Chances are, your pets are vaccinated against rabies. But do you know what rabies is?
Rabies is a disease caused by a virus. The virus targets the nervous system — specifically nerve cells. When a pet (or person) is bitten by a rabies virus carrier, the virus moves through peripheral nerves towards the brain and spinal cord.
Any mammal can get rabies, although the symptoms can be somewhat different in different species.
Early symptoms of a rabies infection in humans include:
- Headache
- Fever
- Decrease in appetite and/or vomiting
- Pain, itching and/or tingling at the bite site
The early stage of rabies in humans — which can develop up to a month after being bitten — can last up to ten days. Symptoms of the second stage include difficulty swallowing, paralysis, disorientation, agitation, and eventually coma. Once the virus reaches the central nervous system (the spine and brain), there is no known cure.
Rabies in dogs has three recognized stages:
- The prodomal stage is characterized by behavioral changes. It can last from one to three days.
- The excitative stage (also known as “furious rabies”) comes with the tendency to be extremely reactive to external stimuli. This is the stage where the dog is most likely to bite. It lasts three or four days.
- The paralytic stage is caused by damage to motor control neurons. The animal will lose coordination as the rear limbs become paralyzed. You may see drooling and difficulty swallowing as the facial and throat muscles stop working. Respiratory arrest often causes death in rabies patients at this stage.
You can prevent rabies by:
- Vaccinating your pets on a regular basis
- Avoiding unknown stray animals
- Avoiding wild animals
- Screen doors and windows to keep animals from entering your home
- Beware of nocturnal animals that are about during the day
If you think you or your pet may have been bitten by a rabid animal, seek medical attention as soon as possible.