Bangladesh Animal Care

The rabies virus, present in the saliva of an infected animal, is usually spread by a bite or scratch that punctures the victim's skin and occasionally through ingestion of carrier animals.

There are three phases of rabies yet some humans and animals skip these rabies symptoms completely and move straight to phase three, the paralytic stage.

Incubation Period

The incubation period varies from 2-12 weeks and may be occasionally prolonged up to 4 years.

1. The Dumb (Prodromal) Phase

During this initial phase, which lasts just a few days, the disease produces very subtle changes that may be easy to miss, including:

The Later Violent Symptoms of Rabies

2. The Furious "Mad" Phase

This phase, which typically lasts less than a week, is the most frightening one because it is then that the classic horrible symptoms of the disease are most likely to occur, although it should be noted that not every animal stricken with rabies appears to pass through the mad dog phase.

Rabies symptoms for the mad phase may include:

3. The Paralytic Phase

In this final and fatal stage of the disease, affected humans and animals display the following symptoms.

It should be noted that the virus can remain active inside a dead animal for forty-eight hours, and the creature's blood and other bodily fluids can transmit the virus if it comes into contact with fresh open wounds or muscous membranes. Great care should be used when handling an animal that dies of rabies.

What to Look Out For:

1. Vague changes in temperament
2. May hide and shun company
3. May be unusually attentive and affectionate
   ** Animal must be well known to observe these symptoms
4. Restlessness
5. Nervousness
6. Developing viciousness. First towards strangers and then towards anyone (they do not recognize community members/owners)
7. May wander far, snapping at anything in its path
8. If restrained, will chew viciously to free itself
9. May bite itself
10. May break its teeth
11. Froths at the mouth or drools excessively
12. Saliva may be tinged with blood
13. Oblivious to pain
14. Paralysis of vocal chords causes strange utterances and hoarse howls.
    **At this time one may mistakenly think the dog or cat has something caught in its throat and infect themselves while attempting to look in the animal's mouth.

If you are bitten or scratched by an animal who seems ill, seek immediate medical attention.