What You Should Know About Rabies

Rabies: The Ancient and Deadly Threat

For centuries, it has been the disease that turns man’s best friend into a terrifying threat. Rabies has haunted humanity for so long that even the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote about its devastating effects. Today, while strict vaccination laws have brought rabies under control in most developed nations, it remains a tragic and deadly reality for both humans and animals in many parts of Asia and Africa.

What is Rabies?

Rabies is a devastating viral infection caused by the Rhabdoviridae family—a group of uniquely bullet-shaped viruses. In the wild, animals such as foxes, bats, skunks, and raccoons are the most common carriers. Among domesticated animals, dogs and cats are of the highest concern, though the virus has a wide host range and can also infect livestock like cows and horses.

The virus is highly concentrated in the infected animal’s saliva and is usually transmitted through puncture wounds caused by a bite. Once deposited into the muscle tissue, the virus begins to replicate. After an incubation period—typically ranging from three weeks to two months—it travels up the nervous system until it breaches the brain. Once the brain is infected, the virus begins shedding into the dog’s salivary glands, and the animal will start displaying severe symptoms categorized into three distinct phases.

The Three Phases of Rabies

1. The Prodromal Phase This initial stage usually manifests within two to three days of symptom onset. It is characterized by fever, nervousness, and dramatic behavioral shifts. A normally friendly, outgoing dog may suddenly become shy and withdrawn, while a naturally aggressive dog might become uncharacteristically affectionate. The dog will also obsessively lick, chew, or bite at the original site of the infection. From here, the disease progresses into either the furious or paralytic phase.

2. The Furious Phase This is the stage that gives rabies its terrifying reputation. Lasting up to a week, the dog becomes increasingly restless, irritable, and highly sensitive to visual and auditory stimuli. The hallmark of this phase is unpredictable, vicious, and highly aggressive behavior. As the virus ravages the brain, the dog becomes profoundly disoriented, suffers from severe seizures, and ultimately dies.

3. The Paralytic (or “Dumb”) Phase Developing about three days after the initial clinical signs, this phase is marked by the progressive paralysis of the dog’s head, neck, and throat. It can be easily recognized by a dropped jaw, abnormal vocalizations, and a severe inability to swallow. This swallowing paralysis leads to the heavy, frothy salivation commonly associated with the disease. The dog will struggle to breathe and eventually succumb to respiratory failure.

Diagnosis and Prevention

Tragically, diagnosing and treating rabies in animals is incredibly difficult. Currently, the only way to definitively confirm a rabies diagnosis is through a post-mortem examination of brain tissue. Consequently, the disease is rarely identified until the first clinical signs appear.

Once clinical signs set in, rabies is almost 100% fatal in dogs. There is no cure and no treatment.

Because dog bites and scratches are responsible for up to 99% of human rabies cases globally, preventing the disease is a matter of critical public health. Vaccination is your absolute best defense. Keeping your dog’s rabies vaccines strictly up to date is essential, and it is even more critical if your dog is a hunting companion or a farm dog who regularly interacts with wildlife.

If an unvaccinated dog is exposed to a confirmed rabid animal, health authorities generally mandate that the exposed dog be euthanized to protect the public. If the owner refuses, the dog must be placed under strict, isolated veterinary quarantine for up to six months.

Note: If you or your pet are ever bitten by a wild or unknown animal, immediately flush and scrub the wound thoroughly with soap and water, and seek emergency medical attention. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) administered promptly to humans is highly effective in preventing the virus from taking hold.