Imagine being bitten by an animal–-maybe a cat or a dog. At the moment, it might seem minor, perhaps even forgettable. But now, months or even years later, something feels off as strange symptoms are suddenly appearing. Could rabies really wait this long to strike?
According to Swinkels H.M. et al. (2025), rabies infection typically begins with symptoms that resemble any fever-causing virus, accompanied by nonspecific neurological signs. Once symptoms appear, the infection is nearly always fatal. Meaning to say, rabies is a deadly disease that can quickly spread among all mammals including our beloved pets, farm animals and strays. Unfortunately, even humans cannot escape this. One bite is all it takes.
The Philippines is one of the countries where rabies is considered a public health concern. 354 cases of rabies in the Philippines were recorded last January - September 2024, which according to the Department of Health (DOH), all rabid victims died. The latest update of rabies cases as of January to May 2025, is a whopping 124.
If you get bitten by a rabid animal, the rabies virus targets your central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord. The average incubation period or the time of exposure to rabies until the development of symptoms is between 20 to 90 days. However, documented cases have shown this period can be as short as 4 days or extend beyond 6 years in rare instances. How fast the virus travels will depend on how close the bite is to the brain, such as the neck and the face. As soon as the virus reaches the brain, it begins spreading to other nerve cells, gradually damaging various parts of the body. This process eventually leads to noticeable symptoms. At this stage, no medicine or treatment can help. You have 18 hours left.
However, if you're lucky and the virus hasn't reached your brain yet, timely treatment with vaccines and immunoglobulins can be life-saving. But if not immediately treated, rabies can lead to a tragic end. Symptoms are horrifying, and the worst part is, there’s nothing that the victim can do to escape death.
The Three Stages of Rabies Infection:
First: Incubation Period - Victim doesn’t feel anything because the virus hasn’t reached the brain yet. This period typically lasts 1-3 months.
Second: Prodromal Stage - Victim suffers from an ordinary fever. The victim starts to feel drowsy, may vomit and get headaches. The bite wound will also feel a tingling sensation called paresthesia.
Third: Acute Neurological Phase - This is the last stage of rabies. The victim exhibits horrible symptoms such as aerophobia or the fear of fresh air, and hydrophobia or the fear of water. Painful contractions of the pharyngeal muscles occur when the victim attempts to drink water. Even the sight of water can trigger a choking sensation. This is often accompanied by a reflexive contraction or soreness in the throat, as if the victim is being strangled.
As the paralysis progresses, it extends to the chest muscles, affecting breathing, and causes uncontrollable drooling, which indicates paralysis of the muscles involved in swallowing. This is why most rabies victims usually die from respiratory paralysis.
At Pet Friendly's we always say, prevention is better than cure! So look out for these signs that show if an animal has rabies:
- Disorientation or confusion
- Excessive drooling or foaming at the mouth
- Sensitivity to light, touch, and sound
- Paralysis or lethargy
- Behavioral Changes (ex: Sudden aggression or unusual friendliness)
The animal that bit or scratched the victim should also be observed. If the animal dies within two weeks, there is a high chance that it has rabies.
If this happens to you, make sure to immediately wash out any bites or scratches under running water with soap. It is particularly important to seek medical attention.
Fortunately, some hospitals and barangay clinics offer free anti-rabies shots for humans, including the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa, San Lazaro Hospital in Manila, and the Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center in Marikina. Just bring an ID that indicates you are a resident of the barangay or city. Moreover, PhilHealth provides coverage for an animal bite treatment package when victims receive the vaccine at private hospitals. Make sure to complete the doctor's recommended doses of anti-rabies shots.
Our final piece of advice is to have your pet vaccinated against rabies—not only to protect its life but also to help prevent the spread of the virus to others. If you are wondering if there are free vaccines for dogs and cats, good news–many municipalities offer free anti-rabies vaccinations for pets as part of their animal welfare programs. You just need to register your pet and check the schedule of vaccination events. While some veterinary clinics or private organizations also offer free or discounted vaccinations such as the BF Paw and Claw Veterinary Clinic (BF Parañaque), Blessed Vet Clinic (Quezon City), Biyaya Animal Care (partnered with municipal/local government), Pawspital Animal Clinic (Balanga Bataan), CARA Welfare (Mandaluyong), and the likes. So, stay updated by following their official social media pages. Again, prevention is better than cure—because rabies, once it reaches the brain, has no cure.
REFERENCES:
Rabies in Cats: Guide to Prevention & Treatment
Rabies Symptoms and Stages of Infection
Rabies - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf
DOH: Region III logged the most rabies cases in 2025 as of May 17 | GMA News Online
Incumbents push rabies control advocacy amid vaccine shortage
DOH: 354 rabies cases sa bansa, namatay lahat! | Philstar.com
