Rabies is a disease that can affect all warm-blooded animals. While the disease is most common in wild animals such as raccoons, foxes and skunks, the disease can be easily transmitted to your dog if it bitten by an infected animal. Most states currently require all pets to be vaccinated against the disease to prevent them from contracting it should they come in contact with an infected animal. If your dog has been bitten by a rabid animal it could take weeks or even months for the disease to show signs of the typically fatal infection. If you suspect your canine companion has come in contact with a rabid animal, there are a few symptoms you can look out for.
Instructions
Look for a change in the tone of your dogs bark, a fever, loss of appetite or chewing at the bite site right after your dog has been exposed to a rabid animal. The early stage of rabies typically lasts two to three days and is fairly mild. Symptoms will make your dog seem slightly under the weather, or in a weird mood. If you suspect your pet has rabies, keep it isolated from other people and pets and take it to the vet immediately to be tested.
Look for your dog to enter the "furious phase" of rabies. Dogs experiencing the furious phase will often attack things (including inanimate objects) without warning. Dogs in the furious stage may also experience a desire to eat everything around them (including things like furniture or other inedible objects) and will often have dilated pupils, trembling, irritability or restlessness. If your dog has entered the furious phase while in your care, you should contact animal control or another agency to come assist you in removing the dog from your home or property. Dogs that have entered the furious phase are disoriented and will often attack those they care about with no warning.
Look for your dog to have paralysis of the jaw, the appearance of choking and the inability to swallow causing the characteristic rabid "foaming at the mouth" during the final stages of rabies. In the final stage of rabies animals that are not put down will eventually be overtaken by paralysis, go into a coma and then eventually die. If your dog appears to have entered this stage of rabies, call animal control or other professional assistance in removing the dog from your property. A rabid dog even in this stage can easily pass on rabies to others. Keep the dog isolated and call for help.