Healthy Dogs and Rabies: Can They Carry the Virus?

Section 1: Transmission Methods of Rabies and Incubation Period

Healthy dogs do not carry the rabies virus. It is only the saliva of cats and dogs during the acute stage of rabies that is contagious. Even during their incubation period, the saliva does not contain the virus within their bodies. If a dog becomes infected with the rabies virus, the incubation period will not exceed six months, and the dog will not survive more than ten days after the onset of symptoms. According to research by the World Health Organization, cats and dogs with rabies will almost certainly die within 3 to 5 days, and the longest recorded survival time after the onset of rabies symptoms in cats and dogs is ten days.

Section 2: What is Rabies?

Rabies virus belongs to the Rhabdoviridae family. The virus has a bulletlike shape, with an envelope surrounding its viral cell surface and a helically symmetric nucleocapsid containing singlestranded RNA. It is the causative agent of rabies. The rabies virus has two main antigens: one is a glycoprotein antigen on the viral envelope that can bind to acetylcholine receptors, leading to neurotoxic effects and prompting the body to produce neutralizing and hemagglutinationinhibiting antibodies for protection. The other is a nuclear protein antigen that can induce complement fixation antibodies and precipitins, but does not offer protection.

Rabies is a zoonotic infectious disease shared by humans and animals. As early as 1884, before the virus was discovered, the French scientist Louis Pasteur invented the rabies vaccine.

Section 3: Prevention Methods for Rabies

The best way to prevent dogs from contracting rabies is to ensure they receive regular vaccinations. Therefore, dog owners should remember to have their pets vaccinated against rabies every year.

Tip: Click on "How to Prevent Rabies Virus" to learn more about rabies prevention methods.