knowledge about Rabies in Dogs

Rabies in Dogs: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment and Vaccination

Facts

Rabies is one of the most well known of all the viruses. Fortunately, through active vaccination and eradication programs, there were only 3 reported cases of human rabies in the United States in 2006, although 45,000 people were exposed and required post-exposure vaccination and antibody injections. In other parts of the world, however, human cases and deaths from rabies are much higher. Around the world 1 person dies from rabies every 10 minutes.

Who is at risk?

People that work closely with wildlife, veterinarians, and travelers are at the highest risk of exposure. Fortunately, there is a vaccine that is available to protect high-risk people. Animals that come into contact with wildlife and are not vaccinated are at a higher risk of infection. While the risk of coming into contact with the virus is very low, it nevertheless does exist. Because of the movement of carriers, there is always the risk of exposure.

Transmission of the disease

The transmission of the disease almost always occurs as a result of an infected animal biting a non-infected animal. Skunks, raccoons, foxes, coyotes and bats are the animals most likely to transmit the virus. There have been a few reported cases of infection resulting from aerosolization occurring in caves where large quantities of infected bats reside. Rabies virus does not live very long outside the host and remains viable in the carcass of an infected animal for less than 24 hours. The rabies virus is shed at high levels in saliva. However, being bitten by a rabid animal does not necessarily mean that the bitten animal (or human) will become infected. It has been speculated, that only around 15% of exposed people will contract the disease. Humans, cats, and dogs are only mildly susceptible to the disease.

Symptoms

After coming in contact with the virus, the bitten animal may go through one or all of several stages. With most animals, the virus will spread through the nerves of the bitten animal towards the brain. The virus is relatively slow moving and the average time of incubation from exposure to brain involvement is between 3 to 8 weeks in dogs, 2 to 6 weeks in cats, and 3 to 6 weeks in people. However, incubation periods as long as 6 months in dogs and 12 months in people have been reported. After the virus reaches the brain it then will move to the salivary glands where it can be spread through a bite. After the virus reaches the brain the animal will show one, two, or all of the three different phases.

Prodromal phase

The first is the prodromal phase and usually lasts for 2-3 days in dogs. Apprehension, nervousness, anxiety, solitude, and a fever may be noted. Friendly animals may become shy or irritable and may snap, whereas, aggressive animals may become affectionate and docile. Most animals will constantly lick the site of the bite. In cats, the prodromal phase lasts for only 1-2 days and they usually develop more fever spikes and erratic behavior than dogs.

Furious phase

From the prodromal phase, animals may enter the furious stage; cats are particularly prone to developing this phase. The furious stage of the disease in dogs usually lasts for 1 to 7 days. Animals become restless and irritable and are hyperresponsive to auditory and visual stimuli. As they become more restless, they begin to roam and become more irritable and vicious. When caged, dogs may bite and attack their enclosures. Animals progress to become disoriented and then have seizures and eventually die.

Paralytic (dumb) phase

Animals may develop the paralytic phase either after the prodromal or furious stage. The paralytic phase usually develops within 2 to 4 days after the first signs are noted. Nerves affecting the head and throat are the first to be involved and animals may begin to salivate as a result of their inability to swallow. Deep labored breathing and a dropped jaw may result as the diaphragm and facial muscles become increasingly paralyzed. Animals may make a choking sound and many owners think that there is something lodged in the dog’s throat. The animal will get weaker and eventually go into respiratory failure and die.

Diagnosis

The current way to diagnose rabies in animals is to submit the brain for microscopic examination. Some new testing techniques utilizing skin and or blood samples are being studied and used in a few research settings and show promise as a way of testing potentially exposed humans and animals. They are not routinely being used at this time.

Treatment

There is no treatment. Once the disease develops in humans, death is almost certain. Only a handful of people have survived rabies after extremely intensive medical care. There have been several reported cases of dogs surviving the infection, but they are very rare.

