"Rabies"

Canine and Feline Rabies



Rabies is a fatal viral disease which infects dogs, cats and many other types of animals. Rabies is also contagious to people. Vaccination helps prevent rabies in pets.

Rabies is a disease which poses a serious threat to people and animals. Rabies is invariably fatal and is a zoonotic disease (a disease which can be passed from animals to people and from people to animals). Because people can become infected through pets, rabies is considered to be one of the most important zoonotic diseases in existence, posing serious public health risks. As such, most communities have implemented rabies vaccination regulations which pertain to dogs and cats within the community.

Symptoms of Canine and Feline Rabies

Rabies is caused by a virus which ultimately infects the brain of the exposed animal. Exposure occurs through contact with an infected animals, usually through a bite wound. The most common carriers of rabies in the United States are skunks, bats, raccoons, fox and coyotes.

Once infected with the rabies virus, the virus replicates in body tissues and eventually reaches the brain. Once in the brain of the infected animal, death usually occurs within ten days.

The first symptom seen with rabies may be a personality change. This will be followed by the excitatory phase of the
disease, during which the animal may become aggressive and dangerous. The excitatory phase is followed by the paralytic stage, sometimes also called the "dumb" form of rabies. In this stage, the throat becomes paralyzed, causing the animal to be unable to swallow and the typical drooling is seen during this phase of the disease.

Once symptoms of rabies begin, the disease is incurable and fatal. Rabies is seen in both dogs and cats. Contrary to popular belief, rabies is actually more common in cats than in dogs in some areas. Rabies can also affect horses and other livestock.


Canine and Feline Rabies Vaccination

Fortunately, rabies vaccination is very effective in preventing the spread of rabies to pet dogs and cats.
Rabies vaccinations are considered core vaccines for dogs and cats both. In most areas, rabies vaccines are mandated by law to help protect the public against the spread of rabies. Typically, puppies are vaccinated at 12 weeks of age and kittens may be vaccinated as early as 8 to 12 weeks of age. The rabies vaccine is boostered a year later, then administered following the laws in the community, usually every 1 to 3 years.

Vaccinations against rabies are also available and recommended for other pets, such as ferrets and horses.

Exposure of Pet Dogs and Cats to Rabid Animals

When a pet dog or cat is exposed to or bitten by a rabid animal or an animal suspected of being rabid, there are numerous factors that come into play. If the pet dog or cat is vaccinated against rabies, the outcome is much more likely to be satisfactory.

Dogs and Cats Which Bite People — Dealing with the Threat of Rabies

When a person is bitten by a dog or cat that has received a rabies vaccine and is considered currently vaccinated, the danger of rabies exposure is considered negligible.

In the event that a person is bitten by an unvaccinated dog or cat, the dog or cat must be quarantined and observed for a period of time usually ranging from 10-14 days.

Obviously, vaccinating pet dogs and cats for rabies is the responsible course of action for any pet owner. Vaccinations against rabies protect animals from becoming infected with rabies while also protecting the pet's family and the people in the pet's community.

Signs of Rabies in Animals

Behavior

1.A change in the animal's behavior is the first subtle sign of a rabies infection. While this is difficult to notice in a wild animal, a family pet might want to be left alone or start to behave differently from its usual character. Behavior changes begin the prodromal phase of symptoms.

Prodromal

2.Other signs of rabies in the prodromal stage include loss of appetite and fever. The animal might scratch at the area where he was bitten by the rabid animal. If the animal that was bitten is a dog, the dog's bark might change in the way it normally sounds.

Mad Dog Syndrome

3.Mad Dog Syndrome, also called the furious phase, is what the public generally thinks of as rabies. The infected animal becomes extremely agitated and will furiously attack anything that moves. If caged, they will attack the bars even after their teeth break. They also might crave eating unusual things, have dilated pupils, and be confused and restless among other things.

Paralytic

4.Not all animals will go through the furious phase. Some seem to skip it and go into the paralytic phase. The signs of rabies during this phase include an inability to swallow, throat paralysis, choking, and in dogs, a dropped lower jaw. The animal drools and exhibits excessive foaming saliva.

Paralysis

5.As the paralytic stage continues, the paralysis spreads throughout the animal's body, resulting in coma and death.