The Lowdown on Rabies

Rabies is a scary disease, with low survival rates if treatment is delayed. While we don’t see many cases here at My Pet Nutritionist, we do have lots of readers from the USA and other countries with a risk of rabies. It is not a disease present in the UK, unless an imported dog was to enter the country with it. In this blog, we will look at what it is, how it is diagnosed and treated, and how we can support dogs naturally. We will also discuss the rabies vaccine, prevalence of rabies and laws in Europe, Australia and the USA, as well as considerations when travelling from the UK with a pet.

Diseases can be viral or bacterial; Rabies is viral, and is zoonotic, meaning it can pass between species, and is not species specific. Rabies is a Lyssavirus; which is one of a group of bullet-shaped RNA viruses causing brain inflammation and rabies-like disease. The most common Lyssaviruses are RabV (Rabies Virus) and ABLV (Australian Bat Lyssavirus), which both have similar symptoms, and both attack the central nervous system.

Different diseases are contracted through different pathways, whether it’s an airborne disease, transferred through a cut or bite, or through saliva. In the case of rabies, it is transmitted through the saliva of rabid animals into open wounds like bites. The disease can be fast progressing or extremely slow progressing over a number of weeks, but as soon as clinical symptoms show, the chance of recovery is reduced.

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Symptoms

There are a number of symptoms, which change as the disease progresses. In the early stages of Rabies infection, you may notice your dog is weaker in the legs, more lethargic, and has a raised temperature. Once the disease is advanced, symptoms become severe, and affected individuals clinically present with aggression and agitation, complete disorientation, severely reduced movement, increased drooling, foaming at the mouth, seizures, difficulty sleeping, and a fear of water which occurs due to painful throat spasms associated with Rabies.

When the advanced symptoms begin to appear, unfortunately the likelihood of survival is slim, and diagnosis before these symptoms start is tricky. Let’s take a look at diagnosis.

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Diagnosis

Due to the nature of rabies, and the speed at which is progresses once symptoms begin, diagnosis is not always possible when the pet is living. Tests that can be carried out to detect the virus, or presence of antibodies include analysis of:

• Saliva
• Skin biopsy from the neck area
• Cerebrospinal fluid

Generally speaking, at least two, if not all three of these tests would be required to confirm rabies.

Any pet suspected to have been exposed to rabies is usually monitored for 10 days as even with the above tests, rabies is often missed during diagnosis, and is only detectable in it’s later stages. Monitoring the pet for 10 days post-exposure allows the vet to see if symptoms develop.

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Conventional Treatment

Very sadly, there is no curing treatment for Rabies. Once an individual has been diagnosed with Rabies, they can only be medically managed as opposed to cured.

If an unvaccinated pet is bitted by a rabid animal, it is wise to thoroughly wash the area, and travel to your vet who may offer an immunoglobin treatment, and a series of rabies vaccines to be given over the coming weeks to reduce the risk of the virus establishing a Rabies infection.

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Natural Support for Rabies

Unfortunately, natural support for the body once rabies has taken hold is limited. There is nothing that will help recovery, but you could give your pet the best chance of a slightly longer life than if they didn’t have any support at all. Here some changes we would make:

• Feed fresh: fresh food keeps nutrients most intact.
• Focus on omega 3: feed a very omega 3 heavy diet to aid reduction of inflammation in the body, but especially the brain. One specific type of Omega 3, known as DHA is best for brain support.

In terms of immediate support following exposure to Rabies, thoroughly washing any wounds immediately is essential, as is taking your pet to the vet. A rabies vaccine post exposure may be recommended – follow your vet’s advice!

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The Rabies Vaccine

The rabies vaccine is controversial among many communities; however it is very much up to the individual dog owner to decide as to whether their pet has it. It is legally mandatory in some countries, which we will soon discuss.

The rabies vaccine does indeed have the highest rate of reaction; reactions can range from mild (common) to severe (less common) and can include mild fever, injection site swelling, loss of appetite and changes to behaviour, as well as anaphylaxis, swelling of the face, severe vomiting and diarrhoea, hives and itching, breathing difficulties, and collapse or seizure.

