Rabies is a fatal virus that can infect any mammal. The virus is found across the globe, but some countries claim they have eradicated it thanks to stringent vaccination programs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, all dogs should be vaccinated against rabies. Any dog that is not vaccinated but exposed to the virus should be immediately euthanized or placed in strict isolation for six months.
-
Transmission
-
The virus transfers to a dog through saliva, usually the result of a bite. Rarely, a dog gets the disease by consuming infected tissue from the carcass of an animal with the virus. A dog also can contract the virus when an open wound comes into contact with the body fluid of a rabid animal. Rabies will develop in a dog between 21 and 80 days after exposure.
Prodromal Stage
-
The first symptoms of rabies in a dog occur during the prodromal stage. This stage will last from one to three days. The dog will begin to chew furiously at the bite site. As the rabies virus leaves the bite site, it travels through nerve endings to the brain. This can cause the wound site to physically tingle. The muscles around the wound might twitch. A fever is common and often accompanied by slow eye reflexes. The behavior of the dog will often begin to change. The dog will appear to be overly nervous. Often the canine becomes quite irritable and easily excited. The dog will normally stop eating and seek solitude. It will often hide in a dark area of the home. The dog will also begin to drink large amounts of water.
Furious or Excitative Stage
-
The furious stage lasts between two to three days. This stage occurs only in about 25 percent of rabies cases. Most dogs bypass the furious stage and proceed directly to the paralytic stage.The dog might start to bark and appear unable to stop. Animals who experience this stage will become vicious and attack anything. The dog will appear disoriented and unable to comprehend even simple things. The hearing is hypersensitive and any noise can set the dog off. Seizures are common. There will be an increased abundance of saliva, and the dog will be unable to swallow because the throat muscles are paralyzed. The dog will be uninterested in water or food. Rabid dogs develop a tendency to run away from home during this stage, though they may return days later covered in mud and blood.
Paralytic Stage
-
The paralytic stage runs from two to four days. The area of the bite wound will suffer paralysis first. The face of the dog will soon show signs of paralysis. The dog's lower jaw will begin to hang and it won't be able to close its mouth. The excessive drool often turns to foam in the dog's mouth. Soon the dog falls into coma and dies.
-