

Although some stray animals may seem friendly and harmless, you can’t be sure whether that animal is vaccinated or not. Animals infected with rabies show a peculiar behavior of not fearing strangers.

While it may seem friendly and does not run away, you should never try to touch it. This seemingly friendly behavior may be a sign of rabies infection.

 

How Do Dogs Get Rabies?

Usually, rabies can transfer from one affected animal to another through a bite. This virus is transported through the saliva. However, there exist other ways of transmitting the disease even with the absence of a bite wound.

Rabies can still be transferred if the infected saliva gets in contact with an injury or an open membrane. In some areas in North America, rabies transmission is usually carried out by infected forest creatures such as Bats, raccoon, foxes, and skunks.

 

Transmission

Some of the other common ways of transfer include:

 

Animal Bite

It is by far the most common way of contracting the disease. Since the virus is present in the saliva, an infected dog who bites another is likely to transmit the disease.

 

Scratch

A disease can transmit through a scratch. Upon entering a canine’s body, the rabies virus multiplies in the dog’s muscles, before making its way towards the brain. Consequently, it is the period when changes in behavior begin to manifest. The canine’s usual sweet behavior may suddenly exhibit aggression.

Some may also show some degree of disorientation. From the moment the dog acquires the infection to being full-blown rabies, it usually takes about 1 to months. However, it can vary depending on the dog size and the time it takes for the virus to travel from exposure to the brain.

 

Conclusion

While it is true that Rabies is a dangerous disease, the good news about it is that it is entirely preventable. Human rabies vaccine is available as a pre-exposure immunization. In different countries, various programs on animal immunization are in place.

Education on bite prevention and dog behavior for both children and adults are also essential extensions of the rabies vaccination campaign. There is still a lot to be done, but with consistent attention, this can be eliminated as a significant public health problem.

 

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