{"id":257,"date":"2016-09-05T16:44:17","date_gmt":"2016-09-05T22:44:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lonetreevet.com\/blog\/?p=257"},"modified":"2022-05-19T07:51:22","modified_gmt":"2022-05-19T13:51:22","slug":"rabies-and-pets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lonetreevet.com\/blog\/rabies-and-pets\/","title":{"rendered":"Rabies and Pets: Know the Enemy"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"FrenchMost people know that wild animals can carry rabies, but many of us don\u2019t think it\u2019s something that can affect our pets or us. Unfortunately, the reality of rabies is closer to home than many of us realize. The disease is present in every state (except Hawaii) and kills hundreds of pets, as well as a few humans, each year.<\/span><\/p>\n

Understanding the link between rabies and pets is key in protecting your family, both two-legged and four, from this devastating illness. <\/span><\/p>\n

What You Need to Know About Rabies<\/b><\/h3>\n

Rabies is a polioencephalitis virus that affects the central nervous system and brain. \u00a0It specifically affects mammals and is transmitted through a bite or scratch from an infected animal. Rabies is a zoonotic disease, which means it is transmissible from animals to people. In Colorado, skunks and bats are its main carriers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once an animal is infected with rabies, it can take up to a month for symptoms to appear. However, once they do, the disease progresses rapidly. Rabies initially resides in the muscle tissue and then migrates to the local nerves. After spreading through the nervous system, it ends up in the brain. \u00a0The time from initial exposure and incubation, to the symptomatic stages and death is generally 3 to 8 weeks for dogs and 2 to 6 weeks for cats. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Rabies is extremely dangerous and almost 100% fatal. There is no treatment or cure.<\/span><\/p>\n

What to Watch Out For<\/b><\/h3>\n

An infected animal will generally not show any symptoms until rabies has reached the brain, at which point the disease has reached its late stage and death is imminent. <\/span><\/p>\n

The symptoms of rabies appear in three distinct stages, which are as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n