Does my dog have rabies?

Question

My peekingnese has been acting funny for a few weeks... He is snapping at the air, scratching alot, atacking his own foot and his rear end. He walks around like he is lost alot, and he cries alot too. He has gotten to where he whines about everything like he isnt getting any attention. This evening he tried to atack me for no reason. I am really worried about him.. does my dog have rabies?

he has been snapping at the air for about 6 months.. the tantrums just started, and him viciously biting himself just started too

he had a rabies shot like a few weeks ago but if he already had the virus i dont know if the shot did any good

I am really worried.. that dog is like family and he is such a little guy.. his shots are always up to date

he is always on a leash when out side, and we took him to the vet last week for fleas and we told the vet about him snapping at the air and he checked his eyes and the color of his eyes is starting to cover his cornea.. maybe it is just driving him insane? he is well trained

I did take him to the vet last week.. he just said he has fleas.. duh and the color of his eye was covering his cornea of his eye.. it was unlike anything he had ever seen/

Answer 1

Wow, that's weird. I'd take him to the vet and see what's up.

You can't be sure if he has rabies or not, because the dog has to be dead.

It may just be some behavioral problems.

Answer 2

sounds like your dog is hyper sensitive to something, it does not sound like rabies tho. If you dog has rabies, the virus can incubate anywhere from 10 days to 1 year. How old is your peekingnese? If he is really old, it could be blindness, cataracts? dogs will act more sensitive when they can not see as well - out of protection and would also explain the snapping. If you think it's really serious - take him to a vet that will monitor your dog over night and get some blood work done, that would be the most accurate way and best way to getting an answer as to why your dog is behaving this way.

Hope everything works out.

Answer 3

Highly unlikely. The incidence of rabies in domestic pets is very small. And a rabid dog would not live for 6 months.

It sounds to me like your dog is having an allergic reaction to something. The scratching, the snapping in the air, the whining...it sounds like the dog is uncomfortable.

I certainly suggest a trip to your vet (since you are so worried, what is taken you to long?) and try and get to the root of the problem.

Answer 4

Not very likely unless it has been in contact with a rabid animal and has not been properly vaccinated (illegal to not do so in all states of the USA and most countries) - it is more likely the dog either has a temperament issue or a health issue leading to the temperament issue or it is poorly trained. Have you considered taking him to the vet and having him properly checked out. It could be that he has a brain tumor or thyroid problems or any number of potentially deadly illnesses... (or some fairly benign issues as well) but rabies is unlikely unless you have neglected being responsible and getting him vaccinated.

Answer 5

If he has been doing this for six months it is not rabies.

What it sounds a lot like is either worms, chemical poisoning, or some kind of intestial parasite.

If you have been buying your dog food for him from one of the big box chain stores where 99.99999% of every thing comes from China. You might want to consider telling your VET. what food you've been feeding him.

You also try changing his dog food for a good brand from your local pet shop.

We've already had one case this past year of dog and cat food be contaminated on a national scale. Considering the number of cases of human food being contaminted so far this year on top of that. it might be a good place to start with the help of your VET.

And don't forget about all the toys being recalled because of lead poisoning.

Answer 6

I do not think it is rabies but check with your vet. It might be that you unknownly brought your dog from a bad puppy farm. These place overbreed the dogs and are know to inbreed the dogs that cause mental and genetic problems. The dogs live in small cage most their time and the cages are stack up on top of keep other. I hope that this not the case in with your dog. Good luck

Answer 7

I'm really worried also for you not only your dog. A lot of vets make home service so you should call one immediately but only the conclusive test is if he has negri bodies in the brain (but he has to die first to get to that). Anyway, never let him out a collar, if you put him in a cage that will affect his temperament but at least you are ptrotected. Stay away from his saliva and get a rabies vaccine if you are bitten. Dogs sometimes salivate a lot, but that is the latter part of rabies.

Answer 8

OK, change my entire answer.

If he's been acting like this for 6 months I think it's safe to say it's not rabies.

Snapping at the air is commonly known as fly snapping. It has been observed in epileptic dogs, so that's something to look into (see article below).

I'd actually suggest you go to see a veterinary behaviorist. It seems like he has some brain issues that are related to behavioral issues. I think a specialist might be able to help you at this point.

Good luck!

Answer 9

OH NO IT"S CUJO (in mini form) I don't think so, my dog did this after she ran into the glass door (pomeranian), She was distressed. Pay attention, if nothing else talk to him if your afraid of being bitten. Check if his eyes are good. Maybe he's going blind. GO TO THE VET.

Answer 10

the biting at air is a seizure, as are some of the other things - he needs a good nurological work up. for starters - get him to the vet immediatley. this is not going to get better. why on earth has he not already been there.

none of this is good