Vaccination and prevention

Vaccination is the best way to prevent infection and properly vaccinated animals stand very little chance of contracting the disease. While rabies vaccination for dogs is mandatory for all states, it is estimated that up to half of all dogs are not vaccinated. Some communities are also requiring cats to be vaccinated, which is very important because there are currently more cases of cat rabies than dog rabies. Some people estimate that less than ten percent of the cat population is vaccinated thus leading to the high incidence of rabies in cats. The standard vaccination protocol is to vaccinate cats and dogs at three or four months and then again at one year of age. A year later, a three-year rabies vaccination is recommended. The three-year vaccine has been tested and shown to be very effective. A few counties, states, or individual veterinarians require yearly or once every two-year vaccination for a variety of reasons that need to be explored more closely.

There is a series of vaccines that can be used to vaccinate people at high risk. There are some vaccines available for large animals also. The question of vaccinating exotic animals is a common one. There are no approved products for most exotics (withthe exception of ferrets), however, canine vaccine is used on some species to offer some protection. Vaccinating exotics or wolf hybrids should be dealt with individually in cooperation with your local veterinarian and public health officials. Keeping a wild animal that is at high risk of being a carrier such as a skunk or raccoon is never recommended.

Pet exposure

Any pet who is bitten or scratched by either a wild, carnivorous mammal or a bat that is not available for testing should be considered as having been exposed to rabies. Public health officials recommend that unvaccinated dogs, cats, and ferrets exposed to a rabid animal should be euthanized immediately. If the owner is unwilling to have this done, the animal should be placed in strict isolation for 6 months and vaccinated 1 month before being released. Animals with expired vaccinations need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Dogs and cats that are currently vaccinated are kept under observation for 45 days.

Human exposure

If an animal bites a human, the animal will be either quarantined or observed for a period of at least ten days to ensure that it does not have rabies. Whether or not the animal was currently vaccinated and the community that you live in will dictate the requirements of the quarantine. People that do become exposed to a rabid animal can be given post exposure vaccinations and a globulin (antibody) injuection to protect them against becoming infected. Any person bitten by an animal should wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention immediately.

Summary

All warm-blooded animals are at risk for contracting rabies, however, some species are much more resistant than others. Transmission of the virus is almost always through a bite from a rabid animal. There are a variety of different symptoms and once contracted there is no cure, and death is almost always the outcome. The disease is very preventable through vaccination. While relatively rare in humans, the risk of contracting it, and the outcome of the disease make taking precautions with wild animals and vaccination of domestic ones essential.

Dog Fleas

Dog fleas are a pesky nuisance. Any time your dog has them, not only do they annoy your pet and make her scratch constantly, they also infest the whole house, it seems.
You can easily tell when your dog has fleas. She will scratch furiously, over and over. It is important to check that there are no signs of other parasites such mange. Mange results in red skin patches and loss of hair.
Some people seem to be particularly attractive for fleas, mosquitoes and other biting insects. If you have a person like that in the house, they may know that the dog has a problem before you even notice the dog scratching.
Of course there are plenty of commercial products to get rid of dog fleas, but these are often chemical insecticides that you may not want to use on your pet or in your house. So what is the solution?
Fortunately there are some natural treatments for dog fleas. The traditional flea comb is one of them. It will get rid of a certain number of adult fleas by simply combing them out of the dog’s hair. Most dogs enjoy being combed, but be sure to do it outside or the parasites will just stay in the house and jump right back onto the dog.
Regular flea collars are to be avoided because of the harsh chemicals that they contain, but you can find all natural versions of a flea collar. Alternatively, rub a couple drops of essential oil of eucalyptus and rosemary onto a regular canvas or fabric covered collar. This will not work so well on bare leather. Watch that the dog does not chew the collar, because essential oils are strong and can burn the tissues of the mouth.
You can also get natural flea powder from many sources. Try asking in your local pet supplies store or health store, or order online. These natural dog flea treatments are usually made up of plant extracts including eucalyptus, fennel, rosemary and wormwood.
To prevent further infestations, try giving your dog garlic regularly in his food. The smell will keep parasites away. Brewer’s yeast is another natural food that has the same effect, so you can try this if your dog will not eat garlic.
At the same time as you are getting rid of fleas on your dog, it is important also to treat the house. Fleas will lay eggs and hide out in all kinds of soft furnishings including your sofas, rugs and beds.
For the house, be sure to get something that will not harm children or other pets. Usually the flea powder that you use on your dog can be sprinkled onto furnishings too, but try a spot test to be sure that it does not discolor fabric. You will need to treat furniture and mattresses, and wash sheets. Repeat the treatment twice more, every 2-3 days, to deal with any eggs that were left. You should find this is an effective way to get rid of dog fleas naturally.

