home Preparations Rabies in dogs: symptoms and treatment. Rabies in Dogs: Symptoms, Clinical Signs and Prevention Rabies in Dogs First

Rabies in dogs: symptoms and treatment. Rabies in Dogs: Symptoms, Clinical Signs and Prevention Rabies in Dogs First

Rabies is a viral disease that cannot be cured, is fatal, and is transmitted by bite or close contact with a carrier to both humans and other animals. The owner needs to know how to identify the first symptoms of rabies in a dog, and what to do if the slightest suspicion arises. It is also necessary to be able to provide first aid to a person who has been bitten, because it depends on whether he gets sick or not.

The rabies virus enters the body of an animal with saliva at the moment when it is bitten by a sick dog. Wild animals can also be carriers of rabies: foxes, hedgehogs, raccoons, squirrels, bats.

A rabid dog is contagious even when the signs of the disease have not yet appeared, and the animal looks healthy.

The main danger is that rabies has an incubation period that is asymptomatic.

After it ends, the virus becomes active and accumulates in saliva.

Diagram of how rabies is transmitted in dogs:

The dog is bitten by an infected animal.
Saliva enters the wound, the body becomes infected, and the incubation period begins.
The virus moves through the cells of the body to the brain.
In the process of movement, the virus multiplies.
The pathogen enters the brain, damages it, and then begins to move back, affecting other organs.
The incubation period ends, symptoms begin to appear.

A dog can contract rabies even if there are no injuries on its body. It is enough that the saliva of a sick animal gets on its mucous membranes: tongue, eyes, nostrils. This can happen when pets play, chew on the same bone, the bitch licks the puppies, and in other cases.

Incubation period

Having become infected, the animal behaves as usual, and his health is fine.

The incubation period for rabies in dogs generally lasts from one and a half to three months, but there are cases when symptoms began to appear much later or earlier.

The duration depends on the following factors:

bite sites;
the age of the dog;
the amount of saliva ingested.

Symptoms will show up sooner if the wound is on the neck or head. Signs of rabies in adult dogs may appear later than in small puppies. The incubation period ends quickly if there are several wounds on the body of the animal, and a large amount of infected saliva has entered the body.

The main symptoms of rabies

The disease develops rapidly, it can last from two days to two weeks. It can take different forms, but if you put all the signs of rabies in a dog together, the list will look like this:

complete lack of appetite;
when trying to drink water, it is difficult for an animal to swallow it;
spasm of the larynx;
open mouth;
prolapse of the tongue;
blurred eyes;
strabismus;
salivation, frothy saliva and its splashing during barking;
craving for eating strange inedible objects - bricks and stones, sticks, biting concrete, plaster, wallpaper, shoes and textiles;
changing the timbre of barking.

Often barking is replaced by howls, and after a while the animal may lose its voice completely.

In addition to the listed signs, behavioral symptoms of rabies in dogs can be distinguished:

depression, desire to hide, hide in a corner and retire;
irritability - manifested in the fact that the pet reacts negatively to the most ordinary things, for example, a door knock or the owner's voice;
sudden aggression for no reason;
attack for no reason;
fear of light;
Panic at the sight and sound of water.

Animal behavior can change dramatically. Then the dog is scared, she has persecution mania, and she hides in a dark corner. After a while, the animal begins to attack, trying to bite even inanimate objects. Immediately, the pet can begin to fawn on the owner, lick his hands and face.

The definition of rabies by these symptoms, especially by the combination of several of them, is always reliable.

The last stage of the disease is accompanied by paralysis. First, the hind legs fail, then the front and torso. After that, the respiratory system is paralyzed and at the same time the heart muscle. The animal dies.

What measures need to be taken

If you notice signs of illness in a dog, the pet must be isolated immediately. You need to act quickly, but without fuss:

Put a collar and leash on your dog.
Take it to a separate place. In an apartment, this can be a pantry, a loggia or a separate room. In the private sector - an aviary, a barn, any place on the site, preferably under a canopy.
Tie the dog firmly to a secure object. Keep in mind that a sick dog at the moment of aggression becomes very strong and can break away. It needs to be foreseen.
If the aggression of the animal is pronounced, it is necessary to put a muzzle on it. It is better to let the dog go hungry for a few days than to risk the lives of other people and animals.
Call the veterinary clinic and report a possible outbreak of rabies. The specialist will give recommendations on further actions.
If there is a second pet in the house (dog, cat, hamster), they must also be isolated from both the sick animal and people.
When feeding, do not approach the animal.
Observation of the condition of the dog lasts 10-14 days. During this period, the sick animal's symptoms usually worsen and death occurs.

If there are no other signs, and the dog is alive, then it has another disease with similar symptoms.

In a veterinary clinic, you can test for rabies in dogs, but the disease can only be detected 7-15 days before the end of the incubation period.

Is there a cure for rabies

There is no cure for rabies yet. When a virus enters the body, irreversible changes occur that cannot be stopped.

