I wanted to write about this topic, because it is very important to me. I want owners to be aware of this horrible virus that affects many mammals each year, especially the ones I love the most – dogs. It’s good for dog owners now and in the future to be aware of this virus and the horrible things it can do to our beloved pets.
WHAT IS RABIES??
Rabies is a contagious and fatal virus that affects dogs and other mammals. It can also be transmitted to humans through saliva and causes madness. The virus is nearly always fatal unless doctors administer a vaccine before it reaches the brain. Rabies is caused by a virus in the Rhabdoviridae family (a family of rod or bullet shaped RNA virus that are located in vertebrates, insects, and plants.)
SYMPTOMS
The first symptoms of rabies for dogs are very subtle. The tone of their bark changes, they chew at the site where they were bitten, they start losing there appetite, and they become feverish. The second set of symptoms is called the mad dog stage or the furious stage. In the second stage the animal starts to crave many things including inedible objects. They constantly growl and bark. They have episodes of aggression. they are very restless and do not fear any natural enemies. They begin to roam more they frequently have seizures and they’re always trembling and muscle incoordination. The third and final stage is the paralytic stage. The animals lower jaw starts to drop, and the animal appears to have difficulty swallowing which leads to drooling and foaming of the mouth. The jaw and chewing becomes paralysis. Then finally the virus spreads through the animals body and it becomes depressed, rapidly enters into a coma and dies.(retrieved from http://www.healthcommunities.com/rabies/symptoms.shtml on July 29, 2013).
ARE THERE ANY KNOWN SURVIVERS??
Rabies kills about 55,000 people every year worldwide. There is a short list of people that survived the rabies virus . The best known member of that select group is Jenna Giese a Wisconsin teenager who lived through the disease in 2004.
HOW TO PREVENT YOUR PETS FROM GETTING RABIES ?????
The rabies virus is most common in dogs and other domesticated animals. Our animals can get the virus by coming in contact with wildlife that was already effected. So make sure your pet has there rabies shot. DO NOT let pets roam! Keep an eye on them but if your pet does get bitten seek veterinary assistance IMMEDIATELY. Also to reduce any chances of you animal getting rabies or any other domesticated animal from getting rabies call your local animal control agency to remove any stray animals from your neighborhood
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What scientific Gear Relates to my Post??
Obtaining , Evaluating and communicating Information
I used many resources to obtain my information about rabies and how to prevent them and show examples of people that survived this virus . I evaluated the information I wanted to use and wrote it out in paragraph form and communicated the information that I discovered to my future readers.
