The most probable cause of a pet dog getting rabies is from the bite of an infected animal. It may also be applied by a scrape or when mucous membranes or a raw fresh wound come into contact with contaminated saliva. If your dog, or any pet, is introduced to wild animals, the risk is most significant. Stray dogs, feral cats, monkeys, mongooses, and foxes are the most common carriers of the rabies virus. In India, the main carrier of Rabies are dogs and stray dogs are the most common way that a pet dog can contract Rabies. Rabies, which affects the central nervous system, is a lethal infectious illness. It induces brain inflammation, leading to death.

How can Pet Dogs get rabies?

Rabies is present in various wildlife types—with breeding sites for infection in bats, skunks, foxes, and monkeys. When human numbers expand and begin to encroach on undeveloped land, the risk of infection for dogs and humans increases.

Rabies can be transmitted from one infected warm-blooded animal to another, most commonly by the bite of an infected animal, while scratches provide a slight risk of transmission. It is transferred down if tainted saliva gets into damaged skin. That means biting current cuts or wounds of a rabid animal or by kissing them. The illness is not transmitted by air and quite seldom spread by aerosols.

What are the chances of a Pet Dog getting rabies?

Rabies could be lethal if your dog has not been properly vaccinated, so it is vital to be mindful of the signs and causes. If your dog is vaccinated, then the chances for him/her to catch rabies is quite low. It is quite rare to get rabies if your dog is vaccinated; he/she needs to come in close contact with other animals with rabies. I would advise that you limit your dogs interaction with stray dogs as this can be the most common way of contracting rabies.

What are the symptoms of Rabies in Pet Dogs?

Rabies infection occurs in waves, first causing several marked changes in disposition. There are no strict guidelines for this point, but a dog with a sudden shift in attitude knows that rabies could be responsible.

Pleasant dogs may become irritable, while typically excitable animals may become more docile. A dog can bite or snap-on any type of provocatin attacking other animals, humans, and even objects. They may continuously lick, bite, and chew at the spot where they were bitten. At this point, a fever may also be present.

When the infection spreads, an affected dog is prone to touch, light, and sound. In dark places, they will eat weird things and hide. There may be paralysis of the neck and tongue, contributing to the well-known mouth swelling sign.

Is there any cure for Rabies in Pet Dogs?

Unfortunately, a rabid dog is not going to get treatment since there is no available treatment for rabies. If the dog was vaccinated, then the vet can give a vaccine booster and observe him for a few weeks. If by any means the dog recovers, he will get released by the vet, and the owner can take him back. Otherwise, chances are he will be laid to rest peacefully.

Should I get vaccinated if my Pet Dog gets rabies?

If a dog with rabies has bitten you, wash the cut with soap and water right away. This is the most effective way to reduce the risk of infection. See a specialist as soon as possible. They’ll treat the wound and decide if you need a vaccine against rabies. If you have been exposed to rabies in the last six months, a variety of scans will possibly be done to screen for the rabies virus or antibodies.

If your doctor suspects rabies, treatment with the rabies vaccine will begin—prophylaxis post-exposure (PEP). If it is administered shortly after vaccination, the vaccine is often useful. You will get one injection of immune globulin for fast-acting rabies, which will protect you from being infected with the virus. Then for the next 14 days, you’ll have four rabies vaccination shots.


Rabies is a lethal virus. Signs of rabies in dogs range from early moderate ones, such as restlessness and scratching of the wound, to very noticeable ones, such as heightened agitation, repetitive behavior, and seizures, culminating in signs of foam in the mouth and complete paralysis. Vaccinating your dog according to the doctor’s timetable and the local health department is the safest way to avoid the infection.

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