Rabies always ends in death. If the disease is confirmed by tests or pronounced signs, then the pet must be euthanized. Do not make him suffer, because the torment will be unbearable.

Euthanasia of a sick dog will protect other animals and people from possible infection.

How to help a bitten person

When a person is bitten by a dog, urgent action must be taken. It is possible to prevent a person from getting rabies only if all procedures are carried out before the expiration of 10 days from the moment the dog bit him.

A bitten person should go to an emergency room or clinic as soon as possible, even if the dog seems to be healthy.

Negligence and carelessness can lead to infection. There is no cure for rabies in humans, and the symptoms are similar to those in dogs.

First aid for a bite:

The wound should be washed as quickly as possible with plenty of water, trying to wash out all the dirt and saliva from it. If there is no running water nearby, you can use a plastic water bottle.
Wash damaged skin with laundry soap, lathering thickly to form foam. The procedure is carried out 2-3 times.
Apply a dry sterile bandage to the wound.
Contact the emergency room for further skin treatment and a complex of anti-rabies vaccinations.
If the damage is deep and extensive, it is advisable to call an ambulance.

Vaccination against rabies is carried out according to a special schedule established by the doctor. You should also follow the recommendations on nutrition during the procedure, it has its own characteristics.

Prevention measures

You can prevent the disease only if you regularly, once a year, vaccinate your pet against rabies.

The first vaccination is given to puppies at the age of two to four months. Then every year, at about the same time, the vaccination is repeated.

If the pet is vaccinated, then infection can occur only in some cases:

The vaccine has expired or has been stored incorrectly. This can be avoided if you use the services of only reliable, proven veterinary institutions.
The animal was already infected at the time of vaccination, and the disease was in the incubation period.

When walking with a pet, it is advisable to avoid communicating with unfamiliar animals, and, having noticed a pack of dogs along the walk route, you should bypass it.

Every owner should know what rabies is in dogs, what are the ways of infection, symptoms and first signs. We will describe how long the incubation period lasts, how rabies manifests itself in a dog.

Rabies is a virus that infects the spinal cord and brain of carnivores, i.e. dogs, cats, wild animals and humans. To date, there is prevention in the form of vaccination against rabies, but this virus is not for nothing that causes fear among all pet owners. Despite the advancement of medicine and the availability of vaccines, more than 50,000 deaths of people and animals from the rabies virus are recorded worldwide every year.

Note! During the symptomatic stage, rabies is fatal.

Every pet owner should know what rabies is in dogs and how to protect themselves from it. First of all, you need to learn that there is no cure for rabies if symptoms have already appeared.. Doctors are powerless in saving animals and people, so routine vaccination and precautions are the only effective way to protect.

Statistics show that dogs that have not received timely vaccinations and have free access to the street are at the greatest risk of contracting rabies. When free-range, four-legged animals have the opportunity to come into contact with wild animals, many of which are latent carriers of the virus.

Unfortunately, there are no methods for accurately detecting rabies in live animals. The virus is determined either post-mortem, or is assumed after analysis of the anamnesis. Postmortem, the virus is detected during examination of brain tissue. There is a method for determining the virus in saliva and blood, but both approaches do not give a guaranteed result.

Note! If a dog is suspected of having rabies, it is kept in quarantine for a minimum of 14 days. When a clinical picture appears, the animal is subject to euthanasia.

Experience shows that rabies outbreaks start in wild animals. Wild carriers of the virus infect domestic animals or people as they come to settlements in search of food. For the prevention of rabies in wild animals, special feeding is used, which must be constantly scattered in the suburbs.

In theory, preventive work on rabies in wild animals brings very good results, but it is not always carried out and not in all regions. Usually, the virus is brought by dogs, which negligent owners take out and throw away outside the city.

Note! Veterinary experience shows that vaccinated animals, even in direct contact with a carrier of the virus, have a chance not to become infected.

Mass vaccination is used to prevent rabies in domestic animals. In countries where the virus occurs, it is considered mandatory. Without documents confirming the receipt of vaccinations, the dog is not allowed to travel, participate in events and exhibitions. Vaccination is not a guarantee that a dog will not get sick.

Read also: Hepatopathy - liver disease in dogs

Despite heated debate over the effectiveness of vaccinations, rabies vaccination remains the only alternative. The World Veterinary Association recognizes rabies vaccination as a mandatory procedure in all territories where more than 2-3 cases of rabies infection are recorded per year.

Note! Only Australia and Antarctica are considered to be rabies-free.

Ways of infection

In a carrier of rabies, virus cells constantly accumulate in saliva and blood. The virus is usually transmitted by the bite of an infected animal. However, virus cells can enter the body of a healthy animal or person through scratches, blood or saliva. A person can become infected from a dog if there are lesions on the skin that have been infected with saliva.

