Ticks control in Dogs By: Dr. Nabeel Yousaf

 Importance of Rabies Vaccination/Immunization for Pets and people

By. Dr. Nabeel Yousaf

DVM, RVMP, NAVLE passed 

Introduction:

Rabies is a fatal disease affecting all mammals (animals and human). There is a great saying "if you even see a rabid animal, go and get vaccinated". This show is sensitivity of this deadly disease, once you get rabies virus into your body, death is confirmed. It is caused by Rabies virus which get into the body after receiving a bite from rabid animal. 

Bites form Dogs, Cats, Bats, Ferrets, and other animal contaminated by rabies should be considered. Must get vaccinated. Bites from animals vaccinated against rabies are less risky as compared to the stray animals (with zero vaccination). According to a study from 2003 to 2020, Cats and Bats are at the top of list tested positive for rabies, with dogs on third number. But most of the people get rabies by dog bite. 

How to Identify if animal is rabid?

If animal is showing unwanted and unknow aggression, vicious, drop jaw, hyper lacrimation, and change in normal voice, consider it rabid. 

Treatment: There is no treatment for rabies, Vaccination of pets owned by family and in surrounding is the only effective method for prevention. 

What if get a bite? 

Visit your local health facility, keep the animal under observation which bites. If biting animal dies within 10 days after showing signs of rabies, take it serious. 

Steps to take:

Clean the wound with strong antiseptic solution.

Never close the wound. 

Inform Local health authorities.

Get Post bite Rabies vaccination (Rabies antigen plus Immunoglobulin). 

Conclusion: We can prevent rabies only by proper vaccination of your pet animals and yourself (if get a bit).