Rabies in dogs

Overview

• Rabies is a deadly virus that can spread between animals and people.
• It travels through saliva, so dogs tend to catch it if another infected animal bites them.
• Rabies attacks the brain and nerves, causing symptoms such as drooling, fever, aggression and weakness.
• The UK is currently free of rabies, but many other countries aren’t, so it‘s a legal requirement to vaccinate any dogs that travel outside the UK.
• Unfortunately, there is no treatment for rabies in dogs.
• You can find information on rabies in cats here.

How does rabies affect dogs?

Rabies is a deadly virus that attacks the central nervous system (brain and nerves), causing severe symptoms and eventually death. It travels in saliva, so dogs tend to catch it if an infected animal bites them, or if they have an open wound that’s licked by an infected animal, but this is much rarer.

Rabies is a zoonotic disease, which means it can spread between animals and humans. The UK is currently rabies-free, so it’s essential that we take precautions to ensure it doesn’t get reintroduced, for example, by vaccinating any dogs that come from or travel abroad.

Rabies symptoms in dogs

Symptoms of rabies usually take 2-8 weeks to develop after the bite, but in some rare circumstances, it can take up to a year.

Early symptoms include:

• Fever (high temperature)
• Changes in behaviour
• Howling or yelping
• Licking or chewing the bite wound

Rabies can then develop in one of two ways, ‘dumb rabies’ (most common) or ‘furious rabies’.

Dumb rabies symptoms include:

• Droopy jaw
• Squinting eyes
• Excessive drooling
• Difficulty swallowing
• Becoming very quiet and withdrawn

Furious rabies symptoms include:

• Aggression
• Restlessness
• Noise sensitivity
• Pica (eating things that aren’t food)

Hydrophobia (fear of water) is only seen in humans and is not a symptom of rabies in dogs.

Diagnosis

There are no available tests for rabies in live patients, so vets have to diagnose it based on symptoms, travel history, and whether the dog was seen being bitten by another animal. A definite diagnosis can only be made by checking the brain after death.

Rabies treatment

Sadly, there is no treatment for rabies, and it’s nearly always fatal once symptoms have developed. If your vet suspects your dog has rabies, the kindest option is to put them to sleep.

Rabies vaccine for dogs

The best, and the only way to prevent rabies in dogs is to vaccinate against it. However, this is only necessary for dogs that travel abroad because the UK is currently rabies-free.

Rabies vaccination is essential for any dog, cat, or ferret travelling outside of the UK, and is part of the PETS travel scheme. Read more about travelling with your pet on the government website.

• Dogs must be at least 12 weeks old and microchipped before they have the rabies vaccine.
• Proof of vaccination must be noted on their travel documents.
• Boosters must be kept up to date for as long as you want to keep travelling with your pet.
• Some countries may require a blood test to check the vaccine has been successful.

You should plan well in advance with your vet.

Side effects of rabies vaccines

Fortunately, most dogs don’t experience any side effects at all after the rabies vaccine, and if they do, they are usually mild (high temperature, low energy, and a reduced appetite), and pass within 24-48 hours. Serious side effects, such as anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction), are extremely rare (less than 1 in 10,000), but if your dog does experience any side effects, speak to your vet straight away.

Rabies in bats

Although the UK is currently free from rabies there is a similar ‘rabies-like’ virus called ‘Lyssavirus’ which infects some species of bats. It’s spread in the same way as rabies, through a bite or scratch from an infected animal, so the risk to humans is incredibly low unless they handle bats regularly.

Avoid handling a bat unless absolutely necessary. If your dog catches a bat or if you need to handle a bat (i.e. if it is grounded/injured) wear bite-proof gloves to protect from any potential risk and contact the Bat Conservation Trust for specialised advice on how to help a sick or injured bat. 

When to contact your vet

Contact your vet if your dog has been bitten by an animal abroad, or if you are concerned they have signs of rabies. You should also contact your vet if your dog has a reaction to their rabies vaccination.

If you are planning to travel abroad, you must contact your vet well in advance to prepare documents, give any vaccinations and administer blood tests or other necessary treatments.

Cost

The price of rabies vaccinations vary from year to year and between each veterinary practice. If you call your vet, they can tell you their current prices.

FAQs

Published: January 2024