Rabies Remains One Of The Deadliest Dog Diseases

 

Rabies is one of the deadliest of dog diseases, with death practically certain in pets that contract the illness. It is a viral disorder that is distributed through the saliva of an infected host and is obtained mainly through bites from a creature that has the disorder, ensuing in damage of the brain and hostile behavior. When the contaminated saliva enters the bloodstream of the quadruped, it makes its way all through the nerves and spinal column to the brain and then incubates in the body for 3 to 8 weeks (in dogs) as the animal remains asymptomatic.

Rabies symptoms develop in 3 phases:

1.The Prodromal Period lasts for nearly 2-3 days in pet dogs during which the canine can present attitudes such as apprehension, anxiety and nervousness. It may develop a fever as well.
2. After that comes the Furious Period which will last 1-7 days, at this point the pooch will become mean.
3. The ultimate period is the Paralytic Phase manifests in 2-4 days after the initial symptoms start. Pets will begin to salivate as they find it tough to swallow. The pet will then progress into respiratory failure and die.

Even if dog rabies has been almost annihilated in the US, cases among cats are on the rise resulting from their contact with wild animals that may have the disease. The CDC recorded 300 cases of rabies in cats in 2009, up from 294 in 2008. Canine rabies cases were reported as only eighty one during the same time frame. Therefore, rabies remains an important problem, with around 40,000 people per year receiving post-exposure prophylaxis therapies after suffering from a potential exposure to the ailment. Worldwide, practically all deadly cases of rabies come from Asia and Africa, where it remains one of the most prevalent dog illnesses.

There are many lands which are listed as rabies-free including Republic of Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

To be able to correctly diagnose rabies, the only method is the examination of brain tissue, which can only be collected after the quadruped has died. There is no accessible treatment for rabies, in order to prevent the pain of the pet and further transmission, the creature is humanely euthanized.

The best approach to treat rabies is through prevention. Vaccinations for general dog ailments is highly recommended. The regular procedure for vaccinating pets is to inoculate them at three to four months and then when they reach 1 year of age. The vaccine program for rabies varies from one time every year to every three years, depending upon the state. The exposure of pets to wild creatures should be minimized to help preclude rabies infection. Pets should be kept inside when not in a restricted outdoor environment. Pets who have not had their rabies immunizations and had exposure to the rabies virus have to be quarantined and observed for any warning signs, if they develop they must then be euthanized.