Statistics show that the routes of infection for domestic dogs are most often associated with cats or wild animals. The most common carriers of rabies among wild animals are rats, foxes, bats, hedgehogs, raccoons. Veterinary experience shows that rabies outbreaks most often start in two scenarios:

A domestic cat becomes infected from a rat or other wild animal, after which it returns home.
A domestic dog fights with a wild animal, protecting its own territory, as a result of which it becomes infected.

Note that most wild animals that carry rabies do not show symptoms. In foxes, raccoons and other canines, symptoms of rabies may appear due to severe stress, hypothermia, or other circumstances that have reduced the body's immune defenses.

Incubation period for rabies in dogs

The incubation period after exposure to rabies can vary from 2 weeks to 2 months. However, after infection, an animal or person becomes a distributor of the virus after 10 days. Usually, with typical forms of rabies, symptoms appear within 10-14 days.
Forms of rabies in dogs

If there is a possibility that the dog has been in contact with a carrier of rabies or has been observed to behave inappropriately, a quarantine of at least 14 days will be required to exclude the carriage of the virus. Practice shows that in dogs forms of rabies can manifest themselves in different ways, depending on individual characteristics, general health, immunity and vaccination.

It is believed that a vaccinated dog can recover from rabies, however this claim is not entirely true. In fact, a vaccinated dog may not get rabies, even after direct contact with the virus. If a vaccinated dog shows symptoms of rabies, it is guaranteed to die.

Read also: Runny nose in a dog - we diagnose the causes and treat the disease

Symptoms and first signs

Usually, the first symptom is panic behavior and intense anxiety, which develops into aggression. If a dog is friendly in life, it becomes irritable. If the infected animal has a choleric temperament, it abruptly becomes obedient.

In an infected dog, reactions to almost all stimuli are aggravated, and the behavior of the animal is absolutely unpredictable.

An infected dog can attack its relatives, people, and even inanimate objects without warning.

The dog shows great anxiety and pays much attention to the bite site through which it was infected. At this stage, the virus multiplies most actively, so the dog has a fever.

The next stage in the development of the rabies virus is a panic fear of tactile contacts, light and sound stimuli. At the same stage, the dog begins to eat inedible objects and tries to hide in a dark place.

Further, the dog becomes paralyzed in the muscles of the throat and jaws, which leads to the formation of foamy saliva. At this stage, the infected animal may experience disorientation, loss of balance, paralysis of the hind legs.

In the classic picture of rabies, the animal completely refuses to eat, looks weak, after which convulsions begin and death occurs.

Forms of rabies

Symptoms vary depending on the form of the disease, but the classic manifestation can almost always be traced. After the incubation period has elapsed, an infected dog may exhibit unexpected behavioral changes.

Quiet

The silent form of rabies appears at the first stage after infection. The virus actively multiplies in the blood, which leads to the development of a fever of poor health of the animal. Usually, even the most temperamental pets become boring, but willingly follow the commands and requirements of the owner.

The next stage in the development of a silent form of rabies is depression, when the dog begins to hide from the outside world, is terribly afraid of light, touch and water. The silent or depressive form of rabies is considered the most common type of manifestation of the virus.

violent

Contrary to popular belief, the violent form of rabies appears much less frequently and later than the silent form. Dogs that are calm and obedient in life are more prone to violent manifestations of the disease. The reason for active actions or even aggression is that the dog cannot control his own irritability.

Note that when cats are infected with rabies, it is the violent form that will prevail. In most cases, infected dogs in a violent form of rabies do not touch people if they have the opportunity to retire. Mental seizures are accompanied by an attempt to gnaw or eat inedible things, while the dog does not feel like injuring himself.

Note! The formation of foamy saliva from the mouth of an animal has nothing to do with the violent form of rabies. Saliva foams and begins to drip from the dog's mouth due to a cut in the pharynx, which occurs regardless of the form of manifestation of the disease.

returnable

The relapsing form of rabies has been experimentally registered. The clinical picture develops as follows:

A healthy dog comes into contact with a carrier of rabies and becomes infected.

After 10-14 days, the infected animal develops the classic clinical picture of rabies.

Within 1–2 weeks, dogs become worse, panic attacks, hyperactivity, and other disorders of the central nervous system are observed.
All symptoms subside abruptly, the dog's appetite and normal state return.

After 10-14 days, the symptoms of rabies return in the classic pattern, leading to convulsions and death.

Rabies is deadly disease. Carriers are wild animals or sick dogs. The disease affects the nervous system. As a result, the pet becomes aggressive, afraid of water. Later comes paralysis of the respiratory organs and legs. The outcome is always death.

Description of the disease

The causative agent of rabies The Neuroryctes rabid virus moves through the body using nerve fibers. Once in the brain (main and dorsal), it multiplies.

How can a dog get rabies? You can get infected through the blood and mucous membranes. For example, if a healthy animal sniffs or licks the muzzle of a sick animal, causing the virus to pass through saliva. Animals of all ages and breeds are at risk.

