Symptoms of Rabies

Symptoms of Rabies

Symptoms of the rabies virus can take up to 60 days to develop after exposure to the virus, but many times develop between the 20 and 60 day mark from exposure. The rabies virus is known for causing animals to become very aggressive or combative, this altered behavior is directly related to the effects that the rabies virus plays on the central nervous system. Infected animals may also be very sensitive to touch and any other forms of stimulation, this stimulation can cause an infected animal to attack without any known cause. This type of furious behavior in infected animals is what has been traditionally associated with “mad dogs” but is more likely to be found in cats, or wild animals.

Symptoms of the rabies can include a more lethargic, version of the disease. In this form rabies infected animals with have symptoms that leave the animal drained of energy and unable to move around. Many infected animals that are suffering from these lethargic symptoms of rabies will also be unable to move their head, even just to raise it or make any sounds; this is because the lethargic symptoms of rabies will often leave an infected animal with neck and throat muscles that are paralyzed.

With either form of symptoms of rabies it is likely that once the symptoms have appeared the infected animal will likely die. Death for many infected animals comes a few short days after the symptoms of rabies begin to appear. The symptoms of rabies that are the final symptoms include failure of the respiratory system. Hopefully this has been able to help you determine if you recognize the symptoms of rabies in any of your animals or neighborhood wild animals. It is very important that if you ever do recognize any of the symptoms of rabies that you avoid the animal that you think maybe infected, even a small scratch or bite can leave you infected with the rabies virus.

Symptoms of the rabies can remain dormant for up to 60 days so it is very important that if you believe your pets may have become infected you should seek medical attention for them and quarantine these animals for at least 60 days. Even though your infected pet may not show symptoms or rabies for up to 60 days, it is still possible for them to pass the disease to you the pet owner, anyone who can have contact with the animal, as well as any other pets in the house. Being aware of possible rabies threats and symptoms of rabies is just one more way to ensure your pet has a long and healthy life.

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