Caissie Canine Instruction: Rabies Signs and Symptoms in K9’s

We begin this week’s “RUFF TAILS” featuring a beautiful Cane Corso/Roti Mix named Daisy.

Daisy is an extremely loveable, energetic girl!!! Daisy will be two years old in July. We adopted Daisy when she was 14 months old from a local rescue. Although she is very anxious, cautious about her surroundings, and still settling in with us, she doesn’t have an aggressive bone in her body. She is definitely a mama’s girl.

                                     K9 Corner with the Chief

Dog training is very complex. Techniques and tools for one dog may not work for the next one. This is the very reason why a dog trainer must be experienced and open-minded to different training methodologies.

I make it quite clear to all prospective and committed preferred clients that I am training the human not the dogs. It is incumbent that the humans be the pack leaders and lay down the foundation of good behaviour and obedience. Both on and off leash.

To accomplish this, a full behaviour assessment must be done in the home and neighbourhood of the family and K9. The triggers and issues must be identified. Once this is done a training plan is then developed.

A personalized program will be implemented using verbal praise commands, food reward, leash and training collar correctives, verbal admonishment commands and professional recommended training tools.

All dogs are unique and motivation levels are indifferent. I believe all dogs may be rehabilitated if they have a human pack that will commit with me to training and loving their animal. Remember dogs embrace a short life span and why would you not embrace the best life for them. They deserve that.

Remember every day is a training day.

Welcome to Doggie Dialogue

Rabies is a fatal disease in dogs and can manifest with signs like behavioural changes such as aggression, irritability and fearfulness.

Physical signs can be difficulty swallowing, excessive drooling, staggering and seizures.

Other symptoms could be fever, loss of appetite, paralysis and overstimulation by lights, movement or sound.

Once symptoms appear, there is no treatment. Rabies is preventable through vaccination.

If you suspect your K9 may have rabies, contact your veterinarian immediately. The incubation period (time between exposure and symptom onset) can range from 2-4 weeks. The closer the bite site is to the spinal cord or brain the quicker the virus reaches the nervous tissue.

Rabies can be transmitted by salvia, therefore owners need to take precaution when dealing with their K9, if you suspect your K9 been exposure to an infected animal.

Due to the robust vaccination program we have in Canada, domestic cats and dogs are rarely infected and have not been responsible for a human case of rabies since the early 1990’s.