When it comes to animals in our families, most people treat them like the little familial fur balls that they truly are. Especially in the USA, we tend to treat our dogs and cats almost like surrogate children that simply haven’t learned how to talk or open peanut butter jars yet. This attachment, wonderment, and genuine connection may explain why so many people take losing a pet so terribly hard, and why “health issues dogs” is one of the more popular search terms on the internet. Especially with an estimated 70 million dogs in the United States!
It becomes important to protect our animals from all senses of harm and danger, no matter what that might be. Whether it is training them right and keeping them from becoming territorial so that we don’t have to seek the services of a dog bite injury lawyer, or choosing the right food, most pet parents want what is best for their animals. There is a reason why people schedule regular veterinary visits in earnest and seemingly have no problem with auto shipping their pet’s medications.
In this article we’ll talk about protecting our pets from harm, specifically dogs. The focus will be on rabies as an illness that can be contracted by contact with other outdoor animals and how you can go about protecting them from it. While contracting rabies does not automatically mean a death sentence for your pet, it is certainly something to avoid if you can at all costs. The time and investment you put into helping your dog stay well will mean less time on the phone with animal control or searching “health issues dogs” frantically after the damage has been done.
Be Reasonable: Get Your Dog Vaccinated
Before you have to Google “health issues dogs” in relation to rabies and whether your dog is succumbing to this terrible virus, you should take precautions. The easiest way to do this is to get your dog vaccinated by your local friendly veterinarian at approximately 3-4 months old. After that, a recommended 3-year booster shot can work wonders in preventing your dog from contracting rabies or suffering the worst of the disease if they are bitten. If you are worried about the cost of vaccinations or live in a rural area, sometimes there are non-profit organizations that help out with the prohibitive cost of treatments.
While you’re at your vet, they may also recommend that your pet get spayed or neutered, as this reduces their urge to wander around. Not only will it keep them from interacting with other dogs and contracting any diseases that they have, but it will reduce/curb their interactions with wild animals which are almost certain rabies carriers. While raccoons, foxes, and squirrels are certainly cute, they shouldn’t be playing with your dog at all and will more than likely just cause trouble and headaches all around. Eventually, you will tire of using the search terms “health issues dogs” whenever they come into contact together.
Make Your Home A Safe Environment: Indoors First
Most people that own pets keep them indoors except for when they have to go to the bathroom, thinking that they are safer inside. While this is mostly true, and the chance of them being hit by a car or stolen by a thief is essentially eliminated inside, there is still a chance that your dog can contract diseases or hurt themselves inside. Especially if you’re not home to monitor them, dogs are essentially like toddlers: mostly fine, but occasionally bordering on getting in trouble through their own curiosity. There are probably many similarities in pet parents Googling “health issues dogs” and human parents searching for “health issues toddlers”!
To make sure that your home is free from any sort of critters that can carry rabies, you’ll want to engage with a reputable residential pest control services firm. Some of these pest control firms specialize their services to keep pet owners and dogs in mind, others are more generalized contractors. Only you will be able to find the right one to suit your needs, but they are certainly out there. Don’t hesitate to ask around to other pet owners or get a recommendation from your veterinarian on what’s best. Especially if you are interested in non-toxic solutions or don’t want to hurt the animals entering your home. After all, they are just seeking shelter from the cold, hard world out there.
Of all the rabies carriers, squirrels, mice, and rats are the most likely to be present inside of a residential area. Whether they are nesting in the basement or up in the attic, these critters are the ones that will be named as the culprit if your dog is bitten and starts to exhibit rabies symptoms when they haven’t ventured outside your home. Many pest control services will try to persuade you to set traps that catch and kill these creatures, but that will only solve the symptoms of the problem and not the problem itself. What’s best is to prevent these creatures from entering your home in the first place, through either patching up holes in your residences or constructing new walls/barriers so that they can no longer come in. Prevention is easier than trying to figure out a solution and searching “health issues dogs” after a wayward bite.
Make Your Home A Safe Environment: Outdoors Next
Even if the inside of your home is spotless, this is not usually where dogs get bitten by animals and contract rabies. In fact, it is almost always outside the home near a wooded area or wildlife feeding point where dogs come into contact with rabid animals. Since the animals that carry rabies the most are raccoons, squirrels, and foxes, this only makes sense. If you are aware that any of these animals live in your area, you should heavily consider investing in pest control services that will deter them from entering your property or milling about around it. You will be doing yourself and your dog an immense favor.
Since squirrels are also a carrier of rabies, and are present in most environments in the USA, any prudent homeowner should make sure to get their roof inspected for signs of a squirrel infestation. It’s not that squirrels aren’t lovely creatures that are fascinating to watch and learn from, but we also need to respect that as carriers of rabies they may get into contact with our beloved dogs by mistake and cause more trouble than they’re worth. Whether they are outside or inside the home, the roof is a good place to monitor for signs of squirrels behaving badly before it’s time to search “heath issues dogs” after an unlucky bite.
