Rabies is a viral disease<\/strong> that affects the brain and nervous system<\/strong> of mammals. That includes not just dogs and cats, but also humans, bats, monkeys, foxes, and more. What makes rabies truly terrifying is its fatality rate \u2014 once symptoms appear, the disease is almost always deadly.<\/p>\r\n The rabies virus spreads most commonly through the bite of an infected animal<\/strong>, because the virus lives in saliva. Once inside the body, the virus travels along the nerves until it reaches the brain. At that point, the infection causes severe inflammation and disruption in brain function, ultimately leading to death.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n There is no cure<\/strong> for rabies once symptoms appear. That\u2019s why rabies is considered a medical emergency and a public health threat, not just a pet health issue.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This is one of the most commonly asked questions \u2014 and the answer is: yes, any dog can get rabies<\/strong> if they are not vaccinated and are exposed to an infected animal. While rabies cases in pets are rarer in cities with widespread vaccination, stray animals<\/strong> and wildlife<\/strong> like bats and foxes can still pose a threat.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n In fact, in many parts of the world, dogs are the main source of rabies transmission<\/strong> to humans. According to the World Health Organization, dogs are responsible for up to 99% of all human rabies deaths globally.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Even indoor dogs can be at risk. They may escape outside during walks, come in contact with infected animals at boarding facilities, or even be exposed to a bat that finds its way into the home. So yes \u2014 rabies is rare in vaccinated dogs, but it is not rare in unvaccinated or under-vaccinated pets<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Rabies is usually transmitted when a rabid animal bites your dog. The saliva of the infected animal contains the virus, which then enters through the wound. Sometimes, even a scratch or a lick on broken skin<\/strong> can lead to transmission if the saliva gets into the bloodstream.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Less commonly, transmission may occur through the mucous membranes \u2014 for instance, if infected saliva enters your dog\u2019s nose, mouth, or eyes. But by far, bites are the most common cause.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Once the virus enters the body, it travels slowly but surely along the nervous system, heading toward the brain. It may take days or even weeks for symptoms to appear, but once they do, it\u2019s too late to treat.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This is a question that worries every dog parent \u2014 and rightfully so. The symptoms of rabies in dogs can be subtle at first, but they worsen quickly.<\/p>\r\n The early signs may include:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n As the disease progresses, symptoms become more alarming. Some dogs develop the \u201cfurious\u201d form of rabies, where they become highly aggressive, growl or bark excessively, and may try to bite everything around them \u2014 even inanimate objects. Others develop the \u201cdumb\u201d or paralytic form, where they become unusually calm, appear dazed, and experience weakness or paralysis in their limbs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Eventually, the dog may lose the ability to swallow, which causes the classic sign of foaming at the mouth<\/strong>. Difficulty breathing, seizures, and coma follow \u2014 leading to death within days.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n It’s a horrifying disease \u2014 and one no pet should have to go through, especially when it’s completely preventable.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Unfortunately, in many parts of the world \u2014 including India \u2014 any dog bite is treated as a potential rabies case<\/strong>, especially if the dog\u2019s vaccination status is unclear or unrecorded. The dog may be quarantined for 10 days and observed for symptoms. If signs of rabies develop during this period, further action will be taken \u2014 often euthanasia and testing.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This is why keeping your dog\u2019s rabies vaccination up to date is not just a health measure, but also a legal and social responsibility<\/strong>. It protects your pet from being unfairly suspected, avoids unnecessary stress, and safeguards everyone involved.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The short answer: Yes. 100%. Without a doubt.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The rabies vaccine is one of the most important vaccines your dog will ever get<\/strong>. It is usually first given at 12\u201316 weeks of age, with a booster shot given a year later, and then every 1\u20133 years depending on your vet\u2019s recommendation and the vaccine used.<\/p>\r\n Most countries \u2014 including India \u2014 legally require rabies vaccination for all pet dogs. But legalities aside, this is a simple, affordable, and safe way to protect your dog from a deadly disease<\/strong> and prevent heartbreaking consequences.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Some pet parents wonder: \u201cBut isn\u2019t rabies rare now? Do I really need the vaccine?\u201d Here\u2019s the thing \u2014 the reason rabies is rare in many places is because of widespread vaccination. If we stop vaccinating, we remove that safety net.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n It\u2019s incredibly unlikely \u2014 but not completely impossible. In very rare cases, a dog might get rabies even after being vaccinated if:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n However, these are exceptions, not the rule. In general, a vaccinated dog is highly protected<\/strong>. But if your vaccinated dog is ever bitten by a suspicious animal, your vet may recommend a booster shot and a period of observation, just to be safe.