Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 2: Identifying signs of rabies
• Part 2 of 2: Preventing your dog from getting rabies
• Tips
• Warnings

Rabies is one of the oldest infectious diseases, common in wild animals such as bats, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, skunks and even cats. This acute viral infection affects the nervous system and can be transmitted to almost any animal, including humans. If your dog has not been vaccinated against the disease, he is at risk of contracting the disease if he has been exposed to or bitten by a wild animal. If you think you are seeing signs of rabies, be careful and ask for help. You should also contact the vet as soon as possible.

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Part 1 of 2: Identifying signs of rabies

1. Watch for the early signs of a rabies infection. The early stage can last from 2 to 10 days. During this time, your dog will feel sick and show general symptoms. If you notice these symptoms, examine your dog for bites or signs of a recent fight (scabs, scratches, disturbed coat with dried saliva). If you discover a bite or wound, take your dog to the vet immediately for an examination. The early, nonspecific symptoms include:
   • muscle strain
   • Restlessness
   • Irritation
   • Chills
   • Fever
   • General malaise; feeling of illness and discomfort
   • Photophobia fear of bright light
   • Anorexia, or no interest in food
   • Throwing up
   • Diarrhea
   • Not being able or willing to swallow
   • Cough
   • Paralysis of the throat and jaw muscles can follow
   EXPERT TIP

   Watch for later symptoms of the mild form of rabies. The mild form, also known as the paralytic or stupid form, is the most common and will last 3 to 7 days. It is known as the paralytic form because your dog can foam and become paralyzed. He will also appear confused, sick, or lethargic (tired). Take your dog to the vet right away if your dog shows other symptoms of this mild form, such as:

   • Paralysis (inability to move) of the legs, facial muscles or other parts of the body. It usually starts in the back legs and then moves to the front of the body.
   • Hanging of the lower jaw, causing one stupid appearance.
   • Making a strange barking sound that does not sound like a normal bark.
   • Excess saliva that creates foam around the mouth.
   • Difficulty swallowing.
     • Be aware that dogs with this form of rabies are not aggressive and rarely attempt to bite.
2. Watch for later symptoms of the aggressive form of rabies. This furious, or aggressive form will also last 3 to 7 days and your dog will be aggressive or easy to agitate. Your dog may exhibit abnormal behavior and foam mouth. This form is usually the first thing that comes to mind when talking about rabies, but it is less common in dogs than the stupid form. The furious form causes excessive aggression, so you have to be very careful to avoid getting bitten. Call the animal rescue service to help you if you think a dog has this form of rabies. Signs include:
   • Excess saliva that creates foam around the mouth.
   • Hydrophobia, fear of water. The dog will not come near water and will feel uncomfortable or panic if he hears the sound of water or comes into contact with water.
   • Aggression. The dog will look like it wants to bite and will aggressively bar its teeth.
   • Restlessness and discomfort. He may also have no interest in food.
   • Irritation. The slightest provocation can cause the dog to attack and bite. He may even do this without provocation or cause.
   • Abnormal behavior, such as chewing stones, garbage, or his own feet. The dog may also follow your hand as you move it back and forth in front of him while in a cage, and may try to bite.
   • Overly playful puppies that suddenly bite when petted and become aggressive after hours.
3. Examine your dog for bites and open wounds. If an infected animal bites another animal, rabies is spread through the infected animal's saliva. When the saliva comes into contact with the blood or salivary glands (mouth, eyes and nasal passages) of the healthy animal, the disease is transmitted. Determining if your dog has been bitten or has open wounds can help determine if your dog may have been exposed to rabies.
   • Once the disease has entered the body, it spreads through the nerves until it reaches the central nervous system (the spine and brain). From that point it spreads to the salivary glands, where it can be transferred to another animal.
4. Get medical help immediately. If your dog has been bitten, take it to a vet as soon as possible. The rabies virus can survive on your dog's coat or skin for up to 2 hours. Therefore, wear gloves, a long-sleeved shirt and long pants before touching the dog. The vet will ask about the possibility of rabies exposure (such as whether your dog has been around foxes). Your dog will also be examined.
   • If you see signs of infection in a dog that is not yours, call the animal rescue. The dog can then be taken to the vet without you running the risk of being bitten.
   • There are no tests that can show whether a live animal has rabies or not. The only test consists of removing the brain and examining small pieces of the brain microscopically for the presence of specific signs called Negri bodies.
5. Know what you can do for your dog right away. Your dog may receive a booster shot of the rabies vaccine if it has been previously vaccinated. This will help his immune system fight the disease. The dog must also be closely observed for 45 days, this can usually be done at home. Your dog should not come into contact with other animals and people outside of its own household during this period. If the dog has not been previously vaccinated and has been bitten by an animal known to have rabies, euthanasia is generally recommended.
   • Having the dog euthanized prevents serious human health risks and also prevents the dog from becoming completely rabid.
   • If you refuse to have the dog euthanized, he must be quarantined for 6 months at a veterinary clinic that is willing to do so. You will be responsible for the costs yourself. If the dog does not become rabid, it will be vaccinated 1 month before release.
6. Be aware that there are certain illnesses similar to rabies. If your dog has no bites or other wounds, but you are concerned about the symptoms he is showing, it may be a different disease. Take your dog to the vet right away if he appears to be sick or shows any strange symptoms. Diseases and conditions that can be confused with rabies include:
   • Viral hepatitis
   • Meningitis
   • Tetanus
   • Toxoplasmosw
   • Brain tumors
   • Maternal aggression in newly born bitches.
   • Poisoning from chemicals, such as diminazene or organophosphate

