This article will discuss everything you need to know about rabies in doodles. Keep reading for more information about the common symptoms that your doodle dog may have rabies!
Rabies is a fatal and terrifying virus with almost 100% death outcomes in animals and humans. So, if your doodle dog gets infected with rabies, it will have little to no chance of survival.
However, knowing about the symptoms of rabies in doodle dogs can help you save the life of your pet in some cases.
What is Rabies in Doodle Dogs?
Rabies is a deadly virus that affects a doodle dog’s brain, spinal cord, and central nervous system.
It settles initially in the muscle tissue, moves to your doodle dog’s nervous system, and ultimately enters the saliva glands. This is why most photos of dog rabies show excessive drooling at the mouth.
Although rabies is preventable, studies show it has almost 100% death outcomes in most cases. Besides, the rabies virus has been detected in nearly all countries worldwide.
How Does Rabies Spread in Doodle Dogs?
According to research, dogs are the most common rabies carriers. Besides, the rabies virus is most frequently found in wild and stray animals, such as raccoons, bats, and foxes, because they are not vaccinated.
Your doodle dog will most likely get rabies via saliva coming from an affected animal. A dog bite may easily transmit it.
common transmission channels
- Organ transplantation
- Aerosol transmission
- Mouth transmission
- Nose transmission
- Eyes transmission
Doodle dogs are more prone to getting rabies infection if they have an open wound, laceration, or a scratch through which the virus will enter the body.
The Different Stages and Symptoms of Rabies in Doodle Dogs
Symptoms of rabies in doodle dogs do not often appear immediately. They can show up after ten days or even a few months from the infection.
This is called the incubation period, where your doodle behaves normally, and you may not notice anything wrong with them.
There are three stages to symptoms of rabies in doodles. After infection, your dog will not necessarily go through all the stages discussed below and, thus, may skip some symptoms.
Below, we discuss the different stages of rabies in doodle dogs and their associated symptoms.
The Initial Stage and Symptoms of Rabies in Doodle Dogs
In the first stage of rabies infection, the signs and symptoms only begin to show differently.
The notable symptoms of this illness include a sudden manifestation of aggressiveness, restlessness, extreme anxiety, and withdrawal, and may also likely have more than one open wound.
This stage lasts about 2-3 days on average, and the initial symptoms include the following;
Extreme Anxiety and Restlessness
Extreme anxiety and paranoia usually are among the first signs of rabies in Doodle dogs. This may appear in the form of restlessness and hiding.
For instance, they will behave as if they are waiting for something terrible to occur or are constantly afraid.
A Sudden Manifestation of Aggressive Behaviors
- Barking aggressively
- Snapping aggressively
- Snarling aggressively
- Growling aggressively
These aggressive behaviors can be directed toward other animals and human beings, including their owners. They can also be directed toward inanimate things and even attempt to bite them.
Withdrawal
Doodles with rabies may become very shy, begin hiding away from people, and spend more time alone. If your dog remains friendly to you, it will lose its upbeat spirits and get melancholic.
Open Wounds
Most doodles are infected with rabies by getting into a fight with an infected animal. Most dogs with rabies will have scratch wounds; bite wounds may also be present.
These open wounds are usually irritating and painful, especially when not treated. Biting, scratching, and licking at these open wounds are common behaviors in Doodle dogs with rabies.
Advanced Stage and Symptoms of Rabies in Doodle Dogs
This is the second stage and begins around three days after infection.
At this stage, the rabies virus has potentially affected your dog’s spinal cord and has already reached your furry friend’s brain.
This is when your dog will go through the aggression peak and show other symptoms, such as seizures and dilated pupils.
The following are the symptoms of the advanced rabies stage in doodles.
Dilated Pupils
This is a sure sign of doodles with rabies, significantly if the pupils are dilated when they should not be, such as during daytime. It can be accompanied by your doodle dog’s sense of disorientation and confusion, even in a tight space.
