Veterinary doctor and animal enthusiast Aiko Adade has warned that rabies is invariably fatal once visible signs and symptoms of the disease begin to appear.
Speaking on TV3’s The Afternoon Show on September 28, ahead of World Rabies Day, Dr Adade urged dog owners and the public to pay close attention to sudden changes in an animal’s behaviour, particularly when such changes are unusual for the animal.
“Rabies is 100% fatal. Once signs and symptoms appear, you are going to die,” she stated.
According to her, although rabies has no cure once symptoms develop, the disease is preventable through appropriate measures, including vaccination and prompt action after possible exposure.
She explained that detecting possible rabies in dogs requires attention to the animal’s history and behaviour. Owners should consider whether the dog may have come into contact with another animal suspected of carrying the virus and whether its behaviour has changed significantly.
However, Dr Adade cautioned that unusual behaviour alone does not necessarily mean that a dog has rabies.
For example, a dog that suddenly becomes highly active may simply require more exercise, while an infected animal could initially show less obvious symptoms, including fever or an unusual level of calmness or docility.
As the infection advances, more serious symptoms may emerge. These can include paralysis affecting the vocal cords, making it difficult for an infected dog to bark or howl normally, as well as excessive salivation and hydrophobia, or fear of water.
Dr Adade stressed the importance of recognising possible warning signs early, noting that once the clinical symptoms of rabies become apparent, the disease has already progressed to a stage where it is considered fatal.
By: Prince Martey-Sogar.