In young individuals, due to an underdeveloped nervous system, the disease proceeds faster. But not every time you bite, you can pick it up. It all depends on the wound (depth and location of the lesion). The virus can simply be washed away by a stream of blood or die, not tripling on a nerve cell.

Symptoms of the disease

Incubation period rabies in dogs lasts from 14 to 60 days, sometimes more. Symptoms appear depending on the characteristics of the wound and the condition of the animal. In a weak dog or puppy, the disease may take a few days to show up, as they have an incubation period of only 7-14 days. But most often, clinical signs of the disease appear after 3-8 weeks.

How does rabies manifest in dogs? Veterinarians determine 3 common stages(with the most common time intervals):

Melancholy. The dog is silent, avoids games, behaves extremely sluggishly and calmly. You can observe vomiting and the desire to avoid contact with people. Lasts about 3 days.
Excitation. The first clear signs of rabies in dogs appear. Calmness is replaced by aggression and lack of control of one's strength. An animal can break its teeth by biting a hard object. The dog can not bark calmly - only wheezing. This happens due to respiratory paralysis. Saliva flows continuously. Noticeable strabismus and lowering of the lower jaw. Seizures and (more than 40 degrees) become more frequent.
Paralysis. Comes on the 5th day. The animal cannot breathe normally, refuses to eat, the limbs cease to obey. The bowels and bladder are the last to fail. This is followed by coma and death.

How to identify rabies in a dog? A sick animal behaves strangely. The previously prudent and cautious dog ceases to be afraid and throws itself at everything around, may try to eat inedible objects, attack its beloved owners. One of the clearest signs of rabies Dogs have a fear of water. With only one sound or sight, a spasm of the larynx, nervous excitement and aggression occurs.

The disease lasts no more than 2 weeks, going through all 3 stages in turn. It is impossible to save an infected dog. About 50% of animals die 4-5 days after the first symptoms of the disease. The rest can live up to 2 weeks, experiencing pain and cramps.

The virus has latent flow period lasting from 2 weeks to 1 year. Usually the duration of the disease does not exceed 6 weeks. But when tested for rabies in a dog's saliva, the virus can be detected as early as 10 days before symptoms appear.

Rabies can also affect humans. Therefore, it is considered dangerous. In case of any suspicion, after any bite of an unfamiliar dog, you should consult a doctor. This must be done immediately.

Rabies treatment

There is no method that can cure a sick animal. Infected dogs are susceptible to destruction. A man can be saved, but a dog cannot. It is thanks to the effective fight against this disease that there is no rabies in the UK (thorough vaccination and elimination of infected individuals).

Dogs in past centuries were hardier. Modern urban conditions, human care, poor ecology have made the immune system of these animals weak. Therefore this the body itself cannot defeat the virus.

Disease prevention

All pets are at risk unless they are. It's easier to save your dog by giving him early warning. rabies vaccination.

When and how often to get vaccinated from rabies to a dog? The first is done at the age of 3 months in specialized veterinary stations. The procedure must be repeated annually.

Contact with wild animals must be avoided. It is they who can transmit the virus to the dog. At the same time, the forest animal may look friendly and be happy to make contact. If communication has occurred, then the dog will be isolated for 10 days. If during this time signs of rabies are not detected, then the disease is excluded.

Popular and commonly used vaccines from rabies for dogs are considered Hexadog, Multikan, Biovac, Vanguard. A suitable breeder or veterinarian selects. Foreign allow you to travel with a pet in any country (a veterinary passport may be required at any time). Then, as Russian counterparts do not take into account, they can be fined and even asked to put the dog to sleep.

So, The following measures will help save the animal:

Timely vaccinations are the most effective and proven option.
Exclusion of contact with a sick animal.
Disinfect and clean up the habitat.

Important! A vaccinated dog can become ill with rabies if the virus has got in and adapted before the drug is administered. Vaccination is mandatory for dogs living in areas designated as potentially hazardous.

Video about rabies

We invite you to watch a video about rabies, which is dangerous not only for dogs and cats, but also for people. In it, you will learn what needs to be done to avoid such a terrible disease.

Questions and answers

The following questions are most often asked by hosts. Let's discuss them:

Is it necessary to vaccinate a dog?
If you want to save the life of your four-legged friend, then definitely. It may seem that the danger will not come (you live far from the forest, do not contact other animals) - there is always a chance of contracting rabies. Therefore, I advise you - take care of your dog and get vaccinated.
Why is rabies considered so dangerous?
Because this disease cannot be cured in dogs. The animal is to be euthanized. Vaccination given after infection will not help either. The virus will continue to multiply.
How can my dog get infected?
The sources of the virus are wild animals (mainly foxes, squirrels, raccoons and other dogs). Minimal mucosal contact is sufficient. Pets love to play with each other. The patient is not immediately noticeable. The disease manifests itself in a couple of days and even months.
What should I do if I am bitten by a rabid dog?
This situation often happens. Previously, the family pet did not think to harm the owners. But rabies negatively affects the psyche. The dog rushes at relatives, adults and children. If bitten, seek medical attention immediately. Do not worry. If addressed immediately, then rabies is curable.
What are the first symptoms of an infected animal?
The disease progresses in 3 stages. At first, the dog will be calm and lethargic. After 3 days, the most violent and dangerous stage will begin. The dog will cease to be controlled and will rush at everyone, hysterically afraid of water. Even a strong chain will not always keep a sick animal.

