Treatment of Rabies

[badhorsey]

Apologies in advance if this is a morbid question; it's needed for a script that I'm working on.

What would the situation be if a vet discovered an dog with Rabies in the UK? Would the average vet be equipped to deal with it or would a specialist be called in? In the situation that I'm describing, the animal would be tethered.

Many thanks...

[Davethedog]

It would be put down. NO ifs no buts.

[redman41]

Dog would have to be sedated and put down I would have thought before he bit someone.

[lankeela]

They put it to sleep then remove the head which is taken for testing.

[badhorsey]

Thanks, this is what I thought. How would this be done - I would imagine that sedating a rabid animal would be a risky thing?

[redman41]

You shoot the Dog with a Dart from a special Gun from a distance.

[carmalee]

not sure what would happen in this country but can state very categorically that overseas, if an animal is suspected of carrying rabies it is shot but not in the head, the head is then removed and sent away for analysis. Handling is only advised after the animal is dead and then only with protective gear. As a matter of interest there are two types of rabies, dumb and furious - the first is recognised by a (usually) wild mammal behaving in a unnatural way i.e approaching humans as well as the more widly know type where the animal eventually displays stereotypical behaviour associated with the disease.

[carmalee]

widly known - sorry, typo

[carmalee]

gremlin in the computer - I do know how to spell widely!

[badhorsey]

Folks - thank you all for your utterly, utterly invaluable help.

To add a bit more - I had the opportunity to speak to a vet who informed me that vets who commonly deal with large animals in the countryside will have a locked box in their car or van, which contains either a one-shot pistol or a captive bolt gun for emergency euthanasia.