Rabies in Dogs
In dogs the first symptom of rabies may be a change in behaviour.The animal may become restless, 
somewhat nervous, and excitable. This condition may subside, to reappear within a short time. The dog’s disposition may change; a friendly dog may become irritable and snappy, whereas an ordinarily less amiable animal may become friendly. Later the animal may have a tendency to wander, and may disappear for a day or two, returning exhausted and considerably emaciated. The dog may seek dark corners and hide. At times characteristic change in the bark, or “change in voice,” is noted, which might best be described as a different tone.
Later the animal develops partial paralysis, staggers, and has difficulty in drinking, although it may make efforts to lap water. It staggers around until complete paralysis sets in and the symptoms finally terminate in death. Since the virus attacks the brain and spinal cord and sets up degenerative changes, the various symptoms noted-excitability, convulsions, and paralysis-can are correlated with changes in the central nervous system. The inability to swallow results from paralysis of the muscles of the throat.
Although the term “hydrophobia” means fear of water, its application to the disease in dogs appears to be a misnomer, since affected dogs show no fear of water. The use of the term probably has its origin in the fact that dogs and human beings affected with the disease have been observed to develop convulsions through their unsuccessful efforts to drink. Even the mere thought of drinking on the part of human beings has been responsible for convulsions, Anda dread of water or drinking becomes established in many patients.
In the furious form of the disease, the animal is aggressive, will snap at various objects that are placed before it, and will attack dogs, people, or any object. When confined in a cage, it may attack the bars with such vigor that it may break some of its teeth.
In this form of the disease, the dog’s tendency to roam, its restlessness, and its inclination to bite, particularly anything moving, lead to the dissemination of the disease over a wide area. It should be remembered that rabies may manifest itself in a number of forms and that the symptoms described are those of a typical case. Many animals affected with rabies do not exhibit these symptoms. The symptoms may be more or less masked and perhaps be manifested eventually only by paralysis.
In the dumb form of rabies, paralytic symptoms are the outstanding feature. The dog is not vicious, has no tendency to biter roam, and is not excitable; in fact, it may be the opposite. The outstanding clinical feature of so-called dumb rabies is paralysis of the lower jaw, or “dropped jaw.” The animal’s mouth stays open from about an inch to 3 or 4 inches. It can be closed with the hands, but the dog has lost the power to close its own jaw. Many times thesis mistakenly thought to be due to a bone in the throat, and many persons have exposed themselves to the virus of rabies by examining the mouth and throat for the presence of a bone. Usually a dog withal bone stuck in its mouth or throat will continually make efforts with its paws or otherwise to remove the object, whereas in dumb rabies the animal makes no motion about the head with its paws. An animal with a dropped jaw should be viewed with suspicion, and no examination should be made of the throat; such an animal should be taken immediately to a veterinarian for a diagnosis.
In addition to the dropped jaw, in the dumb form of rabies the animal shows evidence of paralysis of the hindquarters and forequarters within a few days. It eventually becomes completely paralyzed and dies.
The course of the disease in both the furious and the dumb forms is usually short, the animal dying within 3 to 7 days.