Can I have my dog vaccinated against rabies?

In some countries, or parts of some countries where rabies is prevalent, canine vaccination against rabies is required by law. This is the case in all but seven states of the USA (the regulations for the vaccination of dogs and cats in the USA vary from state to state, and within a state between counties and even towns), and in north-eastern France if you wish to exercise your dog without a lead or to exhibit the dog. In most countries, such as Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Denmark, vaccination is voluntary. In some countries, such as Sweden and Britain, rabies vaccination is prohibited.

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If my dog has been vaccinated against rabies abroad, will it have to go into quarantine?

This depends upon the countries between which you intend to transfer your dog. As a general rule, countries where rabies is already well-established in the wildlife do not require dogs to be quarantined, e.g. the continental USA and India. On the other hand, countries which are rabies free may insist upon a period of quarantine for dogs entering the country, e.g. Australia, Great Britain and Hawaii (despite being a state of the USA). This requirement for compulsory quarantine may be waived if the dog comes directly from another rabies-free country without being off loaded or otherwise coming into contact with other possibly infected animals en route (e.g. from Great Britain to Hawaii, or New Zealand to Australia).

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Why should a dog showing signs of rabies be destroyed?

In essence, once clinical signs of rabies are present in a dog, or in man, no treatment is effective and the disease is always fatal. (There are two recorded cases of humans recovering, one having received the extremely rare and expensive anti-viral drug interferon, though in both there was some doubt about the diagnosis, and there is also clear evidence that two experimentally infected Beagles recovered. Nevertheless, such cases must be regarded as extremely rare.)

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How would I know if my dog had rabies?

The disease characteristically has three phases. First, there is a prodromal stage, usually lasting less than two days (sometimes only a few hours) in which the dog shows a personality change. It may become more affectionate, or appear apprehensive and timid and want to hide away, or it may be agitated and bark excessively. This is followed in turn by a stage of excitability and irritability, and then a stage of paralysis. An animal is said to have ‘furious’ rabies or ‘dumb’ rabies depending on which of these two stages is encountered.

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How could my dog get rabies?

Rabies is generally transmitted through the bite of an infected animal, by virus particles in the saliva of that animal being implanted in the bite wound. Other routes of infection are possible but much less common; for example infective saliva can enter through a scratch or an existing skin wound, or droplets of saliva may be inhaled. An animal may even eat the carcase of a rabies victim. In countries where rabies is established (enzootic) in the wild life, dogs frequently become infected by bites from rabid animals such as foxes, skunks, or bats. The proportion of cases in dogs attributable to bites from previously infected dogs and cats is related to the density of unvaccinated pets in that area. The incubation period in the dog is variable and though it is seldom longer than four months it may exceed six months. On average the clinical signs of rabies, which are the result of viral damage to the nervous system, appear between three and eight weeks after the bite.

How should ringworm be treated?

In dealing with an infection, it is important to have all dogs and cats on the premises checked, and to isolate infected individuals. All contaminated articles should preferably be burned, and all surfaces should be disinfected. Efficient disinfectants include solutions of iodophors (e.g. Pevidine) or formalin (although this is unpleasant to use). For disinfecting small articles, alcohol may be used.

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Is ringworm really caused by a worm?

No, although in the past this was believed to be the case. In fact this skin condition has nothing to do with worms. It is due to the effect of parasitic fungi (dermatophytes) and the one which is most commonly responsible in the dog is called Microsporumcanis. Despite its name this fungus is best adapted to the skin of the cat and adult cats may be infected without developing skin lesions. Cats represent an important reservoir of infection for both dogs and humans. Of lesser importance in dogs is the fungus Trichophyton mentagrophytes (carried by rodents), plus in warmer climes Microsporum gypseum, found in the soil.

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