Rabies, a viral infection that affects mammals, could harm the brain and spinal cord, and may even cause death. This zoonotic disease can be transferred through the saliva of an infected animal to humans also. Rabies spreads quite easily, and the common carriers of the rabies virus are wild animals like bats, foxes, raccoons, and skunks. These could infect domestic cats and dogs, which, in turn, could infect human beings.

Protect your dog from rabies in these ways:

1. Rabie diagnosis
When a pet dog is infected with the rabies virus, it can be completely unnerving for the owners. Apart from the imminent danger of them being contaminated, the mere sight of a salivating violent animal in their midst is scary. This becomes even more shocking when pet owners witness drastic changes in the personality of their pets. Even docile pet dogs could turn savage and aggressive as rabies strikes. Rabies is a dangerous disease and there is no way to even medically diagnose the disease in a living animal. Rabies can merely be prevented but there is no lasting cure for this alarming disease yet.

2. Rabies vaccine
There are quite a few ways to protect your pet from rabies. Vaccines remain the primary form of protection against rabies. When your puppy is over four months old, they can be given the first rabies vaccine by a qualified veterinarian. But the initial dose of the vaccine starts taking effect only 28 days after it is administered. For older dogs who have been previously given shots of rabies, successive vaccinations start taking effect immediately. However, if a vaccinated dog is infected by a rabid animal, it may have to be re-vaccinated within the first 96 hours from the exposure to the virus.

3. Rabies testing
Avoiding any kind of contact with wild animals (alive, injured, or dead) is critical. In an unavoidable situation, when you have to handle and move a wild animal that is injured or dead, you must wear gloves or use a thick cloth to do so. Make sure you contact the local animal control officers immediately. It is then their call if the animal should be tested for rabies in order to protect the other animals from being infected as well or not.

4. Preventing rabies
It is ideal for both you and your pet to stay away from the wild outdoors, especially at dawn or dusk, to prevent contact with bats which are most active at those times of the day. In addition, prevent wild animals from straying into your property by raising a fence. Keep a close eye on your dog when you take them camping or on walks in the wild. It is important that they do not engage with even squirrels, rabbits, or deer, lest they contract rabies from them. When it comes to rabies, it is sensible to be cautious and make an effort to prevent this disease.