The Challenges In Recovery For Dogs With Rabies

Topic: Rabies

Filed under Dogs

Tags: Rabies

 

The very sad and horrible results of rabies in dogs and almost every other species, including humans, is that once the symptoms of the virus become noticeable the animal or person is almost guaranteed to die. In very rare and very unusual cases some humans that have been exposed to rabies and have shown early signs have been treated and recovered, although not typically without long term impact on nervous system and brain functioning.

Dogs, unlike humans, don't recover after the first initial symptoms are noted. Often these first symptoms, which may not show for 3 weeks to 2 months after the dog is bitten by an infected animal, are very mild for a day or two and are missed by the owners. The first signs of rabies, known as the prodromal stage, include anxiety, changes in behavior, isolation or becoming highly affectionate. The dogs will often hide and refuse to eat during this period and again many owners simply mistake this for the dog feeling sick or simply being moody. Most owners don't connect this type of behavior to a fatal and deadly condition like rabies, rather they mistakenly see it as the dog going through a "phase" or just having a change in temperament. It isn't until the aggression and light and sound sensitivity or the paralysis occurs within 3-4 days that owners realize they have a rabid dog on their hands. Not only is their dog facing a horrible death but the owners also have to realize they are at risk as is every other animal or person that the dog comes in contact with right from the first signs of the condition. Owners have to back up their thinking to 10 days prior to the noted signs in order to isolate any other animals that may have had contact with the rabid dog as well as seek treatment if they were bitten in handling the dog.

Prevention Is The Only Way To Protect Your Dog

The reality is that many dogs, especially healthy dogs, can survive being bitten by a rabid animal without actually developing rabies. In other words not every infected animal that bites another animal will automatically cause the second animal to show signs of the disease and die. However it is absolutely impossible to know if your dog can or cannot naturally fight off the condition. Any dog that is in any way compromised with regards to their immune system or health is at a very high level of developing the disease.

The only way to protect your dog or other pet is to use a good vaccination regime. Rabies vaccinations can only be administered by a veterinarian and may be needed every year to every three years depending on the rabies vaccine used. All puppies will require an initial shot at about a year old then the boosters as required.

Some owners, especially of indoor dogs, may mistakenly believe that they can somehow protect their dog simply by keeping them inside. Of course if you could guarantee that never in your dog's life will he or she be exposed to another domestic or wild animal you may be safe, but the reality is this is an impossible guarantee to make. Despite all the best intentions of owners your dog may encounter and be bitten by a skunk, rat or other rodent or even another dog that has not been vaccinated. When this happens your dog is at risk of contracting the disease. Even without a bite there is a rare chance that your dog can become infected if saliva from an infected animal enters the eyes or simply lands on a lesion or open wound or scratch on your dog.

Rabies vaccinations are very low cost and most communities provide financial assistance to pet owners to have vaccinations completed. These may be paid for by the local Department of Agriculture, local animal shelter or even by community based animal welfare groups.

What To Do If You Suspect Contact

Even if your dog is fully vaccinated if you believe that there has been exposure to a rabid animal of any species there are some steps you should take. The first step is to avoid going around the rabid animal yourself but if at all possible confine it or immediately call animal control or law enforcement to have the animal trapped or killed. Once it is killed the vet will examine the brain tissue and confirm if rabies is present.

Besides just dealing with the animal that bit your dog you also have to care for your pet. Get the dog to the vet without delay, even if you know the vaccination for rabies is completely up to date. Typically if your vet can confirm that the rabies vaccinations are current, he or she will still provide a booster shot immediately, even prior to confirmation of the infected animal having rabies. This is important to boost the dog's immunity from the virus to prevent it from reaching the brain. The dog will be monitored, sometimes by the vet or sometimes by the owner in a 10 day quarantine where it can have no contact with other animals. During this time any changes in behavior will be closely monitored and any signs of rabies will result in the animal being put down.

Dogs that are out of date on their rabies booster vaccination will be given a booster and quarantined at the vets. Typically the blood will also be tested for antibodies to the rabies virus that will also be taken into consideration during the treatment. Dogs that have not been vaccinated or where there is no record of vaccination that are bitten by a known rabid animal will usually be euthanized under recommendation by the vet. If the owner does not agree and there are no legal regulations regarding this in the area, the dog is quarantined for up to 6 months and then released back to the owner if healthy or euthanized if any symptoms occur.

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