Once the rabies virus enters the body, it travels along the nerves to the brain. Animals with rabies may show various signs:
- Fear
- Assault
- Excessive drooling,
- Difficulty swallowing
- Staging
- Paralysis
- Seizures
Aggressive behavior is common, but rabid animals can also be unusually affectionate. Horses and cattle with rabies may also exhibit depression, self-harm, or increased sensitivity to light. Rabid wild animals may lose their natural fear of humans and display unusual behavior. For example, an animal that is usually only seen at night may be seen wandering around during the day.
Although the most common signs of rabies are behavioral changes and unexplained paralysis, rabies should be considered in all cases of unexplained neurological illness. There is no treatment once clinical signs of rabies appear.
Rabies infection in an animal can only be confirmed after death, by microscopic examination of the animal’s brain.