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| dog with rabies in the paralytic (post-furious) stage photo |
WHAT IS IT??
Rabies is a virus that may affect the brain and spinal cord of all mammals, including dogs, cats and humans.
It is a viral disease that causes acute inflammation of the brain.
Rabies is a virus that may affect the brain and spinal cord of all mammals, including dogs, cats and humans.
It is a viral disease that causes acute inflammation of the brain.
Since animals who have rabies secrete large amounts of virus in their saliva, the disease is primarily passed to dogs through a bite from an infected animal.
It can also be transmitted through a scratch (especially with cats) or when infected saliva makes contact with mucous membranes or an open, fresh wound.
The risk runs highest if your dog-or any pet-is exposed to wild animals.
The most common carriers of the rabies virus are bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes.
It can also be transmitted through a scratch (especially with cats) or when infected saliva makes contact with mucous membranes or an open, fresh wound.
The risk runs highest if your dog-or any pet-is exposed to wild animals.
The most common carriers of the rabies virus are bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes.
┅Rabies is reported in cats more than in any
domestic species mostly due to their tendency to roam a lot. ┅
domestic species mostly due to their tendency to roam a lot. ┅
If there are also cats in your household, it’s important to make sure they are vaccinated and kept indoors.
Early symptoms...
*may include fever and tingling at the site of exposure.
*This is then followed by either violent movements, uncontrolled excitement, and fear of water or an
inability to move parts of the body and confusion followed by loss of consciousness .
*may include fever and tingling at the site of exposure.
*This is then followed by either violent movements, uncontrolled excitement, and fear of water or an
inability to move parts of the body and confusion followed by loss of consciousness .
※In both cases, once symptoms appear it nearly always results in death.※
Types/variations...
Hydrophobia ("fear of water")
It is the historic name for rabies. It refers to a
set of symptoms in the later stages of an infection in which the person/animal has:
*difficulty swallowing, shows panic when presented with liquids to drink, and can't quench his or her thirst.
*All mammals infected with the virus may
demonstrate hydrophobia.
*Saliva production is greatly increased, and attempts to drink, or even the intention or suggestion of drinking may cause excruciatingly painful spasms of the muscles in the throat and larynx.
This can be attributed to the fact that the
virus multiplies and assimilates in the salivary glands of the infected animal for the purpose of further transmission through biting and the infected animal's ability to transmit the virus will reduce significantly if he can swallow his saliva with/without external source of water.
*Hydrophobia is commonly associated with furious rabies that affects 80% of the infected people and animals.
It is the historic name for rabies. It refers to a
set of symptoms in the later stages of an infection in which the person/animal has:
*difficulty swallowing, shows panic when presented with liquids to drink, and can't quench his or her thirst.
*All mammals infected with the virus may
demonstrate hydrophobia.
*Saliva production is greatly increased, and attempts to drink, or even the intention or suggestion of drinking may cause excruciatingly painful spasms of the muscles in the throat and larynx.
This can be attributed to the fact that the
virus multiplies and assimilates in the salivary glands of the infected animal for the purpose of further transmission through biting and the infected animal's ability to transmit the virus will reduce significantly if he can swallow his saliva with/without external source of water.
*Hydrophobia is commonly associated with furious rabies that affects 80% of the infected people and animals.
Paralytic form..
The remaining 20% may experience a paralytic form of rabies that's marked by muscle weakness, loss of sensation and paralysis.
This rabies form doesn't usually cause fear of water.
The remaining 20% may experience a paralytic form of rabies that's marked by muscle weakness, loss of sensation and paralysis.
This rabies form doesn't usually cause fear of water.
Transmission..
The disease is spread to humans from another animal, commonly by a bite or scratch. Infected saliva that comes into contact with any mucous membrane is also a risk.
The disease is spread to humans from another animal, commonly by a bite or scratch. Infected saliva that comes into contact with any mucous membrane is also a risk.
In humans death almost always occurs 2 to 10 days after first symptoms. Survival is rare once symptoms have presented, even with the administration of proper and intensive care.
Progression...
Once rabies infection occurs, the virus grows in muscle tissue and may go undetected for several days or months.
During this incubation (or latent) period, the animal appears healthy and shows no sign of infection.
Usually within 1 to 3 months, the virus migrates to the nerves near the site of the infection and spreads to the spinal cord and brain (i.e., the central nervous
system).
It usually takes from 12 to 180 days to spread through the peripheral nerves to the central nervous system.
At this point, the disease progresses rapidly, and the animal begins to show the classic behavioral signs of rabies.
The virus spreads to the saliva, tears, breast milk and urine.
The animal usually dies in 4 or 5 days.
Once rabies infection occurs, the virus grows in muscle tissue and may go undetected for several days or months.
During this incubation (or latent) period, the animal appears healthy and shows no sign of infection.
Usually within 1 to 3 months, the virus migrates to the nerves near the site of the infection and spreads to the spinal cord and brain (i.e., the central nervous
system).
