Rabies Virus is a dangerous disease?

 Rabies Virus is a dangerous disease?

What Is Rabies?

Rabies VIRUS is a very severe and frightening disease of many animals of which the dog is not excluded. It is a form of polioencephalitis which affects the gray matter of the animal's brain as well as the central nervous system.

 Rabies Virus is a dangerous disease?

Rabies Virus

 This disease is basically transmitted to a dog through the bite of an infected animal such as bats, skunks, foxes, and raccoons. The rabies virus is found in high concentrations within the saliva of an infected animal.

The rabies virus will multiply in the animals muscle tissue before migrating to the central nervous system through the nerve fluid within the peripheral, sensory, and motor nerves. This process can take more than a month but once the virus enters the central nervous system that is usually when you will notice the first symptoms of rabies virus.

Rabies virus can be transmitted from an infected animal to humans. Therefore, it is extremely important that if you suspect that your dog has rabies virus  to take every precaution possible to not be bitten, scratched, or to come into contact with the animal's saliva

Causes of Rabies virus

The rabies virus belongs to the genus Lyssavirus of the family Rhabdoviridae. Transmission occurs through contact with blood or saliva from an infected animal. It can also be transmitted, although it is rare, through the inhalation of gases from decomposing carcasses of infected animals. This can occur in caves where there are large populations of bats which carry the virus.

Types of Rabies

This disease has two basic forms: 1) furious and2) paralytic. Currently there is no diagnostic procedure that will decide whether a dog will develop the furious or paralytic form of rabies virus  when they are infected by the virus.

The furious form of rabies virus is characterized by a complete transformation in the animal's behavior. In this type the dog will change from a docile animal into one that will attach without provocation. The paralytic form, however, is characterized by general lethargy, weakness, and lack of muscular co-ordination to the point of complete paralysis.

Once the first signs of rabies virus  becomes apparent it is extremely important to take immediate action and get the animal to a veterinarian as it only takes a few days from that point for the animal to begin showing aggressive behavior if they develop furious rabies virus .

What is rabies and how serious can it be?

Rabies is a dangerous, infectious disease caused by a virus that gets into your body usually from an animal bite, scratch, or when an animal licks you on broken skin or mucous membranes, such as your nose or mouth. This is most often a dog, but bats, cats, or any other warm blooded animal can also carry rabies. Person-to-person spread of rabies virus  has only been reported in exceptional circumstances. Children are at particular risk of rabies virus.

Rabies virus is a very serious infection because, once symptoms appear, it is nearly always fatal, causing between 40,000 to 70,000 deaths worldwide each year.

A fatal case of rabies virus contracted in a wildlife centre, South Africa

Rabies Symptoms

The early symptoms of rabies virus  in an animal are usually mild. This is usually indicated by either a lack of muscle coordination or what may appear a muscle stiffness in the animal. The other symptoms are more specific to the disease.

Note that the following symptoms may appear by themselves or they may be combined with other symptoms.

·         Pica. This is the eating of indigestible items like wood, rocks, glass, plastics, etc. It is not really understood when the animal does this.

·         Seizures. Both mild and acute seizures can occur in an animal with seizures. Mild seizures may be mistaken for tremors or shivering.

·         Fever. This is a sign of infection and since rabies is a virus the animal's natural immunity starts to work by increasing the animal's body temperature. When the temperature gets high enough the animal may suffer seizures.

·         Paralysis. This is one of the more common symptoms of rabies. Usually starting in a mild form it can rapidly increase until the animal cannot move.

·         Hydrophobia. This is also known as the fear of water. This occurs when the animal cannot swallow. The animal fears the water because they think they are going to choke to death and so they avoid water.

·         A sagged or dropped jaw. This is one of the more determinable symptoms of rabies. The animal will not be able to completely close its mouth due to paralysis of the jaw muscles.

·         An inability to swallow. This may or may not cause frothing at the mouth. The frothing usually comes when they breathe through their mouth instead of their nose. Usually this will result in excessive drooling.

·         A noticeable change in the tone of their bark. Animals with rabies can become quite vocal. If a dog normally has a low tone bark when they have the disease their bark will become high-pitched.

·         Shyness or aggressive behavior. If a dog normally loves being around people and is docile they may suddenly start to avoid people or attempt to attack them. When they attack they usually have a form of rabies known as ferocious rabies.

·         Overly excitable. This should not be confused with agitation. An agitated animal will likely attack while an excited animal may take a running fit when you pay attention to it.

·         Irritability. This can be a result of sudden mood swings in the animal. Animals suffering this symptom may suddenly bite or snap when you pay attention to them.

·         Paralysis of the jaw. This is a common sign of rabies. This will cause an inability to swallow or may lead to hydrophobia.

·         Constant salivation. This is also a common symptom of rabies. This will result in constant drooling and possible frothing at the mouth.