Dog Paw Care

Your dog's footpads are the toughest part of his skin, and absorb the shock and pressure on his joints from standing, walking and running. Due to their function, paws are prone to injury and dog paw care should be a part of your regular care routine.
I briefly inspect Zoe and Fritz's paws each evening as I outlined in an earlier post about getting your puppy used to being handled. It doesn't take long and is as simple as ensuring nothing is stuck between their toes and their pads are clean and free from mud and dirt.
Typical paw injuries include: abrasions, lacerations, punctures, burns and blisters to the footpad, dry, cracked pads and foreign objects lodged between the toes.

Symptoms of a paw injury: these include bleeding, limping, holding the injured paw off the ground, discoloration of the pad (difficult to see if the paws have a very dark pigmentation) and excessive licking and/or chewing of the paw.
If your dog is showing any of these symptoms, then you'll want to identify what is causing the problem. Be extremely careful handling an injured dog, even the most mild mannered dog can bite if he's in pain and feels threatened by you touching him. Putting a muzzle on your dog is a good way to protect yourself from a bite.
Treating abrasions, lacerations and punctures: the footpads contain a great number of blood vessels, so even a superficial paw cut can result in what seems like a serious amount of bleeding. The bleeding should stop relatively soon after you've treated the wound; if it doesn't, then contact your vet.
For abrasions and small cuts, clean the wound yourself with an anti-bacterial wash ([tag]chlorhexidine[/tag] diluted with water will suffice) and wrap the paw with a light bandage.
You will want to stop your dog from licking and chewing at the bandage - a good way to do this is to put an Elizabethan collar around his neck for a few days.
Your dog sweats through his footpads, so the bandage will become moist within a couple of days. Moist bandages slow down the rate of healing and can result in infection, so you should change the bandage every two to three days.
Depending on how deep the cut is, it should heel within a few days; if it doesn't and you are unsure how to carry on treating the wound, contact your vet.
With deep paw lacerations, I'd recommend you take your dog to your vet for treatment. He will suture (stitch) the pad, bandage it and probably apply a splint. Without the splint, every time your dog puts his paw to the ground, the pad will spread due the weight of your dog's body being applied to the paw - when this happens it's likely that the cut will open up again.
Burns and blisters: your dog's pads can easily burn and blister as a result of walking on a hot pavement or through hot sand.
If you look at your dog's pad there will either be a loose flap of the pad itself, or this will have becopme detached leaving a red, ulcerated patch.
The best thing you can do is to apply anti-bacterial wash and cover the paw with a bandage until the pad has healed. If your dog has a loose flap of pad you'll need to wait for this to come off, which it will do on its own or you can ask your vet to trim it off.
Dry, Cracked Pads: you dog's pads are naturally rough, they have to be so he has traction when he needs to turn quickly, sprint off and stop quickly. If the pads become cracked they are prone to collect dust and debris, which can cause further injury to the pad. Pads can be moisturised using a special footpad cream.
Try to avoid using human hand moisturiser as this tends to soften the pads to much and makes them prone to injury.
Foreign objects between the toes: the most common culprits are burrs, small stones and pieces of glass, dried mud and also your dog's matted fur.These can usually be removed with a pair of tweezers and matted fur can be trimmed back.
When to go to the vet: always contact your vet if you are unsure of the cause of the injury, you are not comfortable treating the injury yourself, the wound does not appear to be healing, or if your dog's paw becomes swollen.
Your vet will either recommend further treatment you can carry out at home or suggest you visit the clinic.
Prevention: sometimes accidents will happen, but to reduce the risk of a footpad injury keep your home and yard clear of sharp objects, take care when you are out to avoid hazards such as broken glass and other debris on pavements, walking on gravelled areas for a long period of time, hot pavements in the summer and road salt in the winter.
The best way to think about it is, would you be happy walking barefoot on that ground? If not, don't make your dog walk on it.

the Signs of Dog Disease

Following is a list of most common diseases and in a dog and signs that characterize them. However, this list is not intended to be used to diagnose and treat your dog, but rather as a tool to tell when your dog is ill. Communicating with your veterinarian is a key part of ensuring good health care for your dog.