Therefore, if you notice your dog walking around with dilated pupils during the day, you should keep your distance and notify the authority as soon as possible, especially if your dog is also acting strangely.
Lack of Fear
A doodle with rabies will have increased aggressiveness and paranoia, overshadowing their habitual behavior.
They will attach anything and everything, including their owner. Their learned fear and innate will disappear as the rabies virus clouds the brain.
Furiousness
Your doodle dog will appear mad at times. For instance, they bark at everything that comes close, including objects, people, and animals.
During this stage, your dog can also shoot you if they no longer recognize them.
Seizures
Seizures, along with other symptoms mentioned in this article, are common symptoms in doodle dogs that have rabies. They usually occur during the second stage of the illness.
These symptoms appear similar to seizures in human beings. For instance, the muscles of your furry friend will become affected, and you will see the dog shaking and trembling uncontrollably.
Ultimately, an affected doodle dog can have one or multiple seizures.
The Final Stage and Symptoms of Rabies in Doodles
The final and fatal stage of rabies in doodle dogs usually occurs about seven days after disease contraction.
The symptoms include paralysis and excessive drooling. The paralysis can begin as partial, and within a few days, it turns into complete paralysis, coma, and even death.
It is also possible for some doodles to skip the second stage entirely and enter the final stage immediately after the initial rabies symptoms.
The following are the symptoms of the final rabies stage in doodle dogs.
Excessive Drooling
Excessive drooling, along with other symptoms mentioned in this article, is common for doodle dogs with rabies.
This symptom occurs because of two things that the rabies virus does to your dog’s brain;
- The rabies virus increases the production of saliva. For instance, once the virus gets into the saliva glands, it causes excessive drooling, which appears like foam.
- The rabies virus makes swallowing very hard in affected dogs, which creates more drool as the dog stops swallowing it.
Your doodle dog will seem unable to close their mouth, with their jaws dropping down fully. Furthermore, your furry friend will not eat and lose control over their throat.
Paralysis
This is usually the final and most fatal symptom of the rabies virus in doodle dogs. Paralysis affects the dog’s muscles, throat, and mouth, and it starts small, with difficulty walking and swallowing.
Then, the dog’s body starts trembling, and they lose their ability to walk and breathe. Finally, paralysis will spread to other body parts, leading to a coma, and eventually, your doodle dog will pass away.
How to Prevent Rabies in Doodles
An ideal method to prevent rabies in doodle dogs is to vaccinate them and ensure that the vaccines are current.
Fortunately, rabies vaccines are available for doodle dogs; you can also vaccinate ferrets and cats against rabies.
Besides, keeping your dog away from wild and stray animals, such as dogs, cats, foxes, bats, and raccoons, can help further prevent your dog from rabies infection.
Also, spreading awareness about rabies, its consequences, and its symptoms among dog owners can help prevent the spread of rabies.
For instance, if more people are aware of rabies, they will most likely vaccinate their dogs and report any suspicious cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
How will you Know if Your Doodle Has Rabies?
It is not possible to tell if your doodle dog has rabies just by looking at it. The best way to tell if your furry friend has rabies is to perform laboratory testing.
However, dogs with rabies tend to act strangely with aggressive behaviors.
How Long Does It for a Dog to Show Signs of Rabies?
It can take 3 to 5 days for a dog to show signs of rabies. By this time, the virus will have caused enough damage to the brain that the dog begins to show unmistakable signs of rabies.
Will a Dog with Rabies Drink Water?
Rabies causes dogs to be afraid of water. This can make them stop drinking water, which can lead to dehydration.
The fear of water comes from the pain in swallowing, as the disease causes the throat muscles to seize up.
Conclusion
Rabies is a very dangerous and potentially fatal disease in dogs. Luckily, you can use methods, such as vaccination, to protect your doodle dog from ever getting it.
Besides, if you notice your doodle dog has any symptoms mentioned above, contact your vet as soon as possible. Time is essential for the treatment of rabies in doodle dogs.