Why Rabies Vaccinations Are Important For Your Dog

Rabies vaccinations are important for domesticated animals to ensure their safety from wild animals. In addition, it also ensures the safety of the dog's human family.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Associate (AVMA), 6,000 cases of animal rabies have been reported in 2012 in the United States alone and nearly 55,000 people in the world die because of rabies yearly.  World Rabies Day was established in 2007 to raise awareness about the public health impact of human and animal rabies.

Rabies is a viral disease that damages the central nervous system and is transmitted through the saliva or bite of an infected animal. However, symptoms of the disease may not be experienced until a few weeks to even months.

The virus will start showing symptoms of general weakness, fever and headache once the disease reaches the brain and causes inflammation. Within a few days, anxiety, confusion, agitation, abnormal behavior, hallucinations, muscle paralysis, difficulty swallowing and cerebral dysfunction will be noticed. The most popular symptom of rabies cases is foaming at the mouth or hypersalivation, according to Shelby Star.

When the mentioned symptoms develop, rabies is nearly always fatal. When the virus reaches and paralyzes the diaphragm to make normal lung functions fail, death happens. 

Rabies may be treated prophylactically right after exposure. However, when an infected animal develops symptoms of the disease, rabies is nearly always fatal, according to Pet Poison Helpline.  

Another way to prevent the disease is through vaccination, which makes it understandable why most municipalities have required the licensing of companion and domestic animals. On the other hand, rabies attacks of domesticated animals are responsible for only two to three human deaths in a year. Unfortunately, not the same can be said of non-domesticated and wild animals.

While all species of mammals are prone to the virus, the vast majority reported to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are wild animals including bats, foxes, raccoons and skunks. Vaccinating indoor-only pets becomes much more important due to instances when bats get into homes or raccoons climbing down chimneys that may attack domesticated pets.

Domesticated pets are vaccinated essentially to keep them from acquiring the disease from wildlife. In addition, rabies vaccinations are essential to control the spread of the disease and to keep families protected.