Do you remember that movie by Stephen King called "Cujo"? You
know the one where that sweet Saint Bernard turns into a raving monster?
How many of you had nightmares about that dog or were leery of large
breed dogs after that? I know I was. I tended to watch for signs of my
dogs turning on me for weeks after that movie came out. I wasn't quite
sure what to look for exactly but I hoped that by the time I recognized a
"Cujo" in my dog, it wouldn't be too late.
Cujo undoubtedly had
the rabies virus but how realistic were the symptoms in that dog as
compared to a real-life case of rabies? Back in the "Old Yeller" days,
the disease was called hydrophobia and generally, if someone of that
generation even suspected that an animal had the sickness, they would
shoot first and ask questions later. The epidemic of an outbreak would
have been too devastating to their livelihood in that era not to mention
the risk of animals infecting humans. There was no cure or preventive
medicines back in the day so becoming infected meant infinite death.
In
current times, we have vaccines and anecdotal measures to counteract
any possible symptoms that may occur in humans or animals if there is
concern that you or your pet have been infected. Having your pet
vaccinated is a routine practice that every dog or cat should adhere to
as part of a regular vet visit. Rabies vaccines are generally good for 3
years of protection and are such an important precaution to ensure the
future health of your pet. The CDC or Center for Disease Control issues
specific warnings every year to inform the public of any rabies
outbreaks around the country. They may even know the specific type of
animal that could be infecting domestic animals in these specified
areas. These rabies outbreaks do not discriminate against any animal so
be extremely aware of the warning signs for symptoms of rabies in your
pet and monitor them closely. The symptoms may vary from animal to
animal but could include lethargy, aggressiveness, drooling or foaming
at the mouth, and disorientation.
If a human is infected with the
rabies virus, once the actual symptoms appear, the disease may most
certainly be fatal at that point. If you or a loved one is bitten,
scratched or even makes contact to an already open wound via saliva, you
should take immediate action and visit an emergency room or family
doctor and get updated on your tetanus shot. If you suspect that the
animal may be infected with the rabies virus, as a precaution, you may
want to begin the rabies anecdotal shot series to begin the process of
flushing the virus out of your system if it in fact exists within your
body. Unfortunately, the series of shots you would have to endure can be
quite painful but the alternative to that could possibly be death so
you have to decide what would be worse?
If you live near wooded
areas or if your pet has free roaming range on your property, make sure
you keep an eye out for stray animals in your yard or watch for any
symptoms in your pet very closely. It might be worthwhile to have a
fence around an area of your property to protect your four-legged
friends. Rabies is not something you want to mess with and for the
health and safety of your pets and your family; it's wise to take all
the precautions necessary to avoid a catastrophe.
