Signs & Symptoms of Dogs With Rabies

Infected dogs can transmit rabies to humans and other animals.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rabies is a viral disease affecting the central nervous system of infected animals, ultimately resulting in the animal's death. Infected animals transmit rabies through bites or through direct salivary contact with open wounds or mucous membranes of other animals or humans. The ASPCA reports that rabies kills millions of animals and up to 50,000 humans annually. Although preventable through vaccination, there is no cure for rabies.

Changes in Behavior

According to the ASPCA, a recently infected dog may exhibit marked behavioral changes. A calm dog may become easily agitated or an energetic dog more docile. Restlessness, anxiety, irritability or apprehension may lead to aggression in infected dogs. A rabid dog may bite without provocation or snap at inanimate objects. This phase of rabies is sometimes referred to as "furious rabies" because the animal may seem uncontrollable or abnormally vicious. However, infected dogs don't always exhibit hostility or aggression. Your dog's veterinarian should evaluate any sudden behavioral changes.

Fever

The body's first defense when fighting an infection is to elevate the body temperature in an attempt to kill an invading virus. A healthy dog's temperature usually ranges from 99.5 to 102 degrees. A temperature in excess of 103 warrants a call to your dog's veterinarian.

Sensitivity to Stimuli

Rabid dogs may become hypersensitive to touch, light and sound as the disease progresses. A dog with rabies may hide to avoid people, other animals or other sensory stimuli.

Excessive Salivating

Rabies affects the muscles of the throat and jaw as it progresses. A rabid dog may be unable to drink due to painful spasms in the throat and voice box. Paralysis of the facial muscles may result in excessive salivating or the "foaming of the mouth" associated with rabies.

Disorientation and Paralysis

Muscle paralysis will eventually affect the hind legs and hips of a rabid dog. This may cause the dog to stagger or seem disoriented as he tries to walk.

Confusion and Seizures

Due to inflammation in the brain during a rabies infection, rabid dogs may seem confused or experience seizures as pressure builds, affecting normal brain function.

Coma and Death

Muscle paralysis ultimately affects a rabid dog's vital organs until he eventually slips into a comatose state and succumbs to the infection. This phase of rabies is sometimes referred to as "dumb rabies" because the muscles controlling breathing and other vital functions become unable to perform due to paralysis.

What to Do If You Think Your Dog Has Been Exposed to the Rabies Virus

If you believe your dog has come into contact with an infected animal, regardless of his vaccination history, call a veterinarian immediately and report the incident to a local department of health. Contact an animal control facility if you believe an infected animal is still at large.

Prevention is Key

Rabid animals can spread the rabies virus as early as 10 days before the onset of symptoms. Vaccination is key to preventing rabies. Dogs should be vaccinated for rabies after three months of age. Spay or neuter your dog to prevent wandering and to avoid attracting stray animals to your property. Keep your dog on a leash when outdoors and ensure he's well supervised even on your own property. There is no cure for rabies and no way to definitively identify the disease in living animals. Animal control officials and veterinarians often euthanize animals suspected of carrying the rabies virus due to the serious health threat posed to the public.

References

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Rabies
• ASPCA: Rabies
• My Dog Breed: Fever in Dogs
• Animal Hospitals - USA: Dog Rabies
• Penn State: Health & Disease: Rabies

Resources

• US Food and Drug Administration: Precautions to Prevent Rabies