Things you need to know about rabies in dogs.

(Baonghean.vn) - Rabies is an acute infectious disease caused by the rabies virus. It primarily affects warm-blooded animals (dogs, cats, etc.) and is transmitted to humans through the skin and mucous membranes. Once the disease develops, the mortality rate is 100%. Therefore, recognizing a rabid dog and understanding the symptoms of rabies after a dog bite is extremely important knowledge you need to proactively prevent rabies in your family members.

53 people bitten by rabid dogs, 1 dead, entire village in panic.

How to recognize rabies in dogs

Illustrative image.

Rabies is usually divided into two forms:

1. The furious form of rabies is divided into 3 stages.

ButThe initial stage of the disease:Dogs may change their daily routines, becoming restless and irritable, or conversely, more cheerful and affectionate, biting and licking their paws.

ButPeriod of stimulation:The dog exhibits neurological changes, running around erratically, panicking, lunging at shadows, barking in a hoarse or guttural manner, eventually erupting into a howling sound, with a drooping jaw, protruding tongue, excessive drooling, and red eyes. The dog is unable to walk, its abdomen is sunken, and it is afraid of wind and water.

ButPeriod of polio:The dog becomes lethargic and paralyzed, lying listlessly, with a drooping jaw, drooling, digestive problems, exhaustion, and then dies.

2. Paralytic form

The dog is sad, prefers to lie in the dark, has a drooping jaw, its tongue is sticking out, and saliva is freely dripping. The dog has paralysis of the sphincter muscles, preventing it from chewing, swallowing, biting, or barking.

Cats are less susceptible to rabies than dogs. If a cat does contract rabies, it will have symptoms similar to the paralytic form seen in dogs, but will prefer to hide in dark places. Rabies in cats is very dangerous.

Symptoms of rabies after a dog bite.

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2-4 days before the onset of the disease:About 2-4 days before the onset of the illness, children often show symptoms such as headache, restlessness, irritability, depression, and unexplained fear. Others experience fever, flu-like symptoms, swelling and pain at the bite site, and pain spreading along the lymphatic nerve pathways.

When rabies develops:Children with high fever up to 40.6 degrees Celsius, fatigue, hoarseness, and cough of varying severity are as follows:

When children fall ill, they usually have a high fever above 40.6 degrees Celsius.

Spasm type:This form is the most common, and children will exhibit fear of water, light, and wind. These are the main triggers for rabies (muscle spasms, convulsions, and tremors) and can worsen the seizures. In addition, respiratory and laryngeal spasms make breathing difficult and can lead to suffocation. Children will experience increased nervous system excitability, leading to loss of consciousness, fainting, and coma, which can result in death within 2-6 days.

Paralysis:In this form, the patient is not overly agitated, usually only experiencing spasms and paralysis. Children may die from suffocation or fainting.

Fanaticism:In this form, children experience increased nervous system excitability leading to aggressive behavior, and the onset of rabies and death are rapid.

The incubation period is usually 10-120 days (in some cases it can last up to 6 months), depending on the location of the bite from the animal carrying the rabies virus and the virulence of the virus.

Measures to prevent rabies

Never tease or play with these animals; even a small scratch can lead to rabies. (Illustrative image)

1. Limit dog ownership.

2. Pet dogs and cats must be vaccinated against rabies.

3. Avoid touching or handling unfamiliar dogs or cats, or those with unusual behavior.

4. Dogs must be kept on a leash or confined; they must not be allowed to roam freely. When taking a dog outside, it must be muzzled.

5. When bitten by a dog or cat, a person must immediately go to a medical facility for advice and timely and complete rabies vaccination, and must keep the animal to report to the veterinary authorities for monitoring.

6. If bitten by a rabid dog or cat, do not treat it with traditional medicine to avoid unnecessary death.

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