'Tis the season for the emergence of rabies; know the symptoms, signs

Few diseases grip us with such dread as does rabies.  Rabies can be transmitted to humans by many warm-blooded animals.  

Once physical signs of the disease appear in a patient, treatment is usually futile.

 Most people have a mental picture of the rabid dog viciously attacking everything around it and salivating as it looks for more victims. While some animals go through a “furious” or “mad” phase in rabies, this may never be seen. And, many animals with rabies are never seen salivating excessively. Since so many rabid animals never exhibit the signs generally associated with rabies, it is very easy to have human exposure to a rabid animal without any knowledge of the exposure until it is too late to prevent the disease.

The dog or cat that has been bitten by a rabid skunk, raccoon, coyote, wolf, fox or bat may easily develop rabies if it is not currently vaccinated.  After the viral incubation period, the first symptoms of the disease may simply be a reluctance to eat or a change in behavior.  

The animal may become more outgoing or more shy.  Dogs may exhibit increased sexual behavior. The animal may then progress to an aggressive stage. This is especially true in cats.  

At this time, the animal may become more easily excited and may bite with no cause.  Some dogs may roam the countryside trying to bite everything around them.  

Cats in this phase may explode with anger and attempt to bite and scratch everyone in their presence.  

While this is the most recognized phase of rabies, many animals never exhibit these signs. They simply progress to the third phase of the disease.  It is the so-called “dumb phase” of rabies.  At this stage, the patient loses the ability to use its mouth and throat normally and gradually loses coordination.  

As the disease progresses, the patient often experiences a change in its voice.  This may be noticed by the owner.

 Preventative vaccinations that are kept up on schedule will protect the pet and the owners.

(Dr. Fred Conkel is a veterinarian at the Westgate Clinic in Libby.)