Posted on May 28, 2009 by: WayCoolDogs

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As we all know, global countries that have serious rabies problems and do not require all dogs to be vaccinated have become almost epidemic with rabies in third-world countries.  As a country which has rabies under control, one of the main required vaccinations for our dogs in the United States is the rabies shot. It has been found that 99% of all rabies in humans come from dogs, with dogs receiving it from skunks, raccoons, etc. But overseas, other countries that have serious rabies problems vary,  such as in 2006 when China killed 50,000 dogs over the rabies deaths of three individuals.

In 2006, Chinese pets had been  slaughtered in the front of their owner’s eyes due to a blanket extermination ordered by the Chinese authorities because of the large number of stray dogs. The only dogs spared were the police and army dogs. With 60 cents paid to each owner to compensate for their dog’s deaths, the extermination was due to 360 people out of 200,000 residents being bitten by rabid dogs.  Unfortunately, dogs who were already vaccinated for rabies were exterminated “in case the rabies vaccine did not work.”

Even though rabies may not be a major problem in a few countries, over 55,000 people die every year from rabies on a global basis with countless other ones requiring massive treatment. Recognizing which countries have serious rabies problems and how to travel in them should be important. If traveling with animals, checking the rabies laws should be a major part of any and all  travel plans before doing any serious traveling with the family pets.

Worst Countries for Having Rabies

Any and all countries with massive numbers of roaming stray dogs have a high chance of having a serious rabies (hydrophobia) problem. The bad thing about rabies is that it will attach to the brain and spinal cord, eventually leading to death. Right now, massive warnings are out in Angola due to 93 child dying of rabies–all due to dogs at loose in the streets with rabies and a shortage of rabies shots in the hospitals.

It would be easier to say countries without rabies are in areas such as  North America, Australia and Great Britain. The northern part of South America, Africa and Asia are in massive trouble for many reasons.

These areas contain massive-filled slum areas, huge numbers of roaming stray dogs, and a serious lack of vaccine for both people and dogs due to no money. This shortage has been going on since 2007, due to a lack of supply.The cost of rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin costs approximately $50 “per” treatment” with Angola ill able to pay for it. This country is considered one of the world’s poorest countries with 25% of their children under the age of five dying.

The Ins-and-Outs of Rabies

Rabies only effects mammals, such as raccoons, skunks, bats and foxes. In the United States, it is much more common in wild animals (93 out of every 100 cases) and less common in dogs (cats have the highest number of cases in domestic pets)–as compared to other global countries  due to the state requirements of rabies vaccines. Dogs who have been vaccinated need to wear their tags, or they will be assumed to not be vaccinated if they get loose.

Rabies can be very nasty if a person is bitten by a rabid animal–regardless which animal it is. The wound should be washed with soap and water immediately for five minutes, then see a doctor right away. If the animal is one you know, observe them for about ten days to see if they display any suspicious behavior. Otherwise, the animal control authorities need to euthanize it to test its brain for rabies. Bat bites are rare, but are the main source of human rabies next to dogs. It is considered dangerous because the bite usually is undetected at first as it happens in the room of a sleeping person or child. Contact local or state health department for more information.

Oral vaccinations are being placed in special bait for wild animals, dropped from airplanes into areas wildlife known to have rabid animals in it. Animals in the wild eat the food which has the bait in it, preventing them from obtaining rabies when bitten by a rabid animal. Presently, it is successful in Europe and Canada.

How to Test a Dog For Rabies

If a family pet is bitten by a stray dog who has not been tested for rabies or cannot be found,  many countries will require a rabies test that only can be done on the brain of the dog. An alternate method is to require a period of quarantine (at the expense of the owner)–all depending on the particular case involved. Other countries have the dog’s owner watch them for about six months if information about the animal is unknown or the biting animal does not appear to be rabid.

Unfortunately, it can take from weeks to months for the rabies to travel from the bite area to the dog’s brain. Signs of rabies to watch for in surrounding dogs are:

• Abnormal state for the dog with “weird” actions
• An aggressive personality
• Lethargic actions
• Sporadic seizures
• The muscles of the dog’s throat become paralyzed due to the rabies, and the dog will not be able to swallow food or drink water

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