You, Your Dog, and Rabies

What is rabies? It is a disease that can be found in some wild and domestic animals. It is usually transmitted from an animal infected with the sickness, through a bite. The virus multiplies and continues to spread until it reaches the central nervous system. It will then progressively attack the brain and all nearby membranes. Inflammation of the entire brain will follow. An infected dog will display neurological symptoms. This is something that all dog owners should be worried about. The disease and will eventually lead to death if left untreated. Rabies is a problem throughout the world. Though it isn't rampant in some countries, there is always a chance that your pet, and even you, will get infected. nnSo how do we counter the illness? Vaccination. Prevention is the best option we've got. Having your pet vaccinated with the latest vaccines would ensure its safety as well as yours. Having your dog avoid fighting with other dogs, especially the stray ones, is important. If your pet does get bitten, bring him to your veterinarian for immediate treatment. Don't wait for the symptoms to show before you decide to act. You'll be endangering yourself and your loved ones as well. It's just as lethal to humans as it is to the dog. Once it reaches the brain, all forms of treatment become useless. nnRabies attacks the spine as well, so an obvious sign of the disease would paralysis. Yet your pet may still have the disease even if it doesn't get paralyzed. So you have to watch out for other symptoms, like changes in your dogs behavior. An example of such would be anxiousness. It would seem as if it were anticipating for something to happen without clear reason. Whimpering or it seeming to be scared is also a possibility. The damage on its nervous system can cause it to hallucinate. It may sometimes be barking by itself; appearing to be scared of something or someone that isn't there. nnYour pet may tend to turn into an aggressive and paranoid beast, posing an even greater threat to you and your family. Confusion can kick in. It can confuse you to be an enemy; things between you two can get really ugly. Knowing how your dog usually behaves would help a lot. An owner that truly knows his pet will be able to detect the changes in its behavior. If one notices a significant change, one should not hesitate to bring one's pet to their veterinarian for a check-up. Sometimes the changes can be a minor psychiatric disorder, but it never hurts to be sure. nnIt is possible to treat rabies at its early stages. But as I've said earlier, initiating treatment when the virus has already made its way to the brain is useless. Government programs include pet vaccination programs in some areas - free vaccination is given out here. By having our pets vaccinated, we're not just helping ourselves – but the community as well. The shot makes your dog more resistant to rabies, ruling it out as a vessel for the sickness. The more pets vaccinated, the better. It helps control the spread of the virus, making things safer for everybody.