Dog Bites, Rabies, and Reality: Lets Understand This From a Doctors Perspective

The Supreme Court of India’s recent decision to remove all stray dogs from Delhi—prompted by a few reported incidents of dog bites—has sparked a heated debate. While some citizens see this as a safety measure, many others, including public health experts, veterinarians, and doctors, are questioning whether this is the right approach. From a medical perspective, the key question is: Does every dog bite cause rabies, and are all dog bites fatal?

Understanding the Medical Facts

Rabies is a viral disease caused by the Rabies virus (genus Lyssavirus), transmitted primarily through the saliva of infected animals via bites, scratches, or licking of broken skin. While rabies is indeed a fatal disease once symptoms appear, it is important to note:

Not all dogs carry rabies.
Not all dog bites transmit rabies.
Rabies is 100% preventable if managed promptly and correctly.

The fear that every bite equals a death sentence is scientifically inaccurate and can lead to unnecessary cruelty toward animals.

Pathology :

Once the rabies virus enters the body, it travels along peripheral nerves toward the central nervous system (CNS). The incubation period typically ranges from 1 to 3 months, but can be as short as a week or as long as a year, depending on:

Location of the bite (closer to the brain = shorter incubation).
Severity of the wound.
Viral load.
Host immunity.

After reaching the CNS, the virus causes inflammation in the brain (encephalitis), leading to:

Furious : agitation, hydrophobia, hypersalivation, hallucinations.
Paralytic: flaccid paralysis, often misdiagnosed as Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Once symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatal.

Investigations

Diagnosis is largely clinical, especially in suspected exposure cases. Laboratory confirmation is difficult in the early stages but may involve:

Saliva testing for viral RNA via RT-PCR.
Skin biopsy from the nape of the neck (looking for viral antigen).
Serology for rabies antibodies.

In the case of dog bites, investigations focus more on risk assessment:

Was the dog vaccinated?
Was the bite provoked?
Is the dog showing abnormal behavior?

Treatment After a Dog Bite

1. First Aid (Immediate Action)

Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes.
Apply an antiseptic (povidone-iodine or alcohol).

2. Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)

PEP must be started as soon as possible after a bite:

Vaccine: Intramuscular or intradermal regimen, given on days 0, 3, 7, and 14 (sometimes day 28).
Immunoglobulin (RIG): For Category III exposures (deep bites, multiple wounds, bites on face/neck, or mucosal exposure).
- Infiltrate as much as possible into and around the wound; remainder given intramuscularly at a site distant from the vaccine injection.

3. Tetanus Prophylaxis

Administer Tetanus Toxoid if not up-to-date.

Prevention Is Better Than Panic

The answer to dog bite–related rabies is not mass removal or killing of dogs, but a public health–based approach:

Mass Vaccination of Dogs
- WHO recommends vaccinating at least 70% of the dog population to break the rabies transmission cycle.
Sterilization & Population Control
- Animal Birth Control (ABC) programs help manage stray dog populations humanely.
Public Awareness
- Educating communities about responsible feeding, safe interaction with dogs, and first aid after bites.
Monitoring & Quarantine
- Any dog involved in a bite should be observed for 10 days. If it remains healthy, rabies transmission is unlikely.

Ethical and Scientific Perspective

From a doctor’s point of view, removing all stray dogs is akin to removing all humans from a city after a few crimes are reported—it’s a sweeping generalization that ignores science, ethics, and sustainable solutions.

Rabies control in India has been successfully demonstrated in states and countries that combined vaccination campaigns, sterilization drives, and public education without eradicating the canine population.

Conclusion

Not all dog bites cause rabies.
Not all rabies exposures are fatal—if treated on time.
Scientific evidence strongly favors prevention, vaccination, and humane control measures over culling or mass removal.

The fight against rabies is best won with syringes, not eviction orders—through vaccination, awareness, and compassion, rather than fear-driven eradication.

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