Rabies

Question: How long can rabies live in a dead animal? Lets say for example a bat had rabies and it died, how long would it take for the Rabies virus to die out?

Answer: How long will the rabies virus remain alive in the body of a dead animal? The length of time that rabies remains alive in a dead animal depends primarily on the outside temperature. The virus could die within a few hours in warm weather and could stay alive for months in freezing temperatures.

Question: What stage of rabies is attributed to aggression? I'm doing a project on Rabies in dogs, and it seems like an infection that brings on effects in different stages- right? If so, what stage is attributed to aggression, and when does that subside?

Answer: Since rabies effects the brain, stage two is were the virus causes the personality changes in the dog. social, and affectionate dogs become irritable and aggressive, shy dogs can become more anxious and possibly overly affectionate. With the two stages of encephalitis, the furious form, and the paralytic form can be seen in the dog. With the furious form, the dog can have spasms in the face, drawing the lips back , exposing the teeth. the dog will become frenzied and attacking anything that moves. They show no fear and will attack anything around them. The paralytic form, causes the muscles of the jaw and throat to become paralyzed, causing the mouth to drop open, and the tongue to hang out. The dog is unable to swallow, causing them to drool, cough and gag. The final stage is where the dog loses body movement, staggers around, then collapses. Hope this helps!

Question: Does a rabies vaccine in a cat totally ensure it won't get rabies? Is it full proof? I've been reading about raccoons and rabies and something I read led me to believe it may not be full proof. My friend has been feeding a small raccoon, and by his description the raccoon is almost unable to walk and has siezures, this sounds like rabies to me. He also feeds the neighborhood cat, his next door neighbor takes this cat to the vet for health problems, in for his shots, and gives it a flea treatment, but no one owns him. I understand that rabies is transferred via saliva and you should wash your hands after handling an animal you suspect of contacting rabies. I'm sure when the raccoon is done eating out of the bowl that the neighborhood cat looks for food there himself, as this is the normal place for him to be fed. I am trying to tell my friend he is making a big mistake allowing this sick wild animal to be around, the neighborhood cat could get attacked defending his turf. My friend has a soft heart for all animals. Is a rabies vaccine full proof in a cat? Cat at risk? The cat is an outside cat, the neighborhood cat. They can't set up a cage to catch the raccoon because there are numerous cats that roam the neighborhood that could get caught, as well a lot of possums that frequent the yard. Chances are something else besides the raccoon would get caught. Animal control will not come out at night, they're closed, and that's the only time the raccoon comes by so far.

Answer: A rabies vaccine will protect the cat. The vaccine makes sure the cat has antibodies against the disease. I've set up live traps before, and yes, if they caught the wrong animal you just release it. Best time is in the evening--stick it where you can see it from the back window, put a kleenex on the top of the door, bait the trap and leave it alone. Check every 15 minutes (basically every comercial break if you're watching tv) and when the trap is sprung, go out and verify which animal you caught. Possums and cats will leave the trap immediately once it's open. The kleenex is necessary because when it gets dark you only need to shine a flashlight out the window to see if the kleenex is still up on an open door or if the trap is sprung, in which case it'll be on the ground. When transporting the sick raccoon make sure you put plastic under the cage in the car. I've never had one pee, but one did poop something awful smelling once. (I live trapped and released it 5 miles away in the country, it was healthy, just dangerous to our local strays here in the city).

Question: What happens if you discontiniue your rabies vaccine in the mid? Can someone tell me what happens- if a stray dog bite to Human and the Human start taking vaccine in the next day in doubt that Dog might have infected with Rabies. In the mean while if the person discontinue the Vaccine in the mid. What will happen? Weather the person will be infected by Rabies within month /onset will be late may be in some years. What exactly will happen? Regards, Pramod

Answer: if you are in the middle of a series of preventative vaccinations-and it turned out that the dog that bit you did not have rabies-you could stop. but-better safe than sorry. continue the vaccinations. the ugliness from a person exposed to rabies would turn your stomach.

