Rabies is an incurable and often fatal disease in humans.

The symptoms in humans include delirium, abnormal behavior, hallucinations, hydrophobia (fear of water), and insomnia. The acute period of disease typically ends after 2 to 10 days. Once clinical signs of rabies appear, the disease is nearly always fatal so if you are bitten by a dog that you think may have rabies, get to the Bite Clinic in Provincial hospital ASAP. A post-bite shot done within a couple of days can stop the virus spreading to your brain.

Rabies in dogs is passed through an infected animal biting an uninfected one, and is caused by a virus that is prevented through vaccination – one of the most effective vaccines there is. Rabies is ONLY passed on through the saliva of an already infected animal. So usually, only if you are bitten by an infected animal or you get the animal’s saliva in an open wound, can Rabies be contracted by humans or other dogs.

Rabies is ONLY contagious in dogs once the virus has made its way to the brain and down into the salivary glands- which can take weeks or even months to happen. Average time is usually 2 – 4 weeks after the dog is exposed to the Rabies virus.

Signs that the virus is in the salivary glands and therefore contagious are:

• The dog is showing signs of aggression.
• The dog will react aggressively towards any kind of movement in its direction.
• The is afraid of or has difficult drinking water
• The dog starts to bite itself or bang its head against walls or cages (Self Mutilation)
• Excessive drooling

The good news is that you can very effectively protect your dog against Rabies by getting your dog vaccinated – at Waggin Tails Vet Clinic we offer Rabies vaccine for 150 pesos. Call us now on 0999 885 1219 / 035 528 5015 or message us on Facebook.

Remember, all profits from Waggin Tails Vet Clinic go directly to the Dumaguete Animal Sanctuary to help them with the financial burden of saving strays in Dumaguete.