DISEASES	SIGNS
Abscesses (according to site)	difficulty moving, fever, loss of appetite, pus
Arthritis	painful to touch
Burns	rapid breathing, shedding coat, ulceration
Cystitis (inflammation of the bladder)	abdominal pain, blood in the urine, difficult or no urination, painful urination, urinary incontinence
Dermatitis (skin inflammation)	shedding coat, skin irritation, ulceration
Diabetes Insipidus	intense thirst, urinary incontinence, urinary incontinence, voracious appetite
Diabetes Mellitus	bad breath, coma, frequent urination, intense thirst, urinary incontinence, voracious appetite
Distemper	abdominal pain, convulsions, cough, diarrhea (normal), loss of appetite, fever, low spirits, poor appetite, rapid breathing, trembling, vomiting, voracious appetite
Eclampsia	changes in behavior, convulsions, bedsores, fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, loss of balance, painful breathing, trembling
Eczema	shedding coat, skin irritation
Enteritis (inflammation of the intestines)	abdominal pain, diarrhea (normal), loss of appetite, vomiting, weight loss
External Parasites	scratches the ears, shedding coat, skin irritation
Foreign Bodies	abdominal pain, constipation, cough, cyanosis, diarrhea (normal), difficulty swallowing, intense thirst, loss of appetite, painful to touch, scratches the ears, swelling of the abdomen, vomiting
Gastritis	abdominal pain, bad breath, loss of appetite, swelling of the abdomen, vomiting
Hemorrhage	conspicuous inner eyelid, painful breathing, rapid breathing, shock
Heart Disease	abdominal distension, convulsions, cough, lethargy, mucous tissues pale, painful breathing
Heat Stroke	changes in behavior, coma, bedsores, fever, intense thirst, loss of appetite, loss of balance, low spirits, painful breathing, painful to touch, rapid breathing, shock, ulceration
Infectious Hepatitis	abdominal pain, diarrhea (with blood), fever, intense thirst, jaundice, lethargy, loss of appetite, painful breathing, rapid breathing, vomiting
Internal Parasites	cough, diarrhea (with blood), diarrhea (normal), mucous tissues pale, swelling of the abdomen, vomiting, voracious appetite, weight loss
Intestinal Blockage	abdominal pain, constipation, convulsions, lethargy, loss of appetite, poor appetite, vomiting
Leptospirosis	abdominal pain, blood in the urine, cyanosis, diarrhea (normal), difficult or no urination, fever, jaundice, lethargy, loss of appetite, painful urination, poor appetite, rapid breathing, vomiting
Leukemia	lethargy, loss of appetite, low spirits, mucous tissues pale, conspicuous inner eyelid painful breathing, rapid breathing, vomiting
Metritis (inflammation of the uterus)	abdominal pain, convulsions, cyanosis (low blood oxygen), lethargy, loss of appetite, conspicuous inner eyelid, pus, swelling of the abdomen, vomiting
Nephritis	abdominal distension, abdominal pain, bad breath, cyanosis (low blood oxygen), difficult or no urination, fever, frequent urination, lethargy, low spirits, painful urination, swelling of the abdomen
Otitis	convulsions, loss of balance, pus, scratches the ears, skin irritation
Para-Influenza	cough, painful breathing
Parvovirus	convulsions, diarrhea with blood, diarrhea (normal), fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, low spirits, conspicuous inner eyelid, poor appetite, rapid breathing, vomiting, weight loss
Poisoning	changes in behavior, convulsions, cyanosis (low blood oxygen), diarrhea (with blood), diarrhea (normal), poor appetite, rapid breathing, shedding coat, shock, trembling, vomiting
Rabies	changes in behavior, convulsions, fever, intense thirst, loss of balance, low spirits, mucous tissues pale, conspicuous inner eyelid, poor appetite, trembling, weight loss
Ringworm	shedding coat
Stones	abdominal pain, blood in the urine, difficult or no urination, painful urination, urinary incontinence
Tartar	bad breath
Tonsillitis	cough, difficulty swallowing, fever, loss of appetite, vomiting
Toothache	bad breath, difficulty swallowing, intense thirst, loss of appetite
Torsion of the Stomach	abdominal pain, changes in behavior, coma, convulsions, difficulty swallowing, intense thirst, loss of appetite, conspicuous inner eyelid, mucous tissues pale, painful breathing, painful to touch, poor appetite, rapid breathing, swelling of the abdomen, vomiting
Tuberculosis	cough, loss of appetite, low spirits, conspicuous inner eyelid, painful breathing, rapid breathing, trembling, weight loss
Tumors	abdominal distension, loss of appetite, mucous tissues pale, conspicuous inner eyelid, painful to touch, weight loss

