Rabies is one of our more common diseases, also known as hydrophobia, and is an acute, progressive, almost irreversible and fatal encephalomyelitis caused by the rabies virus. Rabies can infect both domestic and wild animals, and is then transmitted to humans through bites or scratches (usually via saliva).
The rabies virus primarily attacks the central nervous system and the clinical presentation is characterized by a high degree of excitement, fear of water, fear of wind, excitement, pharyngeal muscle spasms, salivation, progressive paralysis, and finally death due to respiratory and circulatory failure. The entire course of the disease is within 1 week and rarely exceeds 10 days, with a mortality rate of almost 100%.
Symptoms
Early detection of rabies can be done by observing the behavior of your dog. Dogs with rabies usually have the following symptoms.
1. The dog’s chin (jaw) drops
2. abnormal barking
3. Tongue sticking out and drooping, with a lot of saliva flowing
4. Licking their own urine
5. Unusual licking of water
6. Stomach regurgitation
7. Behavior change
8. Biting or eating abnormal things
9. aggressive (e.g. biting)
10. hurting without provocation
11. Running wildly for no apparent reason
12. Stiff posture while walking or running
13. Irritable and restless
14. Biting during isolation
15. Appears drowsy
16. Walking with an unsteady gait
17. Frequent demonstrations
18. Barking inexplicably
Causes
There are many causes of rabies in dogs, as follows.
1. Rabies virus is mainly present in the brain tissue and spinal cord of the sick dog. The salivary glands and saliva of a sick dog also contain a large amount of virus, which is excreted with saliva to the body.
The virus is excreted outside the body with saliva.
2. The virus can be contained in the saliva of a sick dog from 10 to 15 days before the appearance of clinical symptoms to 6 to 7 months after the disappearance of symptoms, therefore, when an animal
Therefore, when an animal is bitten by a sick animal, it can be infected and develop the disease.
3. Some dogs with healthy appearance can also contain virus in their saliva, and when they lick people or other animals, or live with people, they can also make
When they lick people or other animals, or live with people, they can also infect people with the disease.
Many wild animals, such as wolves, foxes, deer and bats, can not only become sick and die after being infected with this disease, but also expand the spread. For example, some species of bats (African vampire bats) can be infected with the disease.
Some species of bats (African blood-sucking bats), after being infected with rabies virus, often attack humans and animals, causing them to become infected.
5. Respiratory secretions and urine contaminated air can also cause respiratory infections in humans and animals. Wild animals can be infected through the digestive tract by picking up diseased carcasses.
Infection.
Diagnosis
Rabies can be diagnosed by medical history and positive immunofluorescence test.
Treatment
There is no effective treatment for rabies in dogs. Owners who find a sick dog can only isolate the dog and take it to a veterinary clinic or health center for immediate treatment.
Care
If a person is unfortunately bitten by a dog with rabies, daily care is important: 1.
1. If once bitten or scratched by a pet such as a dog or cat, the wound should be rinsed immediately and repeatedly with 20% soapy water.
2. Put a tourniquet on the proximal end of the bite site, squeeze out the blood from the wound to promote the outflow of blood containing virus, and rinse the wound thoroughly with plenty of soapy water, salt water or water for more than half an hour. If the wound is deep, use a large syringe without a needle to rinse the deep part repeatedly and thoroughly.
3. At the same time, the dog should be isolated and observed for 14 days to determine if it is rabid, and if necessary, sent to an epidemic prevention station for testing.
4. After the wound has been treated, go to the health vaccination station in time for rabies vaccination preferably not more than 24 hours, and if the dog or cat cannot be traced, the entire vaccination should be carried out to the end.
5. If the baby in the family has close contact with the dog, rabies vaccination should be given even if there are no obvious scratches.
6. In terms of life to keep the patient’s room quiet, to prevent sound, light, water and wind and other irritants, this should be isolated and fused, to do these will be conducive to the recovery of rabies patients.
Prevention
1. vaccination: according to the growth of puppies for medical examination, regular vaccination.
2. maintain hygiene: usually do not give the dog to eat some unclean things, and regular disinfection and cleaning of the puppy’s sleeping nest, to maintain a certain hygienic environment to avoid infection rabies virus.
3. Stay away from rabies: Since rabies virus is mainly transmitted through saliva or scratches or bites, try to avoid contact with animals that may have rabies virus, and when you take your dog out, hold it well on a leash and don’t let it run around.
Attention
If the baby in the family comes into close contact with the dog, it should be vaccinated against rabies even if there are no obvious scratches.
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