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n If your dog is bitten or scratched by another animal \u2014 especially a stray, wild, or unvaccinated dog \u2014 take the following steps:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Time is of the essence. Once symptoms appear, it\u2019s too late to do anything.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This is the most heartbreaking part of rabies \u2014 there is no cure<\/strong> once symptoms show. Not for dogs, not for humans. Some experimental treatments exist, but they are largely unsuccessful.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n That\u2019s why everything hinges on prevention and immediate post-exposure action<\/strong>. Rabies is one of those diseases where you don\u2019t get a second chance.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Yes \u2014 a dog with rabies can infect humans<\/strong>, most commonly through bites. Rabies in humans is just as fatal as it is in animals. That\u2019s why your dog\u2019s vaccination status protects not only your pet, but also your family and community.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n It\u2019s also why dog parents should never ignore a bite or scratch<\/strong>, whether from their own pet or another animal. Immediate wound cleaning and medical consultation are critical.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Rabies is scary. But it\u2019s also beatable \u2014 not with high-tech treatments or expensive tests, but with something incredibly simple: vaccination<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n If you\u2019re a pet parent reading this, here\u2019s what you should remember:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Let your dog\u2019s life story be filled with joy, love, and play \u2014 not tragedy. Rabies is preventable, and it starts with awareness and action.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Rabies<\/em>. https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/rabies\/index.html<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n World Health Organization. (2023). Rabies<\/em>. https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/rabies<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n American Veterinary Medical Association. (2023). Rabies and your pet<\/em>. https:\/\/www.avma.org\/resources\/pet-owners\/petcare\/rabies<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Cedars-Sinai. (2025). Rabies | Cedars-Sinai<\/em>. https:\/\/www.cedars-sinai.org\/health-library\/diseases-and-conditions\/r\/rabies.html<\/a>Total Veterinary Care. (2025). Myths & Facts About Rabies<\/em>. https:\/\/www.totalveterinarycare.com\/for-dog-lovers\/myths-facts-about-rabies\/<\/a><\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Rabies in dogs is still a prominent threat in India. India contributes to >36% rabies deaths – get your pet vaccinated!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":5992,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[64],"tags":[8,96,99,123],"class_list":["post-5999","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pet-health","tag-dog","tag-dog-disease","tag-dog-health","tag-dog-vaccines"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5999","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5999"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5999\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6001,"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5999\/revisions\/6001"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5992"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5999"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5999"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5999"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Rabies](\"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Is-Rabies-Common.jpg\")
<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nCan My Dog Really Get Rabies? Isn\u2019t That Super Rare?<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
How Do Dogs Actually Get Infected?<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n
![\"Dogs](\"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/How-do-Dogs-Get-Infected-with-Rabies.jpg\")
<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWhat Are the Signs of Rabies in Dogs?<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"Rabies](\"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Signs-of-Rabies-in-Dogs.jpg\")
<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
If My Dog Bites Someone, Do They Assume It’s Rabies?<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Is the Rabies Vaccine Really Necessary?<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"Is](\"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Is-the-Rabies-Vaccine-Effective.jpg\")
<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nMy Dog Is Vaccinated. Could They Still Get Rabies?<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n
![\"If](\"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/What-to-Do-If-Your-Dog-Has-been-Bitten-by-another-dog.jpg\")
<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
What Should I Do If I Think My Dog Has Been Exposed?<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n
![\"If](\"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Dog-Bite_-What-To-Do-Immediately-After.jpg\")
<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Can Rabies Be Cured?<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Is Rabies a Risk to Humans?<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Final Thoughts: What Pet Parents Need to Take Away<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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