What is rabies?
Rabies in dogs is a viral and severe disease that directly attacks gray matter and the central nervous system. Usually, the virus can be fatal to the host, either it is a human or a dog.
What causes rabies in dogs?
Rabies in dogs is caused by the rabies virus. This is transmitted through the bite of carrier wild animals such as bats, foxes, skunks, and raccoons. Once the virus enters the host, it incubates and replicates in the muscle tissues. The virus’s development process is slow and can take up to a month.
Once developed, the virus spreads towards the motor, sensory and peripheral nerve fibers. From there, it connects with the central nervous system through the nerves fluid. The virus is zoonotic, meaning that it can be transmitted from a dog to a human. However, studies have shown that a bite is not guarantee of contracting the disease. In fact, 15% of the bites of a dog to a person are estimated to result in disease.
What are the symptoms of rabies in dogs?
There are two types or stages of rabies: paralytic and furious. The first two or three days of rabies in dogs are known as the prodromal stage. The dog will manifest mild signs of the disease. After this phase, it will move into paralytic rabies, furious rabies, or both.
In the stage of furious rabies, the dog will manifest irritability, aggression and attack behavior. This stage lasts from 1 to 7 days. The stage of paralytic rabies is characterized by a gradual loss of movement, weakness and paralysis. Many dogs salivate excessively due to the inability to swallow.
What steps should I take to prevent and treat rabies in dogs?
The most important measure is prevention. Make sure you are up-to-date with your dog vaccinations, which include vaccines against rabies. Once rabies is acquired, it cannot be cured. This means that the animal´s death is almost imminent. In very rare cases, dogs have recovered after intensive medical care.
Protect your dog by staying up-to-date with his vaccines. Here in Dogalize we love dogs as much as you. For this reason, we offer you all the information you need to keep your pet always healthy.