What Is Rabies in Dogs? Symptoms, Prevention, and Treatment
Rabies is a fatal viral disease that affects the spinal cord and brain of dogs and other mammals. It’s often transmitted through saliva, which leads to serious health problems and death.
If you’re a dog owner in Dubai, you need to understand this viral disease to protect your pet and yourself. We’ll discuss the symptoms, preventive measures, and what you can do if your dog is exposed to rabies.
What Is Rabies?
The rabies virus affects a human or animal’s central nervous system. The virus can be transmitted through an infected animal’s saliva. This typically happens through bites.
In many countries, domestic dogs rarely contract rabies. However, the virus remains a threat in places where wild animals like foxes, bats, and raccoons carry the virus.
The rabies disease presents itself in two forms. One is when an infected dog shows aggressive behavior, and the other is when a dog becomes paralyzed and weak. Once symptoms appear, it’s nearly always fatal.
How Do Dogs Get Rabies?
Most puppies born domestically don’t have rabies. Dogs contract rabies through an infected animal’s bite, and the virus enters the bloodstream through the saliva.
In areas filled with wildlife, domestic dogs are at higher risk of contracting the virus, especially if they’re unvaccinated. For this reason, Dubai has created regulations, such as mandatory vaccines, to keep dogs and the community safe from rabies.
Rabies Symptoms in Dogs
Once a dog is infected with rabies, various virus progression stages occur. The first signs of rabies might be subtle and easy to overlook. However, as the disease progresses, the symptoms become more severe and fatal.
Early Signs of Rabies in Dogs
In the early stage of rabies infection, dogs may show behavioral changes, including:
- Excessive drooling
- Difficulty swallowing
- Sudden appetite loss
- Aggression and nervousness
- Irritability or unusual over-excitement
- Sensitivity to touch, noise, and light
These symptoms result from the virus attacking the dog’s spine and brain.
Advanced Symptoms of Rabies in Dogs
As the disease advances, symptoms become more severe, which often result in paralysis and, eventually, death.
- Aggressive Form: In this form of rabies, the dog becomes extremely aggressive. It attacks humans and other animals even if it’s not provoked. It also becomes agitated, and its pupils become dilated.
- Paralytic Form: Instead of aggression, a dog might experience paralysis instead. This form of rabies begins when the jaw and throat muscles become paralyzed. This is when you notice a dog excessively drooling and having difficulty swallowing.
The condition will progress until the entire dog’s body becomes paralyzed. A dog with this rabies form will unusually become tame and lose its fear of other animals and humans.
What to Do if Your Dog Is Exposed to Rabies
If you suspect your dog has been exposed to rabies, you need to take these necessary steps immediately.
- Take Your Dog to the Vet: Bring your dog to the vet as soon as possible. Many vet clinics in Dubai offer emergency services, and vets and clinic staff are ready to accommodate your pet even after operating hours. The vet will check on your dog to determine its risk based on how the exposure happened.
- Isolation and Observation: The vet will then initiate the isolation and observation protocol for the dog. A vaccinated dog will be given a rabies booster shot and quarantined for 45 days. An unvaccinated dog must be strictly isolated and observed for up to six months.
- Euthanasia for High-Risk Dogs: In critical cases where an unvaccinated dog was exposed to a confirmed rabid animal, euthanasia might be needed to prevent risks to its owner and other animals.
What to Do if Your Dog Bites You or Other People
Even with training, dogs might accidentally bite you or someone else. If this happens, you must act quickly to prevent complications and the risk of transmitting the rabies virus.
- Check and Clean the Wound: Wash the bite wound immediately and thoroughly with soap and water for at least 10 minutes to reduce infection risks. If available, use an antiseptic.
- Seek Medical Help: Anyone bitten by animals, such as dogs, should be checked by a doctor or other emergency health professionals, especially if the bite breaks the skin. People who are bitten by vaccinated dogs that are rabies-free would be given first aid and may be given antibiotics or a tetanus booster. For serious, high-risk cases, post-exposure prophylaxis or PEP for rabies would be recommended.
- Determine Your Dog’s Vaccination Status: Check if your dog’s rabies vaccinations are updated. Inform the person who was bitten and provide vaccination records so the doctor can determine the next steps after the exposure.
- Report the Incident: Any dog bite incident must be reported to the Dubai Municipality and the police. After reporting, the authorities will check your dog’s medical records to see whether its rabies vaccines are up-to-date. When authorities find that the dog is unvaccinated or doesn’t have updated vaccines, they may confiscate your dog.
Rabies Prevention for Dogs
Updated vaccinations are the best way to protect dogs against rabies. Rabies vaccines for dogs are easily accessible at vet clinics in Dubai.
As a responsible pet owner, you must bring puppies to the vet for their essential vaccinations. The vet will give you a vaccination schedule that includes annual rabies shots for dogs mandated by the Dubai Municipality. Remember to update your dog’s information in the database after the vaccinations.
It’s also vital that you reduce your dog’s exposure to wild animals by keeping it on a leash and supervising its outdoor activities. Training is also essential to prevent your dog from biting other animals and people.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rabies in Dogs
Do dogs have rabies?
Yes, though it’s less common in domestic pets, dogs may contract rabies when they get bitten or are exposed to a rabid animal’s saliva.
How to know if a dog has rabies?
If a dog has rabies, you may notice sudden changes in its behavior. Some symptoms may include excessive drooling, aggression, lethargy, and difficulty swallowing.
Can a vaccinated dog get rabies?
While rare, it’s still possible for a vaccinated dog to contract rabies if exposed to a large amount of the virus.
