Symptoms of Rabies Disease in Animals
Rabies a deadly zoonotic disease
Rabies is caused by a virus from the lyssa virus family. The word lyssa translates to rage or fury in the Greek language. The rabies virus causes swelling of the spinal cord and brain, leading to rapid painful death. Once symptoms of rabies set in for both people and animals, its results in 100%death as there is no treatment once the disease signs start!
Mammals are the carriers and reservoirs
of rabies. Different species of wild animals are considered the primary carriers in various parts of the world. For instance, in the Americas, these are bats, raccoons, and foxes. In Europe, rabies carriers are foxes, bats, raccoons, and wild dogs.While in Asia, ferrets, badgers, and mongoose are the carriers.
In Africa, carriers are mongoose, wild dogs, jackals, and hyenas.
When People get infected through a cycle, wild animals come into contact with domestic animals– cats, dogs, and other livestock; who then infect people
PHASES OF RABIES DISEASE
Phase one -1-3 days – unusual behavior
Phase two – 3-4 days – furious stage – excitable, irritable, nerves are hypersensitive to stimuli
(light, water, noise ), foaming/hypersalivation, attacking people and animals, has no- fear or
anything.
Phase three – paralytic stage – nerve damage leads to mouth, neck and back legs paralysis
Phase four – 10 days -respiratory
paralysis and death.
Detect the symptoms in animals
The signs of diseases in all animals are neurological in nature. Keep in mind that once the virus reaches the brain, the animal may have very mild sickness signs. After that, the disease progresses rapidly into aggressive behavior,then paralysis before death.
We describe are some of the common symptoms you should look out for if you suspect rabies.
Cattle with rabies
When the disease reaches the furious stage in cattle, it can be perilous. Cattle unexpectedly
charge, attack, bite and pursue people, other animals, and moving objects like cars. Milking cows stop producing milk suddenly.
The calm expression on the cow’s face also changes to alertness and twitchiness of ears and eyes. Cows begin to make a continuous bellowing sound like a bull instead of the usual bellow, increasing until the cow dies.
Horses, mules and donkeys with rabies
Horses, mules, and donkeys can be distressed and extremely agitated. These signs, especially when accompanied by rolling,may be misinterpreted as colic.Horses and donkeys can bite or strike viciously with their heads or back legs and become uncontrollable. In the furious stage, these large animals will often self-inflicted wounds.
Dogs with rabies
Loss of appetite, loss of coordination when walking, not wanting to drink water, fear of water,fear of light, and vocalization changes like a strange bark. Loss of fear of humans and wild animals e.g., a dog was attacking or behaving aggressively to a lion. Rabid dogs can also attack innate objects.
Every second, one dog dies of rabies
Behavior change, aggressionand loss of leg coordination
Cats with rabies
Cats may display excess affection to their owner, and once close, display biting behavior or aggression. In the furious stage of rabies, they may be aggressive and foam at the mouth. Although foaming at the mouth is the most visible sign of rabies, it usually occurs when the disease has progressed a lot. It is important to note that the animal is still infectious even before the onset of foaming.
Wild Animals with rabies
The loss of fear of natural predators – Showing aggressive behavior that is uncharacteristic of the species. Like other mammals, foaming at the mouth or excess saliva drooling from the mouth will also be noticed.
Showing no fear of humans and approaching people’s homes. Rabid hyenas and jackals often invade homesteads attacking dogs and people. One abnormal behavior that can occur is demonstrated by an animal that attacks a porcupine; a dead or alive hyena with porcupine quills can support rabies’ diagnosis.
In the early stages of rabies, cats can be unusually affectionate to people.
Preventing Rabies through vaccination
Controlling rabies
Controlling rabies in dogs, is the primary way to prevent human cases.
At least 70% of the total dog population in an area needs to be vaccinated to attain a country-level rabies free status.
Over 99% of human rabies cases are caused by dogs infected with rabies. Controlling dogs’ disease through vaccination and dog population management remains the most cost-effective way to sustainably protect humans from rabies exposure.
First Aid Action to prevent infection
When a bite from a potentially infected animal does occur, vigorous wound washing with plenty of water and soap for 15minutes is the first line of prevention. Medical care with post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)should also be provided immediately after the exposure to prevent rabies infection
