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Why rabies vaccination is so important for dogs

Rabies is a dreaded infectious disease that can infect humans as well as dogs. The risk of infection has decreased considerably in recent years. However, the potential danger of rabies should not be underestimated.

Rabies vaccination is therefore very important for dogs. When this can be done for the first time is explained below. In addition, you will learn how an infection with rabies occurs and what the consequences of the disease are for affected animals.

Rabies in dogs: What is it?

Rabies is a dangerous infectious disease. It is caused by rabies viruses. These can infect not only dogs but also other animal species and humans.


The viruses are usually transmitted through small scratches or even bites. Dogs are mainly infected by foxes or dogs already suffering from rabies with which they have contact.


The infection results in severe disorders of the central nervous system. Dogs that contract rabies almost always die from inflammation of their brain.

Rabies in dogs: What are the symptoms?

When the infection first becomes noticeable in dogs with visible symptoms depends on where the viruses have entered, or the length of the path from there to the central nervous system of the four-legged friend.


After the outbreak of rabies, the infected dog dies from the infection within one to seven days. During this time, the quadruped goes through three different phases, each with different symptoms of the disease.

Dogs that have rabies go through the following three stages:

  • Prodromal phase
  • Excitation phase
  • Paralysis stage

1. the prodromal phase

During the first phase of rabies infection, known as the prodromal phase, dogs experience non-specific symptoms such as fever, cough, vomiting, diarrhoea or difficulty swallowing. In addition, there are occasional changes in the dog's character.

2. the excitation phase

The second stage of the disease is called the excitation phase. It is here that the characteristic symptoms appear, because of which rabies originally received its name. Mood swings occur, as well as a noticeable sensitivity to noise and light. 


Apart from this, the temperament of the dog suffering from rabies changes significantly at this stage of the disease. Constant barking, aggression and biting are typical of many dogs during the excitation phase. Occasionally, however, the disease also manifests itself in the form of a strongly pronounced jumpiness.


Independently of this, there is increased salivation, initial paralysis and twitching of the muscles.

3. the paralysis stage

The third stage of rabies in dogs, known as the paralysis stage, is characterised by increasingly severe cramps and paralysis. Finally, the dog falls into a coma and dies from paralysis of its respiratory tract.

How is rabies diagnosed in dogs?

Whether a dog has rabies can only be determined by examining its brain. The veterinarian, therefore, has no choice but to make a tentative diagnosis based on the symptoms of the disease and any bite wound that may be present.


If the veterinarian concludes that there is probably an infection with rabies, they must inform the official veterinarian. The veterinarian must then decide what to do with the affected quadruped.

Warum die Tollwutimpfung für Hunde so wichtig ist

How is rabies treated in dogs?

Unfortunately, there are no treatment measures that can be taken in case of infection with rabies. Regardless of this, it is not permitted to treat dogs with suspected rabies in our country anyway.


If the affected animal has not been vaccinated against rabies, the official veterinarian orders quarantine and has the four-legged friend put down.


This procedure is only deviated from in the case of dogs whose owners can prove that they have been vaccinated against rabies without any gaps. However, even in this case, the animal may be quarantined for several months on suspicion of rabies infection.

Rabies in dogs: What is the prognosis?

If a dog contracts rabies, the infection is always fatal. Once the disease has broken out, the dog dies within a few days.


Fortunately, rabies has been considered eradicated in Germany for some time. The risk of infection is therefore comparatively low in our country. 


However, dog owners should bear in mind that it is still possible for them to fall ill. This is because this infectious disease can always be brought in by foxes or dogs from other countries.


Rabies vaccination is therefore urgently recommended for dogs, even in Germany, despite the relatively low risk.

Protect your dog with a rabies vaccination

Since rabies in dogs cannot be treated and even today there is at least a slight risk of infection, rabies vaccination is an important part of preventive health care that no dog owner should do without.


The so-called basic immunisation can begin around the 12th week. After that, your dog's rabies vaccination must be regularly refreshed to ensure long-term reliable protection against the dangerous infectious disease.

How expensive is a rabies vaccination for dogs?

If you only want to vaccinate your dog against rabies, it usually costs around 30 euros. If you decide on a combination vaccination, in which your four-legged friend is immunised against other diseases at the same time, you can expect costs of around 60 to 70 euros.


You can ask the vet in advance about the exact fees for vaccinating your dog, whereby the vet must always base his billing on the guidelines of the scale of fees for vets.

Are dogs with rabies contagious?

Be aware that rabies is highly contagious and your dog can very easily infect other animals as well as humans. Therefore, even if you are rather critical about vaccinating dogs, rabies vaccination is undoubtedly advisable.

Our conclusion on the subject of rabies vaccination in dogs

As you can see, rabies is a serious matter. After all, the infection cannot be cured and is always fatal in infected dogs. We, therefore, recommend that you have your dog vaccinated against rabies at an early stage.


The costs involved are manageable and serious side effects do not usually occur. Occasionally, dogs may show symptoms such as fatigue, diarrhoea or fever after the rabies vaccination. In most cases, however, these disappear on their own after one or two days.


If you want to travel abroad with your dog, a rabies vaccination is required by law anyway, so you will not be able to avoid immunising your four-legged friend by then at the latest.


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