Rabies transmission in dogs most often occurs from the bite of an infected wild animal. Rabies symptoms can take weeks to months to appear and they are most commonly associated with paralysis and changes to the animal's normal temperament. Rabies infections in dogs can be avoided through a rabies vaccination.
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Identification
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Rabies is a type of virus which can infect most mammals and it is primarily spread through bites. This virus causes a disease which attacks the central nervous system and the brain, and in all nonhuman mammals it is an untreatable and fatal disease. Most of the rabies cases in the United States occur in wild animals while only a small number of these cases occur in domesticated animals such as cats and dogs.
Rabies Transmission
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Rabies transmission usually always occurs through the bite of an infected animal. The rabies virus is present in the saliva tissues, and through a bite the virus enters the tissues of the body where it is able to replicate and infect the new host. In rarer instances, animals may become infected with rabies by swallowing saliva or tissues of an infected animal or if the animal has a fresh wound that comes into contact with saliva or tissues of an infected animal.
Rabies Symptoms
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Rabies symptoms in animals are associated with drastic behavioral changes and paralysis to areas of the animal's body. Behavioral changes may include loss of appetite and weight loss, irritability, nervousness, becoming overly excited, socially withdrawing from other animals and people and displaying aggression or viciousness. Paralysis symptoms often affect the throat and mouth which leads to constant salivation, the inability to swallow and in some cases the lower jaw may hang down. Additional symptoms may include clumsiness, stumbling or the inability to walk in a straight line.
Time Frame
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Once a dog has been infected with rabies, symptoms may take awhile to appear. The rabies virus may actually stay at the infection site for a long period of time before moving on to other tissues or it may go into a period of incubation. Symptoms of rabies may appear as early as one week after infection or it may take months before symptoms begin to appear.
Warning
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The rabies virus is a zoonotic virus which can be transmitted from animals to humans. The best way for pet owners to protect themselves and their pets from this disease is to ensure that all pets in the home receive their rabies vaccination and to try to limit contact between pets and wild animals.
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