Rabies in Pets and Prevention

Rabies is a deadly but preventable viral disease. A virus that targets the central nervous system is what causes the devastating disease Rabies (rabies belongs to the genus Lyssavirus). The virus is released in saliva and is typically spread to people and animals through contact via broken skin or mucous membranes, caused by a bite, lick or scratch of an animal that is infected. Rabies cannot be spread through contact with the blood, urine, or feces of an infected animal or by airborne transmission in an open area. Rabies is feared because it can spread quickly and is almost always fatal when the infection has taken place and no direct post-exposure prophylaxis is given.

It is difficult to know if your pet or a pet/wild animal is infected as although there are tests available using saliva in live animals, those tests have to be extremely sensitive and be repeated multiple times in order to ensure a trustworthy outcome, this is therefore not useful if you have to ensure an animal is indeed rabid in order to know if you have to start post-exposure prophylaxis. Therefore in general only a microscopic examination of the animal’s brain after death can determine if an animal did indeed have rabies (DFA  – Direct Fluorescent Antibody test in fresh brain tissue). The rabies virus enters the body and proceeds to other parts via the nervous system. Aside from general sickness, some symptoms of pets with rabies might include a range of behavioral changes, such as aggression, excessive drooling or salivating, trouble swallowing, stumbling, paralysis, and convulsions.

Rabies should be taken into consideration in all cases of unclear neurological disease, even if behavioral changes and unexplainable paralysis are the most typical symptoms of the disease. Once clinical signs of rabies occur, there is no available treatment yet. Though once infected most cases of rabies are fatal unless timely post-exposure treatment has been started (best within 24 hours). It is therefore recommended to prevent rabies by getting your pets vaccinated, being aware of the risk in your direct environment and in case a high-risk environment, or a high exposure threat also vaccinate yourself and the people you work with or live with.  Even strictly indoor pets should be vaccinated as they might find ways to sneak out and be exposed to rabies by an unvaccinated pet or wild animal in the neighborhood. Make routine visits to your vet and make sure that all your pets are up to date on their rabies vaccinations. In UAE, it’s mandatory to have pets vaccinated annually and pets should be registered in the Dubai municipality.