Ensuring Health

Rabies seldom results in human fatalities in the United States today, but it remains a potentially serious public health problem. More than 20, 000 Americans have to undergo rabies treatments each year as a result of exposure to potentially rabid animals. In the United States, Foxes, Skunks, Raccoons and Bats are the major wild hosts, although domestic dogs and cats are also sources exposure.

Rabies is caused by a virus. It is spread through the saliva of an infected animal and in no other way. Al warm-blooded animals can spread rabies. Rabid animals can infect other animals by biting them. This means that your dog will not get rabies unless he is actually bitten a by a rabid animal, or infected by the animal’s saliva through on open wound.

Rabies also can be transmitted from animals to man by a bite from a rabid animal. The wound is contaminated with the virus found in the saliva of the infected animal. The incubation period varies from ten days to several months, depending on the location of the bite and how long the virus takes to reach the brain.

There are two forms of rabies : furious and dumb. In the former the first symptom is usually a marked change in the dog’s behaviour, that is, from friendly to snappy and of fish. The infected dog may become restless the wander off to hide in dark corner. His voice may undergo a change in pitch or he may howl. He grows excitable. Usually, he wanders far afield and eagerly attacks anything in his path, including people and other animals. Loud noises or bright lights may induce biting seizures. Finally, the disease progresses to the paralytic state. His throat muscles become so paralyzed that he cannot swallow and he salivates profusely. It is during this period that he appears to be frothing at the mouth. High legs and body become progressively paralyzed. There is a lack of coordination, then collapse, and finally coma and death. There is not cure for rabies.

If your dog should show any of these symptoms, or if you know he has been bitten by a strange dog, you must handle him with all possible care. Throw a blanket over him (to keep him from biting you if he has grown snappy), gather him up, and shut him in a room. Then call your veterinarian at once. If you are bitten, consult your physician immediately and follow his advice.
Many communities today are encouraging owners to immunize their dogs by sponsoring rabies – control programs, while others have made vaccination compulsory. This cannot wipe out the disease. Vaccination can reach only some of the dogs in any community. Responsible owner look after their dogs, but right in the same town or city live irresponsible owners who let their dogs run the streets and who would disown them rather than pay license and vaccination fees.

The free-roaming dog is the chief source of infection. To help wipe out rabies, fence your yard and exercise your pet only under control. And try to make your neighbour control his dog also. Licensing and vaccination do not entitle a dog to run free; any roaming dog can still be a neighbourhood nuisance.