Table of contents:
- The characteristics of rabies in dogs and cats
- How is the rabies virus transmitted to humans?
- How to prevent transmission of rabies to humans
Rabies does not only infect certain animals, but can also infect humans. Most cases of rabies in humans occur as a result of bites from infected animals such as dogs. When infected, the rabies virus can cause disorders of the nervous system. To prevent transmission of the rabies virus to humans, you need to know the characteristics of rabies in animals at risk of infection such as dogs and cats.
The characteristics of rabies in dogs and cats
Rabies is a viral infectious disease caused by rhadoviruswhich generally live in the saliva of animals.
Every year, rabies causes the death of more than 50,000 humans and millions of animals worldwide. The reason is, rabies can indeed be fatal if not treated immediately.
The main animals carrying the rabies virus are bats, raccoons and mice. However, pets like dogs and cats too and can become infected and pass it on to humans. Therefore, it is important to recognize the characteristics of rabies in dogs and cats.
Dogs and cats infected with rabies will show very extreme changes in behavior. The characteristics of rabies in pets such as dogs and cats are:
- Always restless
- Can not be silent
- Fright
- More sensitive and irritable
- Looks in pain
- Fever
- Often chew on objects
- Often attacks other animals
- Back leg paralysis
- No appetite
- Seizures
- Foamy saliva
A dog or cat that was originally tame can suddenly become more sensitive, vicious and can even attack its owner. In stray dogs, rabies infection can make them more virulent.
As mentioned, the characteristics of a dog infected with rabies are often licking, biting, and chewing certain objects. Dogs may eat things they don't normally eat and like to hide in dark places.
As the virus develops, an infected dog or cat can become sensitive to touch, light and sound. Paralysis of the throat and jaw muscles, resulting in symptoms of foam or froth in the dog's mouth.
However, not all dogs show the same signs of rabies. Some dogs who are infected are more quiet, appear sick, and weak. Sometimes, a dog infected with rabies even looks normal and doesn't show any symptoms or behavior changes.
How is the rabies virus transmitted to humans?
An infected dog or cat can transmit rabies through a bite or scratch. According to WHO, transmission to humans by dogs reaches up to 99% of cases.
Transmission can also occur when an infected animal's saliva gets into the human mouth, such as when you kiss an infected pet or when a dog licks your face.
The virus that causes rabies in the saliva of infected animals can also enter the human body through open wounds in the skin.
Transmission of rabies from breathing air (aerosols) containing the virus or through transplantation of infected organs can also occur. However, this mode of transmission of rabies is rare.
According to the researchers, rabies transmission between humans is theoretically possible through bites or contact between saliva (when kissing). However, until now there has never been a case of rabies transmission among humans.
The same applies to the transmission of rabies to humans through consumption of raw meat or milk of infected animals.
How to prevent transmission of rabies to humans
Those of you who have pets with rabies characteristics or want to avoid transmission of rabies from wild animals, need to take preventive measures such as:
- Avoid contact with infected animals.
- When a pet is bitten by another infected animal, do not touch your dog or cat as the virus can stay in the animal's skin for up to two hours.
- Use gloves and protective clothing when touching infected animals.
- Contact your local veterinarian, health care center, or animal control officer. The doctor will vaccinate the infected animal as soon as possible and the animal will be in captivity for a while.
If you have rabies, medical help for handling rabies is necessary.
The doctor will do the treatment Post-exposure prophylaxis(PEP) by injecting the rabies vaccine to prevent the rabies virus from causing infection to reach the nervous system.
If there is a bite wound, the doctor will first wash the wound for 15 minutes using soap, water, detergent, and a cleaning solution containing povidone iodine to kill the virus that causes rabies.
Until now there has been no effective treatment if the viral infection has caused severe rabies symptoms such as convulsions and nerve disorders. Therefore, it is important for you to be aware of how rabies is transmitted from animals to humans and take steps to prevent it.
