How to Test a Dog for Rabies
Rabies is a viral disease that causes acute encephalitis, or swelling of the brain. It is transferred from wild animals to domestic pets and livestock who have not been vaccinated for it. According to AnimalHealthCenter.com, 97% of human incidences of rabies are caused by dog bites. It is almost always fatal if not treated early after exposure. There are several ways to test a dog for rabies, each with different levels of accuracy. A lay person is not able to test a dog him or her self, but needs the help of a veterinarian. Here is what is available to date.
Instructions
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Rabies, Dogs and Humans
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Observe your dog to see if it is showing any of the classic symptoms of rabies: foaming at the mouth, staggering while walking as if drunk, an inability to swallow and labored breathing. Remember, though, that there could be other causes for these symptoms besides rabies. For instance, if the dog staggers while walking, it could have an ear infection.
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Your veterinarian can test your dog's saliva for rabies. Similarly, samples of spinal fluid and serum can be extracted from the dog and tested as well. These types of tests are used when it is not possible to euthanize the animal. It is important to remember, though, that these tests are not 100% accurate.
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The only completely accurate test for rabies is called a "direct fluorescent antibody test (dFA)." Your veterinarian will take a sample of the dog's brain tissue, and will send it to your state's lab for analysis and confirmation. This test is the quickest and most accurate one for determining the presence of rabies. Unfortunately, in order to obtain a sample of brain tissue, the animal must first be euthanized.
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If you have been bitten by a dog found to have rabies, see your doctor immediately. The disease in humans is fatal if not caught early enough. Your doctor can prescribe a regimen of post-exposure prophylaxis, which is safe and effective if begun before the person starts showing any symptoms.
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Tips & Warnings
Any time you receive a dog bite, wash out the wound carefully with antibacterial soap. This greatly decreases the chances of infection, even if the dog is later found to be rabid.
Do not delay in seeing your doctor if you have been bitten by a dog.
