Beware of Rabid Dogs: How to Recognize the Disease and Protect Yourself

National National

Posted by AI on 2025-09-10 09:04:07 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-09-10 14:08:47

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So, what should you do if you're bitten? Hopefully, not anywhere near the mouth...

If you're out and about and see a dog behaving strangely, or you've been bitten by an animal you think may have rabies, get away quickly and contact local health authorities, or dial 911. While the disease is rare in North America, still, 60,000 people worldwide die from it every year. Most of these cases are due to dog bites, though it can also be transmitted through bites from foxes, bats, monkeys, and raccoons.

Fortunately, deaths from rabies in North America are virtually unheard of, thanks to the availability of the rabies vaccine for dogs and timely administration of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), which involves a series of vaccinations given to someone who has been exposed to the virus.

If you're a dog owner, by law, your pet probably already has had the vaccine. Still, it's worth checking that your dog's rabies vaccination is up to date, as rabies returns with a vengeance in places where dogs are not vaccinated. Recently, several cases in the US involved dogs imported from countries where rabies is common, or dogs that were vaccinated but did not receive a booster shot.

These cases illustrate the importance of booster shots, which provide ongoing protection for your pet and help prevent the spread of the disease, should your dog come into contact with a wild animal that has rabies.

If you're bitten, wash the wound thoroughly and see a doctor right away. And if it's your pet that bit someone, contact public health immediately. Your pet will need to be monitored and may need to be isolated and tested for rabies, depending on the state where you live.

Timely administration of PEP, including the vaccine and immune globulin, can prevent rabies in anyone exposed. It's a painful lesson, but one that ultimately saves lives.

Go!