Rabies in Dogs

Rabies is one of the best-known and most serious viral infections a dog can contract. The disease attacks the nervous system and, once clear symptoms appear, is almost always fatal. At the same time, rabies has become rare in the Netherlands thanks to mandatory vaccination for travel and strict import rules. On this page you can read what rabies is, which dogs face a higher risk, how to recognise the signs, and why prevention matters more here than for almost any other canine condition.

Important to know first

Important to know first: Fidello is not a veterinarian. This page is meant to inform you and does not provide a diagnosis. Are you unsure about your dog's health, or do you recognise the signs described below? Always contact a veterinarian. Do you suspect your dog may have been in contact with rabies — for example through a bite from an unknown or wild animal — or does your dog show the signs described below? Go straight to a veterinarian or animal clinic: this is an emergency situation that cannot wait.

What is rabies?

Rabies is caused by the rabies virus, a lyssavirus that is transmitted through saliva, usually via a bite from an infected animal. From the site of infection, the virus travels along the nerve pathways to the brain. Depending on the location of the bite and the amount of virus involved, this journey can take anywhere from days to months, which explains why the first signs sometimes appear long after a bite incident. Once the virus reaches the brain, the characteristic neurological symptoms develop, and the disease then almost always progresses very quickly and irreversibly.

Which dogs are at risk?

Rabies is not breed-related: in theory, any breed and any age can become infected (confirmed). The real risk depends almost entirely on exposure, not on hereditary predisposition.

• Dogs that are unvaccinated or insufficiently vaccinated carry the greatest risk (confirmed).
• Dogs travelling to or coming from an area where rabies still occurs face an increased risk, especially through illegal or uncontrolled import of puppies (confirmed — a known route through which rabies occasionally re-enters otherwise rabies-free countries).
• Dogs with free access to wild animals such as foxes or bats in areas where these animals can be carriers face an increased risk (indicative for bats in Western Europe, where a related lyssavirus is occasionally found).

Symptoms of rabies

The signs of rabies usually develop in stages and can vary from dog to dog.

Early signs (the prodromal stage), often subtle and easy to miss:

• behavioural change: a normally calm dog becomes restless or nervous, or a lively dog becomes quiet and withdrawn instead;
• mild fever or general malaise;
• a changed reaction to touch at an earlier bite site, for example increased or, conversely, reduced sensitivity.

Signs that require urgent action (more advanced stage):

• marked behavioural change: unusual aggression, or paralysis-like signs instead;
• excessive drooling or difficulty swallowing;
• a changed bark, for example hoarser or different-sounding;
• sensitivity to light or heightened sensitivity to sound and touch;
• loss of coordination, paralysis (often starting in the hind legs) or seizures.

If your dog shows any of these more advanced signs, or if you know or suspect your dog has been in contact with a possibly infected animal, an immediate veterinary visit is necessary — see the emergency warning above.

When should you go straight to the vet?

Contact a veterinarian or animal clinic immediately when:

• your dog has been bitten by an unknown, wild or possibly infected animal, even if there is no visible wound;
• your dog shows any of the more advanced signs listed above;
• your dog has recently been in an area where rabies occurs and is now showing unusual behaviour;
• you or a family member has been in contact with your dog's saliva while rabies is suspected — in that case, also contact a doctor or public health authority immediately, in addition to the vet.

Don't wait in any of these situations to see if the signs 'go away on their own'. Rabies is one of the few canine conditions where acting quickly can genuinely make a difference.

How is rabies diagnosed?

Diagnosing rabies in a living dog is difficult: there is no simple test that provides full certainty during life. A veterinarian assesses the history — possible exposure, vaccination status, travel history — together with the visible symptoms. When there is a concrete suspicion, a period of isolation and observation usually follows, in consultation with the relevant public health authorities. Full laboratory confirmation is only possible through specialised examination of brain tissue, which can only be carried out post-mortem.

Treatment in outline

There is no treatment that can cure rabies once clinical symptoms have started. Care at that stage focuses mainly on protecting the dog itself, other animals and people, in close consultation between the veterinarian and the relevant authorities — the exact approach is determined case by case and country by country by them, not by this page. Precisely because there are few to no treatment options once symptoms have broken out, the emphasis with rabies lies entirely on prevention before exposure.

What you can do yourself

You can mainly contribute through prevention and a fast, correct response to a possible incident:

• keep your dog's vaccinations up to date, in consultation with your veterinarian, especially before travelling abroad;
• make sure you have the correct travel and vaccination documents, and check the specific requirements of both your destination and the country you are travelling from;
• avoid contact between your dog and wild animals, especially in areas where rabies or a related virus occurs;
• never buy a puppy through unclear, illegal or uncontrolled import — this is a known route through which rabies can occasionally re-enter an otherwise rabies-free country;
• if a bite occurs, first wash the wound thoroughly with water and soap, then seek both veterinary help and, if a person has been bitten, medical help.

These are supportive, practical measures — not a substitute for veterinary or medical care.

Prevention: vaccination and responsible travel

Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent rabies, and in practice it is also required when travelling with your dog to many countries outside the Netherlands. Discuss with your veterinarian which vaccination schedule and which travel timelines apply. The Netherlands has held the official status of being 'free of rabies in terrestrial animals' for decades, but this status remains dependent on consistent vaccination for travel and on tackling illegal dog imports.

Frequently asked questions

Does rabies still occur in the Netherlands?
Classic rabies in terrestrial animals no longer occurs in the Netherlands; the risk lies almost entirely in travelling abroad or illegal dog imports (confirmed).

Can a vaccinated dog still get rabies?
Vaccination is highly effective, but it does not offer an absolute guarantee in every conceivable situation. After a bite incident, consultation with a veterinarian remains necessary, even for a vaccinated dog.

Is rabies dangerous for humans?
Yes, rabies is a zoonosis: the virus can be transmitted to humans as well, for example through a bite or scratch involving saliva. If in doubt, always seek both veterinary and medical help.

Is rabies always fatal?
Once clinical symptoms appear, the disease is almost always fatal. This is exactly why prevention through vaccination weighs so heavily here.

In conclusion

Rabies is rare in the Netherlands, but precisely because the disease almost always proves fatal after symptoms break out and can be transmitted to humans, the topic deserves serious attention — especially around travel, import and vaccination. Knowing the signs and acting quickly if you suspect something contributes directly to the safety of your dog and the people around you.

Finally

Finally: this article does not replace a visit to the veterinarian. Fidello does not provide diagnoses or prescribe treatments. If in doubt, or in case of persistent complaints or acute signs, a veterinarian is always the right next step.