It usually takes from 12 to 180 days to spread through the peripheral nerves to the central nervous system.
At this point, the disease progresses rapidly, and the animal begins to show the classic behavioral signs of rabies.
The virus spreads to the saliva, tears, breast milk and urine.
The animal usually dies in 4 or 5 days.
Signs and Symptoms of Rabies in pets
Rabid animals usually stop eating and drinking, and may appear to want to be left alone.
After the initial onset of symptoms, the animal may become vicious or begin to show signs of paralysis.
Some rabid animals bite at the slightest provocation; while others may be somnolent and difficult to arouse.
Once the animal shows signs of paralysis, the disease progresses very quickly and the animal dies.
After the initial onset of symptoms, the animal may become vicious or begin to show signs of paralysis.
Some rabid animals bite at the slightest provocation; while others may be somnolent and difficult to arouse.
Once the animal shows signs of paralysis, the disease progresses very quickly and the animal dies.
Prodromal Phase: First Symptoms of Rabies
The early symptoms of rabies tend to be subtle, last 2 to 3 days, and include the following:
★Change in tone of the dog's bark
★Chewing at the bite site
★Fever
★Loss of appetite
★Subtle changes in behavior
The early symptoms of rabies tend to be subtle, last 2 to 3 days, and include the following:
★Change in tone of the dog's bark
★Chewing at the bite site
★Fever
★Loss of appetite
★Subtle changes in behavior
Furious Phase: "Mad Dog Syndrome"
The second phase of infection usually lasts 2 to 4 days and not all rabid animals experience it.
The second phase of infection usually lasts 2 to 4 days and not all rabid animals experience it.
Animals that enter immediately into the final paralytic phase are sometimes said to have dumb or paralytic rabies. Animals that spend most of their diseased state in the furious phase are sometimes said to have furious rabies.
An infected dog may viciously attack any moving object, person, or animal;
a caged rabid dog will chew the wire, break their teeth, and try to bite a hand moving in front of the cage.
Rabid cats will attack suddenly, biting and scratching.
Foxes will invade yards and attack dogs, cows, and porcupines.
An infected dog may viciously attack any moving object, person, or animal;
a caged rabid dog will chew the wire, break their teeth, and try to bite a hand moving in front of the cage.
Rabid cats will attack suddenly, biting and scratching.
Foxes will invade yards and attack dogs, cows, and porcupines.
They may show the following signs:
★Craving to eat anything, including inedible objects
★Constant growling and barking
★Dilated pupils
★Disorientation
★Erratic behavior
★Episodes of aggression
★Facial expression showing anxiety and hyperalertness
★Irritability
★No fear of natural enemies (e.g., wild animals may not be afraid of people, rats will charge at cats, cats will charge at dogs etc)
★Restlessness
★Roaming
★Seizures
★Trembling and muscle incoordination
★Craving to eat anything, including inedible objects
★Constant growling and barking
★Dilated pupils
★Disorientation
★Erratic behavior
★Episodes of aggression
★Facial expression showing anxiety and hyperalertness
★Irritability
★No fear of natural enemies (e.g., wild animals may not be afraid of people, rats will charge at cats, cats will charge at dogs etc)
★Restlessness
★Roaming
★Seizures
★Trembling and muscle incoordination
Paralytic Phase
The third and final phase of infection usually lasts for 2 to 4 days.
The third and final phase of infection usually lasts for 2 to 4 days.
Initial symptoms include the following:
★Appearance of choking
★Dropping of the lower jaw (in dogs)
★Inability to swallow, leading to drooling and foaming of saliva (i.e., "foaming at the mouth")
★Paralysis of jaw, throat, and chewing muscles
★Paralysis then spreads to other parts of the body, the animal becomes depressed, rapidly enters a coma and dies
Immunization...
For dogs and cats, immunization is usually done at around 3 months (cats) and 5 months (dogs) when the maternal antibodies will not render the vaccine ineffective. It is therefore very important to keep young pets protected from feral or wild animals until they are vaccinated.
The vaccination is usually done singly, unlike the DHPP/DHLP which is a 5-in-1 vaccine per dose.
For dogs and cats, immunization is usually done at around 3 months (cats) and 5 months (dogs) when the maternal antibodies will not render the vaccine ineffective. It is therefore very important to keep young pets protected from feral or wild animals until they are vaccinated.
The vaccination is usually done singly, unlike the DHPP/DHLP which is a 5-in-1 vaccine per dose.
Rabies will infect any mammal or warm-blooded animal that has not been immunized, and death is inevitable.
Protect your pets and your family by making sure that the animals are immunized, and booster vaccines are administered regularly.
source:
http://www.healthcommunities.com/rabies/symptoms.shtml
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabies_vaccine
http://www.m.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/rabies-dogs
http://www.healthcommunities.com/rabies/symptoms.shtml
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabies_vaccine
http://www.m.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/rabies-dogs
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