There are two variants of the rabies vaccine; options with or without thimerosal. Thimerosal is a type of ethylmercury used in some vaccines as a preservative and can increase the risk of allergic reactions, so most owners request the thimerosal free option. Both the thimerosal free, and standard versions have a 1-year or 3-year option, which relates to the license the vaccine manufacturer is given, not necessarily the length of protection it offers. That said, the 3-year option would be the better one as the pet would not be exposed to the adjuvants in the vaccine so often as they would with a 1-year option. Research suggests that one rabies vaccine lasts 7-15 years, possibly more, however many mandates across the world require pets to have it every 1-3 years.

Another important factor to mention is the dose given to a pet dog. A 1kg chihuahua is given the same dose as a 110kg English Mastiff – naturally, the chihuahua ends up with a higher concentration of adjuvants in his body which can have further detrimental effects! Dr John Robb is the veterinarian behind the campaign for weight-based doses of rabies vaccines for smaller dogs. His campaign called ‘Protect the Pets’ has been scrutinised by the Connecticut Board of Veterinary Medicine, and his campaign is being disregarded as it stands until there is more proof that half-doses offer the same immune response as a full dose would. He is hopeful for change one day!

Whether the vaccine is mandatory or not very much depends on the country you live in, and your circumstances. Keep reading to find out more!

Rabies in Europe

While it is rare, rabies is still present in many parts of Europe, mostly in central and western parts. The disease has almost been eliminated due to vaccination programmes in pets, wildlife control and import/export rules, however there are still reservoirs of rabid animals such as fox and bat populations.

The rabies vaccine is not mandatory in Europe, however if a pet is to travel to another EU country, or travel from another EU country, a rabies vaccine will be required. A pet cannot enter an EU country for 21 days after the primary vaccine is administered. Dogs entering from a non-EU country may require a rabies antibody titre in order to obtain a valid travel health certificate, whereby a blood sample is taken and examined in a laboratory to check for active rabies antibodies.

Rabies in Australia

Australia is free from many plant and animal diseases due to their incredibly strict import laws and border protection. Rabies is one of the diseases they do not have in their country at all, however they do have a different member of the lyssavirus family in their bat population, known as Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABLV). ABVL is a zoonotic disease, so can be transmitted to both humans and dogs. It presents clinically very similarly to Rabies, and much like Rabies, once symptoms develop, the pet will pass away as it is a rapidly spreading neurological disease with no cure.

There is no requirement for rabies vaccines in Australian dogs, so it is not a vaccine that is routinely given, unless required for travel.

In order to import a dog into Australia, the owner must obtain a health certificate proving a period of maintained rabies vaccination, and a valid Rabies Titre Test.

Rabies in the USA

In the USA, cases of rabies infection in domestic pets is rare, however there are high rates of rabies in wildlife populations, particularly in foxes, bats, racoons and skunks. Rabies is endemic in the wild population.

Every US state has a mandate for the Rabies vaccine in domestic pets, with some local authorities also requiring a dog license for which rabies vaccines are part of. Dogs are typically given this vaccine from 3-4 months of age, and require scheduled ‘boosters’ at intervals discussed with their vet. As of 2025, there are a total of 17 states which accept medical exemptions for the rabies vaccine. These states are:

• Alabama
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Florida
• Illinois
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• Nevada
• New York
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Wisconsin

Medical exemptions are not decided by the pet owner – they are a decision from the vet, and must have written documentation to prove that giving the animal the vaccine will threaten it’s life. It is commonplace for these exemptions to be reviewed annually, and if an animal’s condition changes for the better, the may require vaccination in the future even with a history of exemption.

Other states may offer a rare exemption, but these are not typically provided. Some states including Arizona, Washington, Indiana and Texas have a very strict policy whereby no exemptions are allowed at all.

Travelling from the UK

For those reading from the UK, there are certain travel laws we must follow if travelling with pets. To travel outside of the UK, pets must receive the rabies vaccine, and travel no less than 21 days after its administration. You will receive a valid Animal Health Certificate (AHC).

Make sure you research laws of the country you are entering, as many will need additional documentation such as a Rabies antibody titre. To return to the UK you will be required to administer a specific Tapeworm treatment too!

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If you are a pet owner in any of the places mentioned in this blog, it is important regardless of vaccine status, to stay away from potentially rabid wildlife. Teaching your pet a strong ‘leave it’ cue could save their life one day! If you are planning on travelling from a rabies free country, it is important to make an informed decision as to whether giving the rabies vaccine is truly worth taking your pet abroad; and we hope this blog helps you in your research. If you feel you could benefit from help and advice, our team are on hand to help you out!



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