Dear dog lovers take care of your pets. Their health depends entirely on you. A few simple steps once a year will keep your pet safe and friendly to its owner.

Rabies or rabies (rabies) is a disease that was previously known as hydrophobia or hydrophobia. This is a deadly infectious disease caused by the Rabies virus, belonging to the genus Lyssavirus and the family Rhabdoviridae.

Causes of rabies

Such a serious disease as rabies causes a special rhabdovirus in warm-blooded animals, which enters the body of a healthy four-legged pet when it is bitten by a sick animal. It should be noted that infection can occur even as a result of saliva, but such causes are classified as less frequent cases of the virus entering the animal's body. The most dangerous are bites received in the head and limbs.

In recent decades, the main source of a deadly infection has been represented by wild animals.. The high-risk group includes four-legged pets that live in close proximity to forest plantations, forests and steppes, as well as in epizootologically unfavorable areas. It must be remembered that the risk of contracting a deadly disease exists almost everywhere, and for this reason, the dog owner should always be attentive to the health of the pet and its behavior.

Under natural conditions, many species of wild animals support not only the preservation, but also the spread of the RNA-containing rabies virus. As a result of penetration into the body, such a virus begins to quickly move along the nerve fibers and enters the brain and spinal cord, where it multiplies and accumulates in neurons. Further, local changes occur in all brain tissues, as well as multiple edema and hemorrhage, including degenerative cellular changes.

This is interesting! The migration of the rhabdovirus through the body of a sick pet causes it to relatively quickly enter the salivary glands, as well as subsequent excretion with saliva, which becomes the main cause of the spread of rabies among animals.

Symptoms and early signs of rabies

From the moment when the infection occurred, and before the appearance of the first pronounced symptoms of the disease in a dog, as a rule, 3-7 weeks pass. However, cases of manifestation of signs of rabies in an infected animal are known even after six months or a year. This difference directly depends on the level of viral virulence, as well as the stability of the immune system and other characteristics of the affected organism.

The severity, specificity, as well as the intensity of the manifestation of clinical signs, allow us to classify the disease according to the forms:

atypical form;
depressive or paralytic form;
violent form;
remitting form.

As veterinary practice shows, dogs are most often diagnosed with violent, as well as aggressive and paralytic forms.

At the first stage after infection, the symptoms remain subtle for the owner of the dog.. It may seem to the owner that the pet is tired or offended by something, so he stopped running and frolicking, often lies and avoids communicating with people. Sometimes, a previously obedient animal begins to behave strangely: it does not follow commands and does not respond to external stimuli. There are cases when the first signs of infection are activity and affection that are atypical for a pet. It is for this reason that any drastic changes in the dog's behavior should alert the owner.

Important! The most pronounced signs of the disease become, most often, on the second or third day, and are manifested by increased salivation, as well as noticeable breathing problems, as a result of which the dog begins to actively yawn and convulsively take in a large amount of air with his mouth.

Stages of development of rabies

Rabies disease does not develop all at once, but over several main, clinically pronounced stages.

Aggressive form presented:

prodromal or initial stage;
stage of strong excitement or manic;
depressive or fading stage.

This form is the most characteristic, and includes the symptoms presented by:

changes in the behavior of the animal, which is especially noticeable in the earliest stages of the disease. Attacks of unmotivated aggression can be replaced by severe depression, and increased irritability - excessive affection;
muscle spasms or convulsions;
chills and fever;
eating inedible things and objects, including earth and garbage;
general weakness and discomfort;
photophobia, which is accompanied by the search for a dark or secluded place with minimal lighting;
hydrophobia and unwillingness to swallow water and food, which is due to spasms in the pharyngeal muscles.

This is interesting! At a certain stage in the development of the disease, an infected pet has increased salivation, so it tries to constantly lick itself, and hoarse barking gradually turns into a piercing howl.

The third stage is characterized by the change of attacks of aggression by apathy and depression. The animal ceases to respond to its nickname and any irritants, and also refuses to eat and looks for a secluded, darkened place for itself. At the same time, there is an increase in temperature indicators of 40-41 ° C. The pet, exhausted by the disease, almost completely loses its voice. There is also a well-marked clouding of the cornea. The final stage is multiple pathological processes in the nervous and cardiovascular systems, which is the main cause of death of the animal.

