Rabies?...stray dog

[mammabooh]

There is a dog that we've seen here a few times within the last few days. It is a big, ugly yellow male dog. I called the neighbor (who has lived at his place for 12 years and knows all the neighbors) on Saturday to see if he knew who it belonged to, but he didn't. He just said he's seen it hanging around for a little while. His suggestion was to call the dog catcher, since neither of us want stray dogs hanging around bothering our pets and critters. I was planning to go to town that day, so I said I would just load it up in the truck and take it to the pound. However, Hubby didn't want me to...thought it was mean to take what might be "someone's doggie" to the pound. So, I didn't take it.

However, now I think it might have rabies. Its back legs tremble and the dog acts like he doesn't have good control over them. It doesn't look like he was hit by a car...it just looks like his muscles don't work right. He has a very alert, concerned look on his face too...I suppose it could just be that he's leery and wants to be friendly, but I'm not sure. Whatever the answer is, I don't want someone else's dogs running around here.

Anyone have any other symptoms to look for if it is rabies? If he is rabid, I really don't want to try to get him loaded into the truck, but I also don't want the dog catcher out here nosing around. The only gun I have is an air rifle, and the only trap I have is raccoon-sized...this dog is huge (and did I mention UGLY?).

[Bearfootfarm]

http://www.peteducation.com/article....2+1556&aid=347

Prodromal phase

The first is the prodromal phase and usually lasts for 2-3 days in dogs. Apprehension, nervousness, anxiety, solitude, and a fever may be noted. Friendly animals may become shy or irritable and may snap, whereas, aggressive animals may become affectionate and docile. Most animals will constantly lick the site of the bite. In cats, the prodromal phase lasts for only 1-2 days and they usually develop more fever spikes and erratic behavior than dogs.

Furious phase

From the prodromal phase, animals may enter the furious stage; cats are particularly prone to developing this phase. The furious stage of the disease in dogs usually lasts for 1 to 7 days. Animals become restless and irritable and are hyperresponsive to auditory and visual stimuli. As they become more restless, they begin to roam and become more irritable and vicious. When caged, dogs may bite and attack their enclosures. Animals progress to become disoriented and then have seizures and eventually die.

Paralytic (dumb) phase

Animals may develop the paralytic phase either after the prodromal or furious stage. The paralytic phase usually develops within 2 to 4 days after the first signs are noted. Nerves affecting the head and throat are the first to be involved and animals may begin to salivate as a result of their inability to swallow. Deep labored breathing and a dropped jaw may result as the diaphragm and face muscles become increasingly paralyzed. Animals may make a choking sound and many owners think that there is something lodged in the dog’s throat. This was the case with both dogs I was exposed to (as mentioned earlier) and the owners were also exposed as they had been looking in the dog’s mouth for a foreign object. The animal will get weaker and eventually go into respiratory failure and die.

[mammabooh]

Thanks for the link, Bearfoot!

[ceresone]

From what I've seen of rabies, this dog is just starving.

[mammabooh]

Originally Posted by ceresone

From what I've seen of rabies, this dog is just starving.

Aww, now don't tell me that!

[THETOOLMAN]

I have heard of people using the three S's on stray or sick dogs & cats.
#1 - shoot
#2 - shovel
#3 - shut up
problem solved.

[mammabooh]

Originally Posted by THETOOLMAN

I have heard of people using the three S's on stray or sick dogs & cats.
#1 - shoot
#2 - shovel
#3 - shut up
problem solved.

Yeah, but it would take a lot of #1 to get the job done with an air rifle!

[fishhead]

I would toss some food in the back of the truck and then close the tailgate and lid behind him. Poor guy.

[Minelson]

The best thing you can do for the dog, yourself and whoever might be the owner is call the police or animal control. The owner may be looking for this dog and most people report missing dogs to the police or animal control. He may be micro-chipped. You don't know this dog, and it doesn't sound like it's friendly so be very careful until it is removed from the area.

[ceresone]

Well, I took rabies shots years ago, from treating a dog with dumb type rabies. The vet. told me there is two types, the one where they foam at the mouth, (slobbers hanging down) and the dumb type, in which the dog acts as if it has a bone caught in its throat, cant close its mouth.
I've rescued lots of dogs--I'd bet this dog is close to starving to death. I know there's a lot of people harder-hearted than I, because I could never let a animal starve, OR SSS.
Sorry folks (not really) thats just me.
And if it eats and drinks normal, its probably not rabies.

[Madame]

Originally Posted by Minelson

The best thing you can do for the dog, yourself and whoever might be the owner is call the police or animal control. The owner may be looking for this dog and most people report missing dogs to the police or animal control. He may be micro-chipped. You don't know this dog, and it doesn't sound like it's friendly so be very careful until it is removed from the area.

I agree. I'd also set out some food/water til animal control or police arrive. He could be slowly starving to death.

[Pony]

First, come on! There is no such thing as an ugly yellow dog!

Nah, I really don't think the dog is rabid. I think he is starving, and if his back legs are trembling, it's quite possible that he has sustained a spinal injury. Or his kidneys could be bad, or... lots of possibilities there, really. Rabies is not the first one that comes to my mind. I'd be more concerned with stray cats and skunks having rabies than a dog.

Is there a high incidence of canine rabies in your area?

[mammabooh]

Well, I haven't seen it at all today and there is an Amish crew working on our barn and they haven't seen it. I hope it found its way home (if it has a home).

It didn't act like it was hungry at all. We have a huge compost pile with all kinds of delicious goodies in there, and it hasn't messed around in there. I also fed our Heeler while the dog was here on Saturday, and the stray didn't attempt to take her food or act like it wanted any.

[Rita]

I can't believe you would try to load up a strange dog! That's just asking for a possible bite.

[mammabooh]

Originally Posted by Rita

I can't believe you would try to load up a strange dog! That's just asking for a possible bite.

Yeah, I'm not too bright! But a muzzle, a thick coat and thick gloves would be used.

[Maura]

Don't try to catch him yourself. Call animal control. They probably have a Have A Heart cage or something similar they will loan you. If you do manage to contain the dog in a shed or something, they have equipment they will use to snare the dog and load him, so they are protected from bites. You pay taxes for this, use it.

[Ravenlost]

The dog sounds scared to me, not rabid. Call animal control.

[Pony]

I don't think it's wrong to load up a strange dog on your own, especially if you're not too crazy about Animal Control nosing around your place.

If you are careful and exercise reasonable care, there should be no problem transporting the animal in the bed of your truck.

[DW]

our local paper offers free lost/found ads and we did do that a few months back (had calls)...no one claimed our special puppy and we are happy!

[mammabooh]

Well, I have had two of the neighbors tell me that they "think" the dog belongs to "the drunk guy" who lives on the next road south of us (how would you like to be known in the area as "the drunk guy"?).

I still haven't seen it since I posted a few days ago. Hopefully, I won't see it again.