DOG are often referred to as man’s best friend and are the favorite pets of many of us.
Some even have more than one or two pet dogs because of their fondness for them.
Others prefer pet cats because they are easier to care for.
But being a responsible pet owner doesn’t just end with pampering your furbabies; it also involves ensuring their safety and those around them.
Is your pet free from diseases?
Does it have rabies?
According to the Rizal Provincial Health Office, dog and cat bites are still common, especially during summer. Like humans, they also become irritable during hot weather.
“Summer season, we have more cases of bites. It’s mainly because, people are more active, so there is a greater chance of exposure to dog bites,” Dr. Voltaire S. Guadalupe, Rizal Provincial Health Office stated.
According to the DOH, it is important to vaccinate our pets to prevent them from becoming carriers of rabies. Prevention is better than cure— especially when it comes to rabies, as there is still no cure for this.
According to the DOH, pets should not be allowed to roam freely, especially if we are not sure if they have been vaccinated.
This will also prevent them from being bitten by other dogs or cats carrying rabies.
“So, we need to control all our pets. We vaccinate all dogs, cats, and other animals that may have rabies. Of course, we also need to control the movement of our pets. It’s already a law; we have a rabies law that mandates the vaccination of pets. They should either be leashed or not allowed to leave the house and if anyone is bitten or scratched by an animal that we are not sure if they are vaccinated, they should go to the animal bite center,” Guadalupe added.
The DOH warned of the dangers of being bitten by an unvaccinated pet.
It could be the source of rabies, which can be fatal if not treated immediately.
Rabies is a viral infection that can be transmitted to humans through the saliva of an infected animal.
If a bitten person exhibits symptoms such as fear of light, difficulty drinking water even if thirsty, and aggressiveness—it indicates that the virus has likely reached the brain.
“The course of rabies, when the virus is in the wound, needs to be washed immediately, then vaccinated immediately to prevent the virus from reaching the brain of the person or animal bitten. Once it reaches the brain, that’s when the symptoms of rabies appear, and it’s irreversible. It can’t be controlled anymore. So, you’re just counting the hours or days because we still don’t have a cure for rabies,” Guadalupe added.
We caught Tess taking her Siberian husky for a walk.
Tess said her pet dog must be kept in an air-conditioned area, especially when the weather is hot.
Her pet is also vaccinated, and she doesn’t let it approach other dogs on the street.
“So, we need to control all our pets. We vaccinate all dogs, cats, and other animals that may have rabies. Of course, we also need to control the movement of our pets. It’s already a law. We have an Anti-Rabies Law that mandates the vaccination of pets. They should either be leashed or not allowed to leave the house and if anyone is bitten or scratched by an animal that we are not sure if they are vaccinated, they should go to the animal bite center,” Guadalupe stressed.
The symptoms of rabies in dogs include becoming aggressive or ferocious, running aimlessly, biting anything, excessive drooling, and inability to eat and drink water.
The symptoms in humans include headache and fever, pain or numbness at the site of the bite, confusion and paralysis, muscle stiffness, and fear of water or air.
If bitten by a dog with rabies, the wound should be washed immediately with soap and clean water.
Go to the nearest DOH Bite Center, Health Center, or hospital.
If your pet bites someone, seek immediate veterinary consultation to monitor it for 14 days.
