Dog health is important, and no disease our dogs can contract is more feared than rabies. Not only is it always fatal for dogs, it is dangerous and can be lethal to humans too. In the old days, dog’s why rabies were refered to a “mad dogs” and they were often shot by there owners before they had the chance to bite a child or another animal. Unfortunately, today there are not many more options once a dog has been infected. Infected dogs are promptly euthanized. How do we keep our pets from being infected with rabies? A rabies vaccination with periodic booster follow-ups ensures our dogs’ health.

How is rabies transmitted?

Rabies is transmitted via the saliva of the infected animal, and wild animals, such as a fox or raccoon, can be carriers. The most common means of passing along the disease is through biting, and rabid animals are aggressively anti-social and more likely to bite. A rabid animal is extremely dangerous. Call your local animal control center if you suspect a rabid animal is nearby. Your dog’s health, and yours also, is at stake.

If you think your dog might have rabies, exercise extreme caution. You do not want to be bitten and potentially contract the disease yourself. Isolate the animal and take it your veterinarian or call the nearest animal control center immediately. Symptoms to look for include sudden changes in your dog’s behavior, aggression, lethargy, foaming at the mouth, anti-social behavior and a desire to isolate, and a loss in appetite.

If your dog has been vaccinated against rabies, but still shows signs of infection, it will need to be seen by a vet and closely observed for 45 days. Unfortunately, if your dog hasn’t been vaccinated and has bitten someone and shows signs of rabies, it’s likely to be destroyed. The only way to determine if an animal has rabies is to examine the brain tissue.

Treatment for Rabies?

There is no treatment for rabies. The best course is avoiding it. Not only do you put your pet at risk if you don’t vaccinate it, you put other people and pets in the community at risk at well. A typical vaccination schedule calls for and initial vaccination at 3 months old, and a booster shot once a year. Consult your veterinarian to schedule rabies vaccination for your dog.