Rabies has an almost equally frightening sound as the human plague, the Pest. And rightly so, because a dog or human infected with rabies is hardly salvageable. Until recently, dogs in the United States had to be vaccinated against rabies annually. This has changed significantly in recent years, leaving many dog owners uncertain. You might ask: Should I still vaccinate my dog against rabies? Here you will find everything you need to know about the disease.
What is rabies exactly?
Rabies is the name of a disease caused by rabies viruses from the genus Lyssaviruses, which are transmitted through saliva or via the mucous membranes and blood. Rabies viruses can infect all mammals, especially carnivorous animals such as dogs, cats, foxes, wolves, raccoons, ferrets, and bats, as well as humans. Transmission usually occurs through bites or scratches.
Rabies is a deadly disease that always ends in death for the unvaccinated dog.
In the United States, dogs are most commonly infected by foxes or among each other with the virus. The incubation period after a bite injury is two to ten weeks. It strongly depends on how close the wound is to the brain. After the onset of rabies, the disease progresses between one day and one week.
The rabies viruses spread rapidly through the bloodstream and somewhat slower through the nerve pathways, reaching their ultimate destination, the brain.
Since 2007, the United States has been officially declared “rabies-free,” which does not mean that dogs and humans cannot become infected by sick dogs and cats brought into the U.S.
There are no proven antidotes for dogs to cure an outbreak of rabies. Only prophylaxis through vaccination can save a dog’s life.
Rabies in Dogs: Symptoms
The symptoms of rabies in dogs result from the central nervous system (CNS) disrupted by the virus. The closer the infection site is to the brain, the faster the virus can infect the CNS. The same applies to an infection route through the bloodstream. Symptoms of rabies in dogs arise – as in humans – from an acute and massive inflammation of the brain. The disease usually progresses in three phases, with dog owners often not recognizing the first phase.
3 Phases:
First Phase
Second Phase
- Increased changes in behavior and mood swings
- Sensitivity to light, air, and wind noises
- Seeing water triggers unnatural behavior
- Nervousness, timidity, and withdrawal in the variant of “dumb rabies”
- Outbursts of aggression, unmotivated and persistent barking, and increasing restlessness in the variant of “furious rabies”
- Paralysis, especially in the hind legs
- Muscle twitching
- Drooling, hanging tongue, lockjaw (open)
Third Phase
- Convulsions
- Final paralysis
- Coma and death from respiratory paralysis (suffocation)
Rabies in Dogs: Treatment
Rabies is notifiable and subject to state control. It is reported to the responsible public health officer, who decides on further action. If your dog is suspected of contact with a wild animal or shows certain symptoms of rabies infection, the official veterinarian orders euthanasia without treatment.
Only dogs with proven complete vaccination are not killed; they are possibly placed under observation. The measures are also decided here by the official veterinarian.
A well-founded suspicion of rabies infection can also lead to a quarantine of three to six months for a vaccinated dog.
How is rabies diagnosed in dogs?
A definitive diagnosis cannot be made in living animals. Rabies pathogens can only be detected by examining brain tissue using current methods. Therefore, the diagnosis is limited to clinical history.
Rabies in dogs: Therapy?
Unfortunately, your veterinarian’s hands are tied because therapy for dogs suspected of rabies infection is legally prohibited. This applies even if the disease has not yet progressed in your pet.
In other words, even though theoretically it is possible to administer measures from human medicine to your potentially infected dog, this is not allowed. However, these options would be very limited and would only be successful if the infected patient received antiserum and simultaneous vaccinations within a few hours.
If the first symptoms of possible rabies appear in your unvaccinated dog, rabies infection is assumed, and the animal is euthanized.
Rabies vaccination
Due to legal regulations on the one hand and the practically non-existent treatment options on the other, rabies vaccination for dogs in the United States continues to be one of the most urgently recommended, so-called core vaccinations. Have your puppy vaccinated against rabies as early as the 12th week of life and ensure good basic immunization. Learn about vaccination guidelines and schedules in the iHugDogs guide “Dog Vaccination“. The iHugDogs veterinary team is also available quickly and easily to answer any questions you may have about vaccination.
With this measure, you protect your dog and significantly contribute to minimizing rabies pathogens in the entire animal population.
Rabies vaccination: Costs
The cost of rabies vaccination for dogs is approximately $30. It consists of the price of the vaccine and the treatment fee at the veterinary practice.
Rabies vaccination should generally be boosted every three years. There is also the option of vaccinating against rabies together with four other diseases. This 5-in-1 vaccination, which is intended to protect your dog from rabies as well as distemper, infectious hepatitis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza, usually costs between $50 and $70.
iHugDogs Expert Tip:
“A rabies vaccination is absolutely necessary if you travel abroad with your dog. Even in countries without border controls, you may be checked upon entry. Therefore, always carry the U.S. pet passport with you.”
