Rabies in dogs

By
✔ MRCVS
BVMS
Reviewed by Dr. Deborah Brown
✔ MRCVS
BSc
BVM&S
FHEA
Updated October 16, 2025
4 min read

Overview

Symptoms

Risk

Diagnosis

Treatment

Prevention

When to worry

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Rabies in dogs

By
✔ MRCVS
BVMS
Reviewed by Dr. Deborah Brown
✔ MRCVS
BSc
BVM&S
FHEA
Updated October 16, 2025
4 min read

Rabies is a very serious, almost always fatal, viral disease that affects the nervous system. It affects all mammals, including dogs, cats, ferrets, and humans. It spreads through the saliva of infected animals, and there is no cure.

Rabies is one of the world’s deadliest zoonotic diseases. Zoonotic means that it transfers from animals to humans. The UK has been determined to be rabies-free since the early 20th century under international guidelines.

What causes rabies in dogs? >What causes rabies in dogs? [Overview

Symptoms of rabies in dogs >Symptoms of rabies in dogs [Symptoms

Are some dogs more at risk of rabies than others? >Are some dogs more at risk of rabies than others? [Risk

How is rabies diagnosed in dogs? >How is rabies diagnosed in dogs? [Diagnosis

What’s the treatment for rabies in dogs? >What’s the treatment for rabies in dogs? [Treatment

Tips on how to prevent rabies in dogs >Tips on how to prevent rabies in dogs [Prevention

When to worry about rabies in dogs? >When to worry about rabies in dogs? [When to worry

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