The rabies virus grows in muscle tissue and symptoms may not be present for several months. Within one to three months the virus moves into the central nervous system, affecting the brain and spinal cord. Rabies spreads rapidly at this point and a dog begins to show signs of the disease. When a dog begins to show symptoms, there are three rapid phases of the disease that will end the dog's life within 12 days.
-
Prodromal Phase
-
Phase one of the rabies virus is generally mild, with subtle changes in behavior that may last up to three days. A dog showing the first signs of rabies may exhibit a change in his tone of bark, gnaw on the bite site, run a fever and lose its appetite.
Furious Phase
-
This second phase lasts up to four days and does not affect all rabid dogs. A dog in the second phase of rabies may show some or all of the following symptoms, according to HealthCommunities.com: eating anything, even inedible objects; constant growling and barking; dilated pupils; disorientation; erratic behavior; episodes of aggression; a facial expression of anxiety or hyper-alertness; irritability; showing no fear; restlessness; seizures; trembling; and muscle incoordination.
Paralytic Phase
-
This final phase lasts up to four days and includes a dropping of the lower jaw, inability to swallow that leads to choking and foaming of the mouth and paralysis of the jaw and throat. The final phase ends with coma followed by death.
-