A dog with rabies tends to be more restless than usual. (Photo credit: Unsplash)
New Delhi: Apart from cats, dogs are the most popular animals kept for pets. They are loving, caring and loyal. But sometimes, dogs can become dangerous for themselves and others. It can happen if a dog gets rabies. Once a dog has rabies, it can pass the disease to everyone else around it by biting. This is an emergency situation that needs to be handled immediately.
Rabies, a dreaded disease
Rabies is secreted in saliva, so it is mostly passed through a bite wound from an infected animal. It is an infectious disease of the brain and spinal cord. Dogs mainly get rabies by coming in contact with another dog or animals with rabies.
Rabies is an infectious disease of the brain and spinal cord. The virus is most commonly transmitted through biting which breaks the skin and enables the to enter the bloodstream. The rabies virus can pass through an open wound that is exposed to the saliva of an infected animal, usually by licking. If rabies is detected early on, it can be treated and prevented. But once the rabies symptoms appear, the virus becomes fatal.
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How does the virus work?
The central nervous system (CNS) is attacked by the rabies virus. It spreads through the nerves from the site of the infection to the brain. The animal with rabies experiences paralysis that inevitably involves the respiratory system and results in death. Also, it is difficult to test animals for rabies, almost impossible. That is why, you have to keep your dog vaccinated against rabies.
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What are the symptoms of rabies?
- Foaming at the mount is one of the most well-known symptoms of rabies in dogs.
- A dog with rabies tends to be more restless than usual. If you see your dog being jittery, consult and have it evaluated by a vet.
- A usual symptom of rabies in dogs is when they exhibit more aggression than usual. If the aggression continues to take a wrong turn, then it is possible your dog has rabies.
- Fever is another symptom of rabies. Also, dogs at an early stage of rabies have an increased tendency to bite or snap at people.
- Some of the signs of a severe stage of contracting rabies include an increased sensitivity to light, touch and sound, the inability to close the mouth, heavy breathing and excessive drooling.
- Occasionally, dogs with rabies become delusional and attack their surroundings without any trigger. Eventually, coma and death occur after paralysis or prolonged seizure activity.