Tag: vaccination

  • BITE BACK: LOOK OUT FOR THESE RABIES SYMPTOMS

    BITE BACK: LOOK OUT FOR THESE RABIES SYMPTOMS

     

    Protect Your Pets and Family Against Rabies

    Rabies has a fatality rate of 100%. This is the highest fatality rate of any infectious disease known to man. With World Rabies Day (28 September 2024) coming up, we wanted to spread awareness so that pets and their parents can stay safe.

     

    About Rabies

    Rabies is transmitted to animals and humans via saliva through bites or scratches from an infected mammal, affecting the central nervous system. It can also spread via direct contact with mucosa, for example, through the eyes, mouth or open wounds, but this is rare.

    Related: 5 Facts About Rabies

     

    Rabies Symptoms

    With an incubation period of 2-3 months, the initial symptoms include:

    • Headache
    • Fever
    • Sore Throat
    • Fatigue
    • Loss of appetite
    • Nausea and vomiting
    • Tingling, pricking or burning sensations at the wound site.

    As it moves to the central nervous system, progressive and fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal cord develops. The symptoms include:

    • Severe agitation
    • Aggressive, uncontrollable behaviour
    • Inability to swallow
    • Excessive salivation
    • Seizures
    • Hydrophobia.

     

    Prevention

    Vaccination is the most effective form of prevention for protecting your pets. Therefore, it’s essential to ensure that their vaccinations are current.

    Keep your distance if you are unsure of other animals’ vaccination status. Stay away from stray dogs and keep your pets at home if they haven’t yet been vaccinated (between 12 and 16 weeks old).

    Related: Vet Advice: Rabies Prevention.

     

    How Can You Bite Back?

    Educate your friends and family about the risks and how to avoid exposure. They should always inform you if they were attacked by or encountered an animal behaving strangely.

     

    Having Pet Insurance from dotsure.co.za can help protect your pets and your pocket with coverage for vaccinations, illness, accidents, and more. Learn more about our Pet Insurance Plans, which are designed to care for your pets.

    Rabies is a preventable disease. With proper education and care, we can keep the people and pets around us safe. Here’s to biting back against Rabies!

     

  • VET ADVICE: RABIES PREVENTION

    VET ADVICE: RABIES PREVENTION

     

    Where Prevention is the Only Cure

    Dr Jozaan Nel is a veterinarian at Vets4All Animal Clinic in Kimberley. This mixed-animal practice treats everything from small animals to wildlife, livestock, and equines.

     

    How is rabies transmitted to pets?

    “Rabies is transmitted through saliva, in any form, usually through biting or licking. Rabies is a zoonotic disease, which means that humans can get it too!

    It’s important to note that rabies can affect all mammals. Livestock animals too, and farmers should familiarise themselves with the possible signs of rabies in the various species as they may differ.”

     

    What are the primary symptoms of rabies?

    “Mainly, a change in behaviour. Some animals become very aggressive, chew various objects, and develop a fear of water. There can be progressive paralysis and difficulty swallowing. Pet parents often think that there is something stuck in their pet’s throat. Later, pets become comatose and die.”

     

    How long does it take for rabies symptoms to appear after exposure?

    “The incubation period for rabies ranges between 1 to 8 weeks, however, various cases have been reported even 6 months after a bite or incident has occurred.”

     

    What are the most effective methods for preventing rabies in pets?

    “The most effective way of managing rabies is to vaccinate properly and appropriately, with an emphasis on correct vaccination schedules. Vaccinating animals is a priority for the safety of your family and your pets!”

     

    What are the essential steps pet parents should take if they suspect their pet has been exposed to rabies?

    “If you suspect your animal has been exposed to rabies, you must consult your vet immediately and make sure you take your pet’s vaccination card with you.”

     

    Learn more about our Vets of the Month (VOM)

    Dr Jozaan Nell loves spending time outdoors and exercising. Puppies are her favourite patients, and she especially enjoys working with horses. As for snakes and spiders – her colleagues can handle those. 😉

     

    Dr Jozaan, when did you decide to become a vet?

    “I can’t remember exactly when I wanted to become a vet, but if you asked my mom, she would say since I begged her for horse riding lessons and collected all the animal magazines.”

     

    Any last thoughts on the topic?

    “Rabies is one of the most horrible diseases I have ever learnt about! There is no cure, only prevention. Please save us the stress, by simply vaccinating your animal.”