In some cases, non toxic pest control may be available in the form of using plants that deter these animals or spraying non-toxic irritants in a line around your property. A good non-toxic way to keep unwanted animals off your property is simply to have a wire fence constructed, which is both low cost and may actually add value to your property. The technology is always improving on how to keep wild animals away from domestic environments, and there is always something that you can do within your price range to make sure that your dog and property are protected from harm.
Keep Watch For The Signs Of Rabies And Be Safe (Rather Than Sorry)
We understand that even if you’re a daily search of “health issues dogs” on the internet, you still have your own life to live. You may think that you monitor your dog’s health incredibly closely but be perplexed with some of their behaviors on daily basis. Some things may concern you (such as coughing, throwing up, or rubbing various body parts of surfaces) but may be harmless consequences of eating grass after a lawn spraying or rubbing against a plant with prickers on it. Dogs are curious and strange creatures that get into mischief on a daily basis, but most of it is not worth worrying about.
The true signs of rabies that you should be looking out for include, but are not limited to: a turn from docility to hostility, foaming at the mouth, insatiable thirst, fever, or signs of extreme aggression. You should always be checking your dog for signs of bites, open wounds, or other problems, but sometimes these can be hidden (especially if your dog is very furry). If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, it is important to immediately contact your vet to find out whether it is something to worry about or brush off.
One of the biggest reasons to watch out for signs of rabies in your dog is because of the potential legal implications it might have. In many areas of the United States, dogs that test positive for rabies are candidates for euthanasia depending on how the disease has progressed and what the vet’s legal liability is. While you may want to call a lawyer to protect your dog, in some cases there is nothing you can do. It is worthwhile when searching “health issues dogs” to try and find a vet in your area or close by that will work compassionately with rabid dogs to try and see them through the illness if possible.
When Your Dog Has Been Bitten: Take Precautions
If you think that your dog has been bitten by a raccoon, squirrel, fox, or any other animal that is known to carry the rabies virus in your area, you should immediately take your dog to an animal hospital. Not only will they be able to give your dog fluids, treatment, and watch out for signs of things going wrong, but they may also be able to potentially vaccinate your dog again against another infection. This can be extremely important if your dog was never vaccinated in the first place and is much more helpful that Googling “health issues dogs” when something goes wrong with your pooch.
Depending on the severity of the bite and whether your dog is showing signs of infection, the veterinarian on staff may want to keep your dog overnight or for multiple days. This isn’t because they want your dog around taking up precious medical space, but because there may be a delayed infection that may come about which might cause complications for your dog and require emergency treatment. A pet parent always hopes that emergency surgery or other invasive procedures don’t have to be done to their dog, but this information is always best left to the experts.
While it may be tempting to fret about finances or pet insurance (if you have it), this is one of those times that may simply be out of your control in terms of finances. Make your case as best as you can to the veterinarian to see if they will put you on a payment plan or make some sort of special exception, but remember that there is only so much you can do. Also never forget that just like you can search “health issues dogs” in order to find terms related to the health of your pooch, you can also search “financial assistance dogs” in order to find organizations, campaigns, or friendly pet parents that may want to assist you in your time of need.
If Your Dog Succumbs To Rabies: Don’t Despair, Learn
If you’ve been put in the unfortunate situation that your dog, through no fault of your own (or perhaps many precautions) encountered an animal that had rabies and has succumbed to it, remember that it’s not your fault. Illnesses, especially viruses and the hosts they infect, are a part of nature and will spread regardless of how much effort we put into combating them. Your dog did not mean to get infected, the same as the animal that bit your dog did not intentionally bite them to cause you harm or despair. Animals run on instinct that can be highly irrational, especially when rabies is added to the mix.
While this is a sad occasion, don’t let it deter you from planning the optimal funeral for your dog. Ask your vet or local health expert what precautions you should have in case you are planning on handling your dog in any way or saying final goodbyes. The rabies virus may no longer have a host to infect, but it is well known that rabies can jump to humans and infect us as well. It may be a good idea to wear gloves, use hand sanitizer, or take other precautions in order to say goodbye to your dog properly.
There’s also no shame in going to therapy or grief counseling to discuss your dog no longer being with you. In the same way that you might search “health issues dogs” on the internet to find out what’s wrong with your beloved pooch, you should have no trouble searching “mental health issues people” and finding out if going to a counselor would benefit you. Since many people view their dogs like surrogate children, this can weigh heavily on anyone’s mind and should be addressed sooner rather than later.
