What You Need to Know About Rabies

Rabies is a very dangerous disease that is carried by mammals and usually is transmitted by an animal biting something else. There are signs from the animal that will give you clues to stay away from them as they just may have rabies. Usually when people hear the word Rabies, they think of bats. Bats can and do carry the rabies virus but even household pets can carry the virus if they are not vaccinated against the disease. Many states make it mandatory that household pets get vaccinated every few years to prevent the spread of this disease.

What is Rabies:

Rabies is a virus that will attack the nervous system in mammals. This will cause death if left untreated. It will eventually make its way to the brain, causing coma and then death. It is transmitted by body fluids.

What are the signs of an animal that has rabies:

1. Their behavior changes - they may not eat or look ill.

2. They have problems swallowing

3. They have drooling - looking like they have foam coming out of their mouth.

4. They are aggressive in their behavior

If you see any animal exhibiting these signs you will want to stay far away from then and call animal control. Not all rabid animals are wild animals some are household pets that have been bitten by a rabid animal. you should be cautious around any animal that isn't acting normal.

What Rabies can do to in humans:

Rabies will cause pain, headache, sore throat and feeling tired. It usually takes about 1-3 months to show signs of the disease and once they do show the symptoms their prognosis is usually fatal. Some other signs is hallucinations, and fear of water, or they have paralysis.

The treatments:

The treatment for rabies isn't pleasant, but without treatment there will be certain death. Once you have been bitten by a rabid animal, or suspect you have been bitten you will need shots, these will be 6 shots over a month long time period. You have to go back every few days for more shots to treat the disease. This is started as soon as you have been in contact with the virus.

How to prevent this disease:

Get your pets vaccinated. Stay away from animals acting strangely. Know the signs of the disease in animals this will be your best defense against coming against an animal that has been infected with the rabies virus. .