Question: What is the treatment for symptomatic rabies? When I read about rabies, the only treatment mentioned is immunization. I never find much about how to treat the symptoms of rabies. I know that once the disease is symptomatic there is no chance for survival, but I'm mainly interested in treatment that improves the quality of life. For example, treament that makes the patient more lucid, treatment to lower the temperature, treatment to prevent muscle spasms etc. Thank you in advance.

Answer: They are called "support measures", it means that depending on the symptoms the patient has, you treat them, this means: your're treating the symptoms, not the disease. For example: if the patient can't breath, he's put on a ventilator, that will breathe for him, if has pain, he's given pain drugs, has fever, he gets acetaminophen; they can also reicive muscle relaxants, or even be sedated with heavy drugs. PS: There are two well documented cases in medical history of patients who survived symptomatic rabies without the vaccine

Question: How do you know when a Squirrel has rabies? My science teacher is keeping a baby squirrel in his classroom and he doesn't want anyone to handle it until we know if it has any diseases. Especially rabies. Can animals inherit rabies from their parents?

Answer: Dark is absolutely correct! your science teacher has no business keeping a baby squirrel in his classroom. it is against the law for him to be in possession of a baby squirrel unless he is a licensed wildlife rehabber. no one should handle the baby, he is right about that, but because it is wildlife and not a pet. the baby squirrel should be turned over to a wildlife rehabber immediately. your teacher should know this already. just when i think i have read everything. sigh. websites to find rehabber below.

Question: How do they test a wild animal for rabies? If you were to get bitten by a wild animal and the officials trap it, how do they test it for rabies? How about if someones pet dog bites you, do they test it for rabies the same way if vaccination cannot be proven?

Answer: The only way to test for rabies in any animal, wild or domestic, is by killing the animal and testing the brain cells. If a pet bites someone and they agree to undergo the treatment for rabies, the pet will not have to be destroyed; it can be quarantined for 30 days instead.

Question: What are the signs of rabies in cats, and what happens when cats eat catnip? Just want to know: The signs of rabies, and after a cat eats the catnip, what do they do and what happens when the "high" wears off?

Answer: My young cats could care less about catnip. They are not into drugs of any kind. lol. They also don't like fish cat food or for me to hold them. Like people, they all have different personalities. My last two cats would go crazy for catnip. they would run around like crazy, jumping and racing thru the house. After a while they would crash. Rabies....foaming at the mouth.

Question: What are the signs of rabies for quarantined dog? My dog bit someone and I quarantined it in my house for over 1 a week now. He's been a few months ago. He is just 7 months old and house kept. My question is what should i look out for in my dog to know if he is showing signs of rabies or not. I know he already been vaccinated but just to be sure I'm monitoring the dog. Thanks. The vet said to still quarantine him for 2 weeks to be sure. Even if he's already been vaccinated.

Answer: More than likely, the dog is fine. However, any pet that bites someone must be quarantined for 10 days...even when current on a Rabies vaccine. There are usually 3 stages of the Rabies virus, however some dogs may or may not experience different stages or symptoms of the virus. You may notice the dog becoming apprehensive, nervous, anxious, shy, irritable, affectionate and docile....basically you will notice a change in personality. They may also have a fever. Then they can become hyper responsive to sight and sound. They may want to roam and can be more aggressive. They can also have seizures. Eventually, the virus spreads to the central nervous system causing paralysis. You may notice salivation due to inability to swallow, labored breathing, paralysis of face muscles. The animal will continue to grow weaker, and eventually die from respiratory failure due to the paralysis. I'm sure your dog is fine. This is why it is a good idea to keep pets current on Rabies vaccines at all times. Unvaccinated pets who bite, or who have a bite wounds from unknown origins can be subject to quarantine periods of 6 months or more.