When it comes to animals in our families, most people treat them like the little familial fur balls that they truly are. Especially in the USA, we tend to treat our dogs and cats almost like surrogate children that simply haven’t learned how to talk or open peanut butter jars yet. This attachment, wonderment, and genuine connection may explain why so many people take losing a pet so terribly hard, and why “health issues dogs” is one of the more popular search terms on the internet. Especially with an estimated 70 million dogs in the United States!
It becomes important to protect our animals from all senses of harm and danger, no matter what that might be. Whether it is training them right and keeping them from becoming territorial so that we don’t have to seek the services of a dog bite injury lawyer, or choosing the right food, most pet parents want what is best for their animals. There is a reason why people schedule regular veterinary visits in earnest and seemingly have no problem with auto shipping their pet’s medications.
In this article we’ll talk about protecting our pets from harm, specifically dogs. The focus will be on rabies as an illness that can be contracted by contact with other outdoor animals and how you can go about protecting them from it. While contracting rabies does not automatically mean a death sentence for your pet, it is certainly something to avoid if you can at all costs. The time and investment you put into helping your dog stay well will mean less time on the phone with animal control or searching “health issues dogs” frantically after the damage has been done.
Be Reasonable: Get Your Dog Vaccinated
Before you have to Google “health issues dogs” in relation to rabies and whether your dog is succumbing to this terrible virus, you should take precautions. The easiest way to do this is to get your dog vaccinated by your local friendly veterinarian at approximately 3-4 months old. After that, a recommended 3-year booster shot can work wonders in preventing your dog from contracting rabies or suffering the worst of the disease if they are bitten. If you are worried about the cost of vaccinations or live in a rural area, sometimes there are non-profit organizations that help out with the prohibitive cost of treatments.
While you’re at your vet, they may also recommend that your pet get spayed or neutered, as this reduces their urge to wander around. Not only will it keep them from interacting with other dogs and contracting any diseases that they have, but it will reduce/curb their interactions with wild animals which are almost certain rabies carriers. While raccoons, foxes, and squirrels are certainly cute, they shouldn’t be playing with your dog at all and will more than likely just cause trouble and headaches all around. Eventually, you will tire of using the search terms “health issues dogs” whenever they come into contact together.
Make Your Home A Safe Environment: Indoors First
Most people that own pets keep them indoors except for when they have to go to the bathroom, thinking that they are safer inside. While this is mostly true, and the chance of them being hit by a car or stolen by a thief is essentially eliminated inside, there is still a chance that your dog can contract diseases or hurt themselves inside. Especially if you’re not home to monitor them, dogs are essentially like toddlers: mostly fine, but occasionally bordering on getting in trouble through their own curiosity. There are probably many similarities in pet parents Googling “health issues dogs” and human parents searching for “health issues toddlers”!
To make sure that your home is free from any sort of critters that can carry rabies, you’ll want to engage with a reputable residential pest control services firm. Some of these pest control firms specialize their services to keep pet owners and dogs in mind, others are more generalized contractors. Only you will be able to find the right one to suit your needs, but they are certainly out there. Don’t hesitate to ask around to other pet owners or get a recommendation from your veterinarian on what’s best. Especially if you are interested in non-toxic solutions or don’t want to hurt the animals entering your home. After all, they are just seeking shelter from the cold, hard world out there.
Of all the rabies carriers, squirrels, mice, and rats are the most likely to be present inside of a residential area. Whether they are nesting in the basement or up in the attic, these critters are the ones that will be named as the culprit if your dog is bitten and starts to exhibit rabies symptoms when they haven’t ventured outside your home. Many pest control services will try to persuade you to set traps that catch and kill these creatures, but that will only solve the symptoms of the problem and not the problem itself. What’s best is to prevent these creatures from entering your home in the first place, through either patching up holes in your residences or constructing new walls/barriers so that they can no longer come in. Prevention is easier than trying to figure out a solution and searching “health issues dogs” after a wayward bite.
Make Your Home A Safe Environment: Outdoors Next
Even if the inside of your home is spotless, this is not usually where dogs get bitten by animals and contract rabies. In fact, it is almost always outside the home near a wooded area or wildlife feeding point where dogs come into contact with rabid animals. Since the animals that carry rabies the most are raccoons, squirrels, and foxes, this only makes sense. If you are aware that any of these animals live in your area, you should heavily consider investing in pest control services that will deter them from entering your property or milling about around it. You will be doing yourself and your dog an immense favor.
Since squirrels are also a carrier of rabies, and are present in most environments in the USA, any prudent homeowner should make sure to get their roof inspected for signs of a squirrel infestation. It’s not that squirrels aren’t lovely creatures that are fascinating to watch and learn from, but we also need to respect that as carriers of rabies they may get into contact with our beloved dogs by mistake and cause more trouble than they’re worth. Whether they are outside or inside the home, the roof is a good place to monitor for signs of squirrels behaving badly before it’s time to search “heath issues dogs” after an unlucky bite.
