If a dog gets rabies (detailed introduction), can it still survive? Nowadays, people shudder when they hear the word rabies because humans infected with rabies have a100% mortality rate and the disease progresses very quickly. So if a dog gets rabies, can it still survive? How can we determine if a dog has rabies, and from which aspects should we reduce the chances of rabies infection?

1. A dog with rabies can only live3-5 days

If a dog gets rabies, can it still survive? Once a dog develops rabies, the mortality rate is as high as100%, and the fatal progression is very rapid, with80% of dogs dying within3-5 days. Cases living over ten days to half a month are very rare. If your dog really contracts rabies, it is basically incurable.

Although there are folk cases of curing dogs with rabies, the risk is too great. Rabies is a fatal disease for dogs and also for humans. If humans accidentally get infected and have not had a vaccine, once symptoms appear it is fatal. Moreover, the incubation period of rabies is long, sometimes lasting years, and is easily overlooked.

2. Symptoms after a dog contracts rabies

1. Strange behavior

If a dog gets rabies, can it still survive? After contracting rabies, a dog’s reactions become sluggish, unwilling to interact with people, and may be anxious or fearful. Additionally, the dog becomes nervous; once stimulated, it may bark or even bite. After calming down from stimulation, it appears exhausted, but once its energy recovers, it may become aggressive again.

2. Abnormal appetite

If a dog gets rabies, can it still survive? During rabies onset, the dog's appetite may rebound strangely. It may refuse normally favored dog food and snacks and instead eat grass, chew wood, or other odd objects. This is accompanied by difficulty swallowing and excessive drooling, even biting its own limbs.

3. Fear of water and light

If a dog gets rabies, can it still survive? Dogs with rabies are very afraid of water and light, even avoiding drinking water. They dislike light and hide in darker areas. If your dog already shows these symptoms, it means rabies has entered the late stage.

4. Paralysis and death

If a dog gets rabies, can it still survive? When a dog exhibits paralysis symptoms, it means death is near. Paralysis manifests as whole-body muscle weakness, convulsions, uncontrollable drooling, difficulty standing, or inability to stand, sometimes collapsing. Ultimately, death results from respiratory system paralysis.

3. Measures after a dog contracts rabies

After a dog contracts rabies, if it begins to exhibit wild biting and uncontrollable behavior and you cannot manage it yourself, you must call the police immediately. A dog with rabies must be euthanized. No matter how reluctant you are, it's necessary. If it accidentally injures someone, the disease can be transmitted to humans, and rabies is fatal to humans as well. For your safety, strict isolation measures are essential.

If a dog gets rabies, can it still survive? Obviously not. Don’t just abandon a mad dog to fend for itself. A rabid dog biting other dogs or people can spread rabies. This is irresponsible to yourself and society.