Rabies in a dog: how to determine the symptoms, causes and characteristics of treatment

One of the most dangerous diseases is rabies. It's not just that this disease is deadly if a person gets infected by it from an animal, but that the infected animal is fully capable of inflicting incompatible injuries on life if it attacks.

This disease affects almost all warm-blooded creatures, but the most dangerous for humans are infected dogs, as these animals live in large numbers near people and constantly come into contact with them.

Ways of infection

Before deciding how to determine rabies in a dog, it is important to understand how the infection occurs with this terrible disease. All warm-blooded animals, including humans, get rabies equally - through biological fluids (for example, saliva or blood). The most common way - a bite of a sick animal or getting his saliva on a scratch. In this case, the virus from the carrier's saliva enters the bloodstream at the site of the bite.

In addition, the dog can eat, for example, a sick mouse - and also get infected. If there are imperceptible skin lesions to the infected animal, simply lick this place to transmit the virus.

Rabies in dogs

It is very important to know what signs have rabies in dogs: the behavior of the animal is changing, it becomes strange and inadequate, it begins to salivate. However, such symptoms are characteristic of the acute stage of the disease, whereas the infected animal becomes dangerous much earlier.

Like any other disease, the ailment has an incubation period, after which there are several more stages of rabies in dogs. The first symptoms can often not be noticed at the initial stage of the disease.

Incubation period

The incubation period is especially dangerous because it has no clearly visible symptoms. The dog behaves adequately, there are no disturbances in sleep and appetite, habitual activity persists. Meanwhile, the virus - the causative agent of the disease (it is called a rhabdovirus) has already begun its movement to the dog's brain. As soon as he reaches his goal, the disease will manifest itself. This stage usually lasts from 14 to 60 days.

Prodromal stage

During this period, it is possible to determine for the first time whether a dog has rabies. The animal begins to be capricious, it often and suddenly changes the mood - for no apparent reason it goes from aggression to apathy, from apathy to playful friendliness. Then hallucinations appear. A dog can suddenly attack a non-existent enemy, causelessly bark or start digging the ground where it does not exist. In the same period, the intolerance of bright light, both sunny and artificial, may begin to manifest. This stage is short, usually lasts no longer than a few days (often limited to several hours).

The raging stage

This is the most dangerous stage. It is during this period that rabies in a dog is especially evident. How to determine its symptoms? The dog lost a sense of fear, and hallucinations in the truest sense of the word drive him crazy. The animal can no longer swallow saliva, so it drips abundantly in the face. The dog barked hoarsely or howled.

At this stage, she no longer recognizes well-known people, including the owner. An animal on a leash will try to break free, if it succeeds - it will run, not dismantling the road, and attack everything that it encounters. Suddenly, a fit of apathy may occur - the dog loses all interest in the surrounding world, there is no reaction to the commands, the animal does not drink or eat.

Paralysis

This is the final period, which invariably ends in the death of the animal. The maximum duration is 96 hours. During this period, paralysis progresses, which gradually descends from the animal's head all the way down. During this period, the dog is in a depressed state, gradually losing mobility and dying.

You should know how to determine if the dog is rabid. It is best to do this in the initial stages - the first or the second, when the animal is relatively safe for the owner, because he still remembers it and has not lost his mind and sense of fear. Later the dog is equally dangerous for everyone, for the owner it's even more dangerous than for strangers. This is due to the fact that it is often difficult for the owner to perceive a familiar animal, practically a friend and family member, as a threat to life.

How to identify rabies in a dog after a bite

If the animal is not vaccinated, the chance of getting infected from the wild is very great. This can happen both on contact and as a result of a bite. It is necessary to closely monitor the pet, knowing at the same time how to determine rabies. In dogs, it can begin with subtle symptoms, so care is so important. The duration of the very first stage is 2-10 days. These days the animal will look pandemonious, which is accompanied by certain symptoms. When one or more of them are found, it is necessary to inspect the pet in search of wounds or scratches. If such a trauma is found, immediately consult a doctor. Symptoms of the first stage:

• muscle pain;
• nervousness;
• chills;
• temperature increase;
• loss of appetite;
• Fear of light;
• Vomiting or diarrhea;
• cough;
• Loss of ability to swallow.

It is very important not to miss any of the symptoms in time to turn to specialists.

Prevention of rabies

Of great importance is not only knowing what rabies are in a dog, how to determine it. It is also important to know about the methods of its prevention.

There is only one way to prevent the dog from becoming rabies - it's vaccination. This vaccine can be placed in virtually any veterinary clinic. At the time of vaccination, the animal should be absolutely healthy. In the vaccination passport, an appropriate entry will be made indicating:

• Type of vaccine;
• Term of its validity;
• Date of vaccination.

Approximately two weeks before the planned vaccination, the animal needs to undergo deworming. The development of stable immunity in the animal takes three weeks from the moment of vaccination.

As with any vaccination, during vaccination against rabies , side effects can be observed, which should not frighten or surprise the owner of the animal. These include:

• Allergy. May show up within the first fifteen minutes. At this time, the animal must be in the clinic. When showing signs of allergies, the veterinarian should make an injection of an antihistamine.
• Increased salivation and swelling.
• Stool disorder.
• Unusual behavior.
• Increased temperature.
• Shishechki on the site of administration of the vaccine.

If at the time of vaccination the animal has already been infected, the vaccination will lead to an acceleration of the manifestation of the disease and the death of the dog. The vaccination does not give one hundred percent protection against the disease. There is a chance of getting infected in the first three weeks after vaccination - during the development of immunity. But even after the end of this period there is a probability, although very small, that the animal can get infected.

The frequency of vaccinations can vary. If the dog is decorative or watchdog - it will be enough to repeat the vaccination every two years. For hunting dogs, annual vaccinations are mandatory.

Owners have little to know what rabies are in a dog, how to determine it. To be sure of the safety of your pet, you should minimize his contacts with homeless and stray animals.

Treatment

As stated above, rabies is a fatal disease that can be prevented, but can not be cured. Attempts to treat an infected animal are strictly prohibited, since they are at greatest risk to the staff of the veterinary clinic.

If the dog is diagnosed with rabies, it will be put to sleep. Thus, the animal will get rid of suffering, and the surrounding will be protected against the risk of infection.

One of the most terrible diseases of pets is rabies in dogs. How to determine its beginning, as well as prevent infection, every owner should know.