The quiet or paralytic stage is characterized by manifestations of excessive affection and unusual calmness of the pet. This behavior is quickly replaced by a manifestation of anxiety, minor signs of unmotivated aggression, which is accompanied by an atypical reaction to the usual stimuli, abundant salivation and the appearance of foam. The pet begins to be afraid of light and water, and also refuses to feed. The final stage of this stage is accompanied by shortness of breath, wheezing and paroxysmal cough, after which the appearance of muscle spasms, convulsions, progressive paralysis of the pharynx, muscles of the limbs and trunk is observed. The animal dies on the third day.

Less common is the so-called atypical form of rabies, the symptoms of which are presented:

minor behavioral changes;
a slight increase in body temperature;
change in taste preferences;
refusal of the usual food and treats;
developing signs of gastroenteritis;
bloody profuse diarrhea and debilitating vomiting;
severe exhaustion and a sharp decrease in body weight.

Atypical form presented in several stages, but very similar in symptoms to many other infectious diseases, so diagnosis can be difficult.

Important! The detection of even minor deviations in the dog's behavior should be the reason for an immediate comprehensive examination of the four-legged pet by a veterinarian and a detailed diagnosis.

Treatment and prevention

At the first suspicion of rabies infection, especially if the pet has been in contact with stray animals and dogs of unknown origin, or has been bitten by them, the four-legged friend should be isolated and contact the nearest veterinary service. The pet must be quarantined and all people and animals that have been in contact with the infected pet are vaccinated.

In order to protect the pet dog and minimize the risk of contracting rabies and the spread of this deadly contact disease, timely and competent preventive measures are mandatory. It should be remembered that the only reliable way to protect a four-legged pet and the people around him is.

Without a record of the vaccination done, from the point of view of the law, a pet does not have the right to attend exhibition events or public places. Also, a dog that has not been vaccinated cannot be transported around the city or taken out of the country and used for breeding. Anti-helminthic measures are required before vaccination against rabies. Only a completely healthy pet can be vaccinated.

This is interesting! The first vaccination against rabies is given to the puppy before the change of teeth, at the age of about three months, or immediately after the complete change of teeth. Then such vaccination is carried out annually.

Rabies (rabies infection, hydrophobia (rabies), rabies) is a deadly viral disease that, under certain conditions, affects all warm-blooded animals and even humans. Mainly the central nervous system is affected.

Treatment for this disease has not yet been developed - if the dog is sick with rabies, it is euthanized. How to protect yourself and your pet from this viral infection and what to do if you suspect a virus infection?

Rabies: mechanism of development and ways of infection

Rabies is a disease that is caused by a specific rabies RNA virus that is quite resistant to environmental conditions. The circulation of the virus in nature and its spread is carried out at the expense of infected animals. In the urban type of distribution, the source of the disease is yard and neglected dogs and cats, in the natural type, foxes, wolves, raccoon dogs, and other warm-blooded predators.

You can get infected through saliva, blood and other infected body fluids, which must get into certain contact points of a healthy dog.

Incubation period

This is the interval between the moment the virus enters the body and the manifestation of the first clinical signs, it can take from several days to several months. Some veterinary sources give a gap of up to 1 year. But in practice, in reality, this period takes an average of about 2-2.5 weeks (hence the quarantine of dogs for 14 days). Rabies in dogs has no symptoms during the incubation period.

Ways of transmission of the virus:

direct contact with a sick animal (rabies after a dog bite);
salivation of the mucous membranes of the mouth and nose, as well as damaged skin;
transmissible transfer (with an insect bite);
alimentary (through the mouth - the intestines are susceptible to the penetration of the virus if it is not destroyed under the influence of gastric juice);
aerogenic (such infection is possible only with a pathogen that affects bats, and has so far been proven only experimentally).

Despite the numerous ways in which the virus spreads, a bite is considered the only relevant and repeatedly proven method of infection in which a dog becomes ill with rabies.

The likelihood of the disease depends on:

In the development of the disease and the spread of the virus throughout the body from the moment it enters, three phases are conditionally distinguished:

I - extraneural: takes up to 2 weeks and the virus does not manifest itself in the body;
II - intraneural: the virus penetrates the nervous system and rushes along the nerve fibers to the brain and spinal cord, already actively multiplying; the first clinical signs are noted;
III - dissemination: the spread of the virus throughout the body, its concentration in the salivary glands, the active clinical manifestation of the disease and the death of the animal.

The neurotropism of the virus explains the main clinical signs: inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), increased salivation with paralysis of the lower jaw and damage to the salivary glands, reflex excitability and aggression, convulsions and paresis - with damage to the nerve fibers of the brain and spinal cord. After a maximum of two weeks, nerve cells begin to die, and death occurs from respiratory paralysis.

Forms of manifestation of rabies infection, the main symptoms

Rabies in dogs has been studied in the most detail. Veterinary medicine distinguishes the main three forms on which the clinic of the disease depends:

violent;
quiet (paralytic);
atypical.