In some cases, non toxic pest control may be available in the form of using plants that deter these animals or spraying non-toxic irritants in a line around your property. A good non-toxic way to keep unwanted animals off your property is simply to have a wire fence constructed, which is both low cost and may actually add value to your property. The technology is always improving on how to keep wild animals away from domestic environments, and there is always something that you can do within your price range to make sure that your dog and property are protected from harm.
Keep Watch For The Signs Of Rabies And Be Safe (Rather Than Sorry)
We understand that even if you’re a daily search of “health issues dogs” on the internet, you still have your own life to live. You may think that you monitor your dog’s health incredibly closely but be perplexed with some of their behaviors on daily basis. Some things may concern you (such as coughing, throwing up, or rubbing various body parts of surfaces) but may be harmless consequences of eating grass after a lawn spraying or rubbing against a plant with prickers on it. Dogs are curious and strange creatures that get into mischief on a daily basis, but most of it is not worth worrying about.
The true signs of rabies that you should be looking out for include, but are not limited to: a turn from docility to hostility, foaming at the mouth, insatiable thirst, fever, or signs of extreme aggression. You should always be checking your dog for signs of bites, open wounds, or other problems, but sometimes these can be hidden (especially if your dog is very furry). If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, it is important to immediately contact your vet to find out whether it is something to worry about or brush off.
One of the biggest reasons to watch out for signs of rabies in your dog is because of the potential legal implications it might have. In many areas of the United States, dogs that test positive for rabies are candidates for euthanasia depending on how the disease has progressed and what the vet’s legal liability is. While you may want to call a lawyer to protect your dog, in some cases there is nothing you can do. It is worthwhile when searching “health issues dogs” to try and find a vet in your area or close by that will work compassionately with rabid dogs to try and see them through the illness if possible.
When Your Dog Has Been Bitten: Take Precautions
If you think that your dog has been bitten by a raccoon, squirrel, fox, or any other animal that is known to carry the rabies virus in your area, you should immediately take your dog to an animal hospital. Not only will they be able to give your dog fluids, treatment, and watch out for signs of things going wrong, but they may also be able to potentially vaccinate your dog again against another infection. This can be extremely important if your dog was never vaccinated in the first place and is much more helpful that Googling “health issues dogs” when something goes wrong with your pooch.
Depending on the severity of the bite and whether your dog is showing signs of infection, the veterinarian on staff may want to keep your dog overnight or for multiple days. This isn’t because they want your dog around taking up precious medical space, but because there may be a delayed infection that may come about which might cause complications for your dog and require emergency treatment. A pet parent always hopes that emergency surgery or other invasive procedures don’t have to be done to their dog, but this information is always best left to the experts.
While it may be tempting to fret about finances or pet insurance (if you have it), this is one of those times that may simply be out of your control in terms of finances. Make your case as best as you can to the veterinarian to see if they will put you on a payment plan or make some sort of special exception, but remember that there is only so much you can do. Also never forget that just like you can search “health issues dogs” in order to find terms related to the health of your pooch, you can also search “financial assistance dogs” in order to find organizations, campaigns, or friendly pet parents that may want to assist you in your time of need.
If Your Dog Succumbs To Rabies: Don’t Despair, Learn
If you’ve been put in the unfortunate situation that your dog, through no fault of your own (or perhaps many precautions) encountered an animal that had rabies and has succumbed to it, remember that it’s not your fault. Illnesses, especially viruses and the hosts they infect, are a part of nature and will spread regardless of how much effort we put into combating them. Your dog did not mean to get infected, the same as the animal that bit your dog did not intentionally bite them to cause you harm or despair. Animals run on instinct that can be highly irrational, especially when rabies is added to the mix.
While this is a sad occasion, don’t let it deter you from planning the optimal funeral for your dog. Ask your vet or local health expert what precautions you should have in case you are planning on handling your dog in any way or saying final goodbyes. The rabies virus may no longer have a host to infect, but it is well known that rabies can jump to humans and infect us as well. It may be a good idea to wear gloves, use hand sanitizer, or take other precautions in order to say goodbye to your dog properly.
There’s also no shame in going to therapy or grief counseling to discuss your dog no longer being with you. In the same way that you might search “health issues dogs” on the internet to find out what’s wrong with your beloved pooch, you should have no trouble searching “mental health issues people” and finding out if going to a counselor would benefit you. Since many people view their dogs like surrogate children, this can weigh heavily on anyone’s mind and should be addressed sooner rather than later.
