The official name for rabies is hydrophobia. The disease is viral in nature and affects the nervous system of the animal. In most cases, it is fatal. Before listing the signs of rabies in a dog, it should be noted that the virus is resistant to low temperatures, but not resistant to high. It should also be remembered that it is very sensitive to direct sunlight.
Who is sick
In nature, the disease affects primarily wild animals - wolves, foxes, ferrets, etc. A pet can become infected by being bitten or infected by saliva on an injured area of the skin. That is why all dog breeders should know the signs of rabies in a dog.
Symptomatology
The virus quickly penetrates the spinal cord and brain, after which it spreads throughout the body. During the entire time the incubation period lasts , the animal is dangerous (on average - from ten days to several weeks).
Quarantine
If your pet had a fight on the street with a stray animal, you should not wait until the first signs of rabies appear in the dog. Contact the veterinarian as soon as possible - most likely, your four-legged friend will have to be quarantined, that is, isolated - otherwise he may attack a person or animal and infect them. If necessary, quarantine can last up to two months; the purpose of this event is to wait for the onset of symptoms.
The clinical picture of the disease
Signs of rabies in a dog may vary. Veterinarians distinguish three forms of the disease - violent, quiet and atypical. The violent form, in turn, goes through several stages. First, the animal tries to hide from people, the bite site itches and itches. After that, aggression is manifested in the dog’s behavior - he worries, rushes about, hoarsely barks. Attempts to attack humans and other animals are characteristic of this stage; in addition, the dog cannot drink water. In the third stage, convulsions begin. The animal is no longer trying to get up and eventually dies. On average, violent rabies lasts about four days. Signs of rabies in a dog in its quiet form are excessive salivation, refusal to eat and cramps. The atypical form is the hardest to diagnose. The disease in this case can last up to six months, accompanied by symptoms such as diarrhea and depression.
Human rabies
How a dog sick with rabies behaves, we figured it out. However, not everyone knows that this disease can develop in humans, and it is also divided into three stages. The first of them is characterized by general malaise, persistent headaches, fever and loss of appetite. In man
infected with rabies, there may be an unmotivated feeling of fear, anxiety. After a few days, excitement increases. There are bouts of hydrophobia (when you try to swallow fluid, the throat muscles involuntarily contract). It becomes painful to breathe. After a week, the fear of fear disappears, the patient calms down - there is a remission. However, deterioration soon comes - convulsions become more frequent, limbs paralyze.
Treatment
It should be emphasized that there is no cure for rabies as such. If you start the disease at least before the first stage, a fatal outcome is inevitable. That is why, if you were attacked by a stray animal, you must immediately visit the emergency room and get vaccinated.