There are three more forms of rabies that are not ubiquitous, and in the entire history of the registration of the disease, they have met in isolated cases:

return (remittive);
depressive;
abortive.

The speed and severity of the clinical signs of rabies in dogs depends on the density of nerve elements at the sites of bites, the depth of the bite, and the distance from the head. The closer to the head the bite, the faster the disease develops, and the symptoms will be brighter.

Rampant Form

It occurs very often, lasts from 5 to 14 days and has three stages of development:

prodromal

minor manifestations of the first symptoms of rabies;
immobility, lack of response to the call and touch;
contrast in behavior: a sociable animal abruptly becomes non-contact, and an obstinate animal flatters excessively;
swallowing air with the mouth (similar to yawning);
salivation may increase, may not;
increased reaction to extraneous noise, light;
perversion of appetite;
duration 2-3 days.

Manic

obvious signs of rabies, the dog is most dangerous in this period;
desire to gnaw everything, persistently bite;
complete absence of fear;
partial paralysis of the lower jaw, larynx, inability to swallow;
salivation;
aggression is abruptly replaced by peace;
light and hydrophobia (one of the main signs of rabies);
hoarseness of voice during attempts to bark;
strabismus and clouding of the cornea may appear;
periodic convulsions;
lasts 3-5 days.

Paralytic

complete paralysis of the larynx and lower jaw, the inability to eat and drink;
lack of aggression, inactivity;
periodic convulsive attacks;
paralysis of the hind limbs (the animal drags its legs behind it);
paralysis of internal organs and coma;
the stage lasts up to 2 days, the dog dies.

Silent (paralytic) form

occurs more often violent;
there is excessive affection, the dog tries to lick in the face;
the feeling of caution disappears, the animal comes close to the person, caresses;
gradual increase in anxiety;
lightning-fast development of muscle paralysis;
paralysis of the jaw and the inability to close or swallow it;
profuse salivation;
death occurs in 2-3 days.

Atypical course

atypical signs;
lack of aggression, lethargy and weakness;
disorders in the work of the gastrointestinal tract - bloody diarrhea, vomiting, lack of appetite;
gradual deterioration of the condition;
rare, can take up to 2-5 months;
the diagnosis is usually made postmortem.

Return (remittive) flow

undulating course - the symptoms either disappear or increase with even greater intensity;
the intervals between exacerbations take 3-5 days (sometimes up to 2 weeks);
during the period of exacerbation, there are signs similar to the violent form of rabies.

depressive form

lack of aggression;
appetite is maintained;
the dog limps and coughs as if choking on something;
salivation;
sudden paralysis of the larynx and other internal organs;
death occurs in 3-4 days.

Abortive form

in the 2nd stage, recovery is observed;
isolated cases, insufficiently studied.

Important: of all the symptoms of rabies, it is enough to remember a few basic ones, according to which rabies is usually suspected:

aggression or excessive affection;

salivation,

dropped jaw,

clouding of the cornea,

strabismus,

rabies.

Diagnosis of the disease

A provisional diagnosis is made on the basis of clinical signs, anamnesis data (interrogation of the owner) and data on the epizootic situation for rabies in the territory from which the animal was delivered and where infection actually or presumably occurred. The data of the epizootic situation is a complete collection of information on rabies infection: whether such cases were registered and how many, as well as whether rabies was recorded here at all, how long ago and whether there is now.

It should be borne in mind that there are diseases that are very similar in symptoms to rabies, and they can only be excluded by a veterinarian:

Aujeszky's disease;
brain tumors;
meningitis;
toxoplasmosis;
poisoning with toxic substances (for example, organophosphates or diminazene);
infectious hepatitis of dogs;
tetanus;
postnatal aggression of a recently whelped dog.

At the slightest suspicion of infection, the dog should be taken to the nearest veterinary facility for examination and diagnosis.

Alas, the final diagnosis is made after the death of the infected animal. The corpse of a dead animal or its head is sent for research. In the laboratory, histosections are made from the brain of a corpse and specific inclusions are identified - Babes-Negri bodies, which unambiguously confirm the presence of rabies.

No lifetime research on rabies in a dog is carried out! There is an analysis to detect antibodies to the pathogen. It is performed only on healthy vaccinated dogs that are being prepared for export to countries free from rabies, where this is required to be noted in the animal's passport upon entry.

If a person is bitten by a dog

In humans, rabies is also a fatal infection. A cure is possible only if you seek medical help in a timely manner and have time to carry out all the necessary medical procedures.