Question: How important are distemper and rabies shots for a kitten? When we adopted our little boy they told us he still needed to finish the distemper series (they're not done yet) and get a rabies shot. We haven't gotten to it yet. He's a strictly indoors kitten. I was just wondering if its absolutely necessary, to get these shots, because I'm not too sure. Thanks in advance.

Answer: Distemper shots are very important. Rabies shots are usually only required if the cat is going to be outdoors but some vets won't treat an animal that hasn't had a rabies shot. And in some locales rabies shot are required for all pets. Just bear in mind that rabies and distemper are both fatal in cats. We haven't had a case of rabies in over 25 years where I live. I paid extra to have my three animals vaccinated anyway. Had to wait three days for the vaccine to be delivered to the vets.

Question: Rabies???? How long does a rabies vac. last on a dog?

Answer: The rabies needs 3 series (one year apart) for it to have a complete protective effect. After that, then (federally legally speaking) is good for 3 years. Research has shown that the immunity is unchanged after 7 years. So the immunity will last minimum 7 yrs. However, if your dog is bitten by an unknown animal, or bites you or someone, he will have to be quarantined and possibly euthanised for rabies testing, as by law he will be treated as an unvaccinated dog after 3 yrs.

Question: What are the symptoms of rabies in household animals? What is the pathogen which forms rabies? How can it be prevented?

Answer: You rarely see rabies in household animals because pets are vaccinated to prevent rabies. (That's the answer to your third question!) Symptoms include foaming at the mouth, fever, anxiety and irritability, difficulty swallowing, convulsions, difficulty swallowing, convulsions. (Your first question.) Rabies is a virus. Rabies virus belongs to the order Mononegavirales.

Question: How long does it take for rabies to happen? It's been two to three weeks scince i got bit. I havn't showed any real signs of symptoms, but the people on YA are telling me i have rabies!! Would i have already been foaming at the mouth already? Could there still be a possibility that i can have it and NOT know it?

Answer: The virus travels slowly along the nerves and bites on face can begin in a day or two. Bites on the legs for example have to travel a long way and can take weeks to develop the disease.

Question: Is the anti-rabies vaccine safe during the 2nd trimester of pregnancy? My cat bit me (for my fault - i stepped on him) on my toe drawing blood. He has had his anti-rabies shots about 9 mths back. However, i am wondering if i should also take an anti-rabies vaccine - is it safe for the baby at this stage?

Answer: http://www.vaccineinformation.org/rabies… BUT IF HE IS UP TO DATE ON HIS SHOTS.....THERE IS NO REASON TO HAVE IT DONE.......

Question: How does your mind react to rabies? I know there is a technical answer out there, but I was curious to know if a person contracted rabies and let it set in a bit would it be like tripping on acid? Would you remeber it? I know it effects your mind and nerves. Does it make you want to kill or go crazy, or what? I'm not planning on trying it! DUH!!!! But just wanting to know.

Answer: I've (thankfully) have never had rabies, but here's what I found: As the infection progresses, someone infected with rabies may develop any of the following symptoms: irritability anxiety excessive movements or agitation confusion hallucinations aggressiveness bizarre or abnormal thoughts muscle spasms abnormal postures seizures (convulsions) weakness or paralysis (when a person cannot move some part of the body) extreme sensitivity to bright lights, sounds, or touch increased production of saliva or tears difficulty speaking insomnia The website said that rabies is nearly always fatal once symptoms appear, so I don't think you will find many people who have lived with advanced rabies.

Question: How long do you have to wait before a rabies skin test can reliably diagnose the disease? So I am just trying to figure out if you get a rabies skin test (after being bit), how long does it take for the skin test to be able to tell you if you have rabies or not?

Answer: Usually a person who is bit by a rabies suspect animal is not tested but is started on the post exposure rabies injections. You need to call your doctor. Once you have rabies...you die. There is no cure for rabies.