Part 2 of 2: Preventing your dog from getting rabies

1. Get your dog vaccinated. This is the best and cheapest way to prevent your dog from getting rabies. Set up a regular vaccination schedule with your vet to keep vaccinations up to date. Depending on the type of vaccination and local laws, your dog should be vaccinated annually, every 2 years or every 3 years.
   • Many countries have laws requiring dogs to be vaccinated against rabies.
2. Limit exposure to wild and roaming animals. The best way to keep your dog safe, in addition to getting vaccinated, is to avoid coming into contact with wild animals. You can try to keep him in a fenced yard, limit the time he spends outside during times when wildlife is more active (such as early morning or night), and keep him on a leash when you go out for a walk.
   • Pay extra attention to your dog when taking him on hikes in areas where wildlife is abundant.
3. Get yourself vaccinated too. If you live or work in a high-risk area, it is good to get yourself vaccinated against rabies. The CDC also recommends vaccination for travelers staying for more than 1 month in areas where rabies is common or if the traveler will be working with wildlife in this area. Jobs with a high risk factor include:
   • Veterinarian
   • Vet assistant
   • Staff in rabies laboratories
   • People working with wildlife, in wildlife shelters, rehabilitation centers or parks
4. Treat wounds that may have been caused by rabid animals. If you are bitten by an animal that you think has rabies, wash the wound out with soap and water for 10 minutes. Then contact the doctor's post, which will contact the appropriate authorities for an investigation. An attempt will be made to catch the animal that bit you to test for rabies.
   • If the animal is not found or if it is found and has rabies, you will be given a post-exposure vaccine. The form of this depends on whether you have previously been vaccinated against rabies or not.

Tips

• Monitor your dog and keep him on a leash in areas where cases of rabies are known.
• Make your yard unattractive to wildlife by keeping trash cans covered and locked, making sure there are no hiding places under your patio or house, and considering installing a fence to keep out roaming animals.
• If you find a bat in your house and your dog is in the same room, carefully catch the bat without coming into direct contact with it. Take him to an institution for a possible rabies test.

Warnings

• Treat any bite wound by washing with soap and water and contact your doctor, even if you don't think the animal has rabies. Bites can become seriously infected by bacteria if not treated promptly.
• If a stray dog ​​or cat appears ill, don't approach it. Also avoid wild animal babies, they may be carriers of the virus. Call the animal rescue or the no-emergency police number to have the animal captured by trained personnel with the appropriate equipment.