Course of action:

If large blood vessels are not damaged, you should not immediately rush to stop the blood - let it drain a little.
Wash the wound abundantly with a solution of laundry soap (10 hours of water + 1 hour of soap) for at least 10 minutes. It is good to do this under pressure with a syringe or syringe without a needle. Treat the wound with hydrogen peroxide or brilliant green and apply a bandage. Washing makes sense if it was done within an hour after the bite.
After treating the wound, go to the emergency room as soon as possible and tell the doctor in detail how the bite occurred with a detailed description of the dog (where, which one, how it behaved, how it bit, whether it had a collar on it).
Complete a full course of anti-rabies vaccination prescribed by a doctor according to the established schedule on days: 1 (day of treatment) - 3 - 7 - 14 - 30 - 90 - 120 (in exceptional cases). Now they do only 6 (7) inoculations in the shoulder. For the period of anti-rabies vaccination and within 6 months after, you should not drink alcohol, expose the body to overheating, hypothermia and overwork, i.e. it is necessary to exclude factors that give an additional burden on the immune system.

If a person does not seek medical help before clinical signs appear in the case of rabies infection, it will not be possible to save him.

If a pet is bitten by an unknown dog

If your dog was bitten by an unknown mongrel from the street, action algorithm:

Bring the pet home and inspect the bite site, be sure to use personal protective equipment (rubber gloves and a face mask), as well as a muzzle for the animal.
The hair around the wound must be cut off, and the bite site itself is washed for a long time with a concentrated aqueous solution of laundry soap (1 teaspoon of soap per 10 teaspoon of water). It is ideal to do this under pressure, i.e. draw the solution into a syringe without a needle or syringe and rinse several times. If the wound is not deep and does not cause severe pain in the dog, you can directly lather, hold for several minutes and also rinse under pressure. The edges of the wound can be treated with brilliant green or iodine (only the edges!).
After the initial treatment of the received bites, you should call the veterinarian at home.
If the dog is vaccinated, quarantine control will be established for it by placing the animal in an isolation room at a veterinary clinic or in a separate room at home.
If the dog has not been vaccinated, then it will be done immediately with a repeat in 2 weeks, but also isolated for observation. The observation period is 10-14 days.
At the end of the quarantine period and in the absence of signs of rabies, the animal will be released home.
If during the observation clinical signs of the disease begin to appear, the animal should be euthanized if it does not die on its own before that. The diagnosis will be confirmed by laboratory tests of the cadaver's brain.

If the fact of infection through a bite was not recorded, and the usually calm dog suddenly began to behave inappropriately, and the symptoms indicate rabies, then the algorithm of actions will be as follows:

Immediately isolate the animal in a separate room.
Call a veterinarian for a diagnosis.
Putting the dog in quarantine for 10-14 days.
If there are no signs of illness after the quarantine, the dog is vaccinated (regardless of vaccination) and released home.
When the animal dies after the onset of symptoms of the disease, the diagnosis is confirmed by laboratory.

Rabies Prevention

Due to the high lethality of this viral infection, special attention should be paid to rabies prevention measures. It is enough to observe three basic conditions:

Avoid contact of domestic dogs with street stray animals while walking.
When living in a private house, create conditions for the impossibility of penetration of strangers and ownerless dogs into the yard.
It is mandatory to vaccinate pets according to the scheme: 3 months - repeat after 2 weeks - then annually or every 11 months (unless otherwise indicated in the instructions for the vaccine). The question of whether to vaccinate against rabies or not should not even arise - definitely do it!
Vaccination is best done by calling a veterinarian at home to minimize the risks of the dog getting infections from other animals in the clinic.

Vaccination protects the dog from rabies in 98% of cases. Can a vaccinated dog get rabies? Yes, it can, and under what conditions:

if the animal was infected before vaccination (vaccination was made during the incubation period);
in puppies after the very first vaccination (persistent immunity from the vaccine appears after a repeat after 21 days);
if the vaccine was of poor quality, expired or stored with temperature violations and lost its protective properties.

Vaccines used to immunize dogs against rabies

Rabiks (monovaccine, made in Russia, approximate cost - 60-80 rubles)
Nobivak Rabies (produced in the Netherlands, 150-200 rubles)
Hexadog (polyvaccine, made in France, 300-350 rubles)
Multikan-8 (polyvaccine, made in Russia, 100-150 rubles)
Rabizin (monovaccine, made in France, 125-140 rubles)
Anti-rabies monovaccine VNIIVViM (produced in Russia, 60-80 rubles)
Rabikan "Schelkovo-51" (monovaccine, made in Russia, 50-75 rubles)
Defensor-3 (monovaccine, made in the USA, 90-110 rubles)
Rabvak 3TF (monovaccine, made in the USA, 110-150 rubles)

What does the law say?

According to Russian law, dog owners are required to vaccinate their pets against rabies without fail. According to Article 5.6. Civil Code of the Russian Federation for citizens who refuse to vaccinate against rabies and register their dogs can be fined up to 3 thousand rubles (for officials - up to 6 thousand rubles). The Criminal Code of the Russian Federation provides for the responsibility of the owner of the dog for any harm caused to others by animals belonging to him. The maximum punishment is up to 6 months in prison (paragraph 1 of article 118).

Those. owners should be concerned that the dog does not cause damage due to inappropriate behavior due to the possible infection with rabies in the absence of vaccination.