Rabies Still On The Top of The List as Deadliest Dog Disease

An animal which contracts rabies is practically guaranteed a death sentence, because of this it is one of the deadliest dog disorders to date. Rabies is a viral illness that is disseminated in the saliva from a bite of an infected animal. The virus approaches the brain of the infected pet creating deterioration, which engenders the signature threatening behavior. After the bite incident the virus creates it way all through the bloodstream to the nerves and spinal cord and irrevocably the brain, where it then incubates anywhere between three to eight weeks in a dog.

The signs and symptoms of rabies has 3 phases it goes through:

1. After the incubation phase, the pooch will go through the Prodromal Phase which lasts 2-3 days, throughout this stage the pooch may present symptoms of nervousness, anxiety and apprehension. Some animals also develop a fever.
2.The Furious Step remains one to seven days, during which dogs become restless and commence displaying vicious behavior. It is during this phase that the contaminated pet may attempt to bite people and other animals that approach it.
3.The Paralytic Step develops within 2 to 4 days after the first symptoms occur. This is the period in which the extreme salivation takes place, it is resulted because the pet finds it more difficult to swallow. They will then be afflicted by respiratory failure and die.

Although dog rabies has been almost eliminated in the US, cases among cats are on the rise because of their contact with wild creatures that may have the disorder. In 2009 feline rabies rose to 300 reported cases as compared to 294 in 2008 as per the Center for Disease Control. In comparison, there were only eighty one cases of rabies among pet dogs in the identical time. Thus, rabies remains a serious problem, with some 40,000 people a year receiving post-exposure prophylaxis therapies after suffering from a possible exposure to the disease. Deadly cases are highest in areas such as Asia and Africa where the largest number of dog rabies cases arise.

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

In order to accurately diagnose rabies, the only process is the examination of brain tissue, which can only be collected after the animal has died. There is no available cure for rabies, to be able to prevent the suffering of the animal and further transmission, the animal is humanely euthanized.

Prevention of rabies is the correct solution to this ailment. Shots for common dog disorder is highly recommended. The regular procedure for vaccinating pets is to inoculate them at three to four months and then when they arrive at one year of age. The vaccine program for rabies varies from once every year to every 3 years, depending upon the state. The exposure of canines to wild animals should be attenuated to help prevent rabies infection. Pets should be kept inside when not in a controlled outdoor environment. If pet dogs have been exposed to the virus and have not yet had their shots, they should be quarantined for observation and put down if they begin to present rabies symptoms.


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