Is Rabies Vaccine for Dogs 100% Effective?

Pet Rabies Shots come with their risks which should not be overlooked.

A rabies vaccine, like any other vaccines, can lead to several medical and behavioral reactions. If the dog’s immune system is not able to cope up and deal with the vaccine, there are chances of such reactions to occur. In certain cases, rabies vaccine for dogs may not always be effective and cause several side effects.

Side Effects of Rabies Vaccine for Dogs

Any pet rabies shots can potentially cause several side-effects in dogs. The rabies vaccination involves using a passive antibody by injecting human immune globulin along with a number of rabies vaccine shots. The injection shots are generally given through skin or muscle of a dog. After this vaccination process, there are certain expected side effects, which start showing after few hours of the rabies shot.

Below are some of the general side effects of pet rabies shots:

• Fever
• Facial Swelling
• Vomiting
• Lethargy
• Sneezing
• Decreased appetite
• Hives
• Swollen nymph nodes

In most of the cases, such reactions in the first few hours after the pet rabies shot are mild and one need not worry much about it. However, if the side effects get severe and there are other symptoms apart from the ones listed above, the dog should be brought back for an examination by the vet. If the dog has reacted adversely to the rabies vaccination, the vet should be able to advice certain immunizations which will prevent any other further severe reactions. \

Anaphylaxis

In very rare instances, there have been cases when rabies vaccine for dogs has led to anaphylaxis – a fatal and life-threatening reaction. Anaphylaxis is known to cause severe problems in the respiratory system as well as failure of heart. This condition might appear within first few minutes of the pet rabies shot.

The most noted as well as visible symptoms of anaphylaxis include fast heartbeats, vomiting, diarrhoea, difficulty in respiration and face swelling. If any of the previous symptoms are severe, one should get the pet back to the vet at the earliest so that the epinephrine can be administered for instant relief from anaphylaxis.

Delayed Reactions seen in Dogs after Rabies Vaccine

After the rabies vaccination process, there are certain rare reactions and behavioural changes that may occur later. It is generally after a 1-2 weeks of rabies vaccine that these delayed side effects start appearing.

Medical Reactions:

• Auto-immune diseases
• Heart complications
• Excessive drooling
• Vision problems
• Hair loss
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Paralysis of throat or tongue
• Periodontal disease
• Reverse sneezing
• Seizures, epilepsy, twitching
• Stomatitis
• Thyroid disease

Behavioural Changes

• Aggression
• Separation anxiety
• Confusion
• Destructive behaviour
• Increased barking
• Enhanced sexual desire
• Suspicious
• Unaffectionate
• Restless & Irritated

These delayed side effects may not always connect back to rabies vaccine for dogs. There are other reasons for such medical and behavioural changes. However, one should not ignore and consult a vet if the reactions seem to be severe.

Rabies in Dogs: What Are The Different Stages of Rabies And The Symptoms?

Rabies is a virus that targets the brain and spinal cord of the animal infected. Although it is usually common in dogs, the rabies virus can also infect cats, other pets, and even humans too. However, dog or pet owners can protect their dogs or cats with regular rabies vaccine for dogs and cats. 

Over 50,000 humans and millions of animals are affected by rabies virus resulting in deaths. The virus inhibits the muscle tissues of the animal and stays undetected for days or months. In its dormant stage, the pet looks healthy. Hence, most pet owners get to know about the rabies infection in their dogs or cats pretty much late.

How to Know If the Dog is Infected with Rabies?

As explained earlier, it is difficult to detect the virus early, and by the time you know that the dog is infected, it is too late. Well, you can always look for signs or symptoms resulting from rabies infection and instantly consult a veterinary doctor to check your dog.
Three Phases of Rabies in Dogs

Rabies infection in dogs results in 3 different phases as follows:

Prodromal Phase

Prodromal period is the beginning phase of rabies infection, and the dog remains in this condition for 2 or 3 days. In this phase, the rabies virus starts affecting the dog’s brain through the nervous system.

Here are few symptoms or signs of the Prodromal Phase in dogs after rabies infection:

• Fever 
• Loss of Appetite 
• Minor behavioral changes 
• Chewing the bite region 
• Different or unusual bark tone 

Mad Dog Syndrome:

The next phase is the mad dog syndrome where the dog starts attacking any moving object, animal, or a human. Even if the dog is caged, it will try to chew the cage fence or make an attempt to attack anyone near the cage. The dogs are most likely to break their teeth in the process.

However, not all dogs infected with rabies virus experience this phase. The infected dogs which don’t encounter this stage are known to have paralytic rabies. On the contrary, the dogs that experience this stage the most due to rabies infection are known to have furious rabies. The mad dog syndrome usually lasts for 2-4 days.

Here are some symptoms of mad dog syndrome every dog owner must know:

• Dilation of pupils, irritation, and confusion 
• Seizures, vacillating 
• Continuous barking and develops aggression 
• Agitation, wandering 
• Trembling, convulsions 

It is highly recommended to stay away from the rabies-infected dogs going through this phase. A bite or scratch from these dogs can infect you with the virus. Set a proper rabies vaccine schedule for your dog to prevent virus infection.

Paralytic Phase

The last and final phase of rabies infection is the paralytic phase. It may last for 2 to 4 days.

• A few symptoms of the paralytic phase include: 
• Dropping of the lower jaw with drooling around the mouth 
• Insensibility of jaw 
• The dog can’t drink or even swallow its saliva 
• Foaming all around the mouth area 

Conclusion

Owning or petting a dog is a big responsibility. As a responsible owner or friend, you must ensure that the dog is healthy and energetic all the time. Hence, it is critical to provide proper rabiesvaccine for dogs at a trustworthy spay and neuter clinic.

Remember, an infected rabies dog is very dangerous during the last phase of the disease. It can spread the virus to you or your family with a single bite or scratch.