Fact or Myth: Do all dogs have rabies?

Belief #1: Rabies is a deadly disease.

• A fact. Rabies is REALLY a deadly disease. It
affects our brains, causing us to behave
violently, then kills by choking us to death.

Belief #2: All dogs are born with rabies.

• A myth. If it were, nobody from the vet
practice would be assisting deliveries.
• Rabies is caused by a virus. This virus is
commonly found in body fluids of a rabid
animal, especially in the saliva. Transmission
is usually carried out when they bite, or lick
on broken skin.
 Belief #3: When a dog bites, it is rabid.
• A myth. A healthy dog bites for a reason.
An infected dog bites for no reason at all.
• A dog will normally bite if you step on his
tail. Eventually, a dog will bite at a stranger
who pats his head. On the contrary, rabid
dogs just REALLY love to bite. They'll pick
a fight with anyone, anywhere and
anything, including tires and chairs.
Belief #4. Puppies are more rabid than adult
dogs.
• A myth. The effect of rabies is not limited
by age. When one's pet gets the virus,
behavior may be that of a typical violent
rascal, and sometimes that of a depressed
loner.
• There are actually three types of
development rabid dogs undergo. The first
is called the PRODROMAL PHASE. Dogs
may not like to eat, have fever, and exhibit
disturbing changes in their voice. This
usually lasts 2 to 3 days.
• The second is what we all know about
rabies, the FURIOUS PHASE. Dogs
become vicious, will attack anyone,
become disoriented, and crave to eat
almost anything, even stones and slippers.
This may last 2 to 4 days.
• Yet not all rabid dogs enter the second
phase. Some proceed directly to the last
stage, the PARALYTIC PHASE. This
usually lasts 2 to 4 days. Dogs appear to
choke, drool a lot, then die because of
paralysis.
• Belief #5: Rabies vaccination (or
immunization) treats and protects pets
from rabies.
• A myth and a fact. A rabies vaccine
protects. It does not treat.
• Rabies vaccines protect by stimulating
pets to produce antibodies. Antibodies are
special cells that stop rabies viruses from
gaining residence in the body. When a dog
is already rabid, immunization is late and
ineffective.
 Belief #6. Rabies protection expires
immediately after the vaccination due date.
• A myth. A due date is not an expiry date.
• Even before a due date, antibodies will
start to decline. A due date is therefore
scheduled to re-immunize your pet (known
as “booster shot”) to increase the number
of antibodies to optimum protection level.
• Protection is still present after a due date,
but may wane within months, or possibly,
years.
 Overview
• Rabies is a deadly virus spread to people
from the saliva of infected animals. The
rabies virus is usually transmitted through a
bite.
• In developing countries of Africa and
Southeast Asia, stray dogs are the most likely
to spread rabies to people.
• Once a person begins showing signs and
symptoms of rabies, the disease is nearly
always fatal. For this reason, anyone who
may have a risk of contracting rabies should
receive rabies vaccines for protection.
•
• Rabies is a human infection that occurs after
a transdermal bite or scratch by an infected
animal, like dogs and cats. It can be
transmitted when infectious material, usually
saliva, comes into direct contact with a
victim’s fresh skin lesions. Rabies may also
occur, though in very rare cases, through
inhalation of virus-containing spray or through
organ transplants.

• Rabies is considered to be a neglected

disease, which is 100% fatal though 100%
preventable. It is not among the leading
causes of mortality and morbidity in the
country but it is regarded as a significant
public health problem because (1) it is one of
 Causes

• Rabies infection is caused by the rabies

virus. The virus is spread through the
saliva of infected animals. Infected
animals can spread the virus by biting
another animal or a person. In rare cases,
rabies can be spread when infected saliva
gets into an open wound or the mucous
membranes, such as the mouth or eyes.
This could occur if an infected animal were
to lick an open cut on your skin.
 First symptoms of rabies in
humans?
• Pain or tingling at the bite site.
• General feeling of illness.
• Fever.
• Headache.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Depression.
 Later signs and symptoms

Fever Headache
Nausea Vomiting
Agitation Anxiety
Confusion Hyperactivity
Hallucinations Insomnia
Partial paralysis
Difficulty swallowing Excessive
salivation
Fear of water (hydrophobia) because of the
How long does it take to know
if your dog has rabies?
In animals, development of symptoms can
be from 2 weeks to many months. In
humans, symptoms usually develop after 3 -
8 weeks. In some cases, symptoms have
appeared as early as 9 days and as long
as 7 years after exposure.
 Risk factors
• Traveling or living in developing countries
where rabies is more common, including
countries in Africa and Southeast Asia
• Activities that are likely to put you in
contact with wild animals that may have
rabies, such as exploring caves where
bats live or camping without taking
precautions to keep wild animals away
from your campsite
• Working in a laboratory with the rabies
virus
 Diagnosis

• Current diagnostic tools are not suitable

for detecting rabies infection before the
onset of clinical disease, and unless the
rabies-specific signs of hydrophobia or
aerophobia are present, clinical diagnosis
may be difficult. Human rabies can be
confirmed intra-vitam and post mortem by
various diagnostic techniques that detect
whole viruses, viral antigens, or nucleic
acids in infected tissues (brain, skin, urine,
 Treatment
• Once a rabies infection is established,
there's no effective treatment. Though a
small number of people have survived
rabies, the disease is usually fatal. For that
reason, if you think you've been exposed
to rabies, you must get a series of shots to
prevent the infection from taking hold.
 Treatment for people bitten by
animals with rabies
• If you've been bitten by an animal that is
known to have rabies, you'll receive a
series of shots to prevent the rabies virus
from infecting you. If the animal that bit
you can't be found, it may be safest to
assume that the animal has rabies. But
this will depend on several factors, such
as the type of animal and the situation in
which the bite occurred.
 Rabies shots include:
• A fast-acting shot (rabies immune globulin)
to prevent the virus from infecting you.
Part of this injection is given near the area
where the animal bit you if possible, as
soon as possible after the bite.
• A series of rabies vaccines to help your
body learn to identify and fight the rabies
virus. Rabies vaccines are given as
injections in your arm.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)
• Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is the
immediate treatment of a bite victim after
rabies exposure. This prevents virus entry
into the central nervous system, which
results in imminent death. PEP consists of:
• extensive washing and local treatment of
the wound as soon as possible after
exposure;
• the administration of rabies
immunoglobulin (RIG), if indicated.
• Effective treatment soon after exposure to
 Extensive wound washing

• This involves first-aid of the wound that

includes immediate and thorough flushing
and washing of the wound for a minimum
of 15 minutes with soap and water,
detergent, povidone iodine or other
substances that kill the rabies virus.
 Table: Categories of contact and
recommended post-exposure
prophylaxis
Categories of contact with suspect
(PEP)
Post-exposure prophylaxis
rabid animal measures
Category I – touching or feeding
None
animals, licks on intact skin

Category II – nibbling of uncovered

Immediate vaccination and local
skin, minor scratches or abrasions
treatment of the wound
without bleeding

Category III – single or multiple

Immediate vaccination and
transdermal bites or scratches, licks
administration of rabies
on broken skin; contamination of
immunoglobulin; local
mucous membrane with saliva from
treatment of the wound
licks, contacts with bats.
 Prevention
• Vaccinate pets
• Avoid contact with wildlife and strays
• Wear gloves to tend pets with wounds of
unknown origin, or immediately after
encounters have
occurred between the pet and either stray
animals or wildlife
• Contain garbage to prevent attracting animals
and animal proof your homes.
• Vaccinate persons in high-risk occupations
(vets etc) with a pre-exposure schedule of