A Comprehensive List Of Dog Diseases

A list of dog diseases is worth having for any animal lover as it will indicate what can be wrong with a dog. The following is a fully compiled list of dog diseases which will be extremely helpful in determining certain conditions in a dog which may otherwise be inexplicable. Otherwise healthy dogs and puppys can contract certain mentioned sickness, infections even with being cared for well. Gastrointestinal illness can be prevented with proper feeding, although muscular, skeletal, cardiovascular, cancers and many others mentioned below are often found in birth or in ageing of animals.

Some of the most important, and sometimes deadly, and treatable syndromes, and infections found in dogs are following.

1. Infectious diseases
2. Bacterial infections
3. Viral infections
4. Protozoal infections
5. Fungal infections
6. Other infections

-Muscular and skeletal syndromes-Parasites-Circulatory and cardiovascular diseases-Eyes-Ears-Nervous system-Cancers-Skin-Environmental-Behavioral-Gastrointestinal ailments-Endocrine illness-Reproductive and urinary system-Overdoses and poisons

A closer look at the different viruses and infections and symptoms there of which can be found on a list of dog diseases, some which are treatable, where as others are deadly.

Bacterial infections such as Lime illness, which starts from spreading of ticks and symptoms, are anorexia, lethargy and arthritis. Brucellosis, which is sexually transmitted and Kennel cough results in respiratory problems, which usually occurs when dogs are in close confinement. Clostridium causes diarrhea and Leptospirosis which cause kidney and liver failure.

A viral infection includes Canine parvovirus, a gastrointestinal problem which usually occurs in puppies. Canine distemper is often fatal with neurological and respiratory signs. Canine corona virus is a gastrointestinal illness which is normally asymptomatic with mild clinical signs. Hepatitis which is often fatal in the liver of dogs.

Protozoal infections such as Giardiasis is an intestinal disease with common symptoms, diarrhea. Coccidiosis has no specific known symptoms although weight loss and diarrhea can occur. Leishmaniasis which is commonly caused by the sand fly. Babesiosis is caused by hard ticks which causes hemolytic anemia in dogs.

Not unlike humans there can be found on a list of dog diseases muscular and skeletal ailments commonly found in humans.

Osteoarthritis, Hip dysplasia which usually occurs in large breed dogs, Elbow dysplasia, also in large breeds. Luxating patella is usually inherited and is found in smaller breed dogs.

There are a very large variety of parasites found in dogs, which can be prevented and must be treated as soon as possible to prevent great discomfort and worse sickness is dogs.

Parasites such as intestinal parasites include hookworms, roundworms and tapeworms which cause diarrhea, vomiting and weight-loss in dogs. Fleas and ticks are a common parasite in dogs and heartworm causes coughing, difficulty breathing and often death. Mites cause itching, burning and crusting.

Again much like humans, included on the list of dog diseases dogs are commonly dogs either born with a defect heart or can develop heart problems over the years which can result in the death of the animal. Circulatory and Cardiovascular diseases include the following:

Von Willebrand disease is inherited found in dogs as well as humans which is caused by protein deficiency and signs are spontaneous bleeding as well as excessive bleeding following injury or surgery. Thrombocytopenia is caused by a low platelet count as oppose to Thrombocytosis which is caused by an excess of platelets.

All animals should be properly nourished and cared for either to prevent them from disease or cure them. Most infections and contagions found on a list of dog diseases are curable and owners of animals should realize that prevention is often possible which will result in a healthy and happy animal.