- Dr. Mark Fealey
- May 30, 2025
- 6 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Rabies is every pet owner’s worst nightmare. Although rabies in dogs is no longer a very common problem, it can still happen, especially in dogs who are unvaccinated. But how would you know if your dog—or another dog you come into contact with—has rabies? Are there any early warning signs you can look for?
Most people associate rabies with foaming at the mouth. But there are more signs to watch out for. In the article below, we'll cover:
What is rabies
How rabies is transmitted
Stages of rabies in dogs / signs and symptoms of rabies in dogs
How to help prevent rabies in dogs
What is rabies?
Rabies is a deadly virus that affects the central nervous system of mammals. This virus affects dogs, cats, people, wildlife, and other mammals.
Since both pets and humans can be infected with rabies, it’s important to learn about how the disease is contracted, the warning signs of rabies, and how to protect your pet from infection.
Be on the lookout for signs of rabies if your dog was in contact with a wild or unvaccinated animal. Remember, VEG is open 24/7 for vet advice.
How rabies is transmitted
Rabies is secreted from the saliva of infected animals, and can be contracted through saliva, bites, and scratches. Rabies is transmitted through direct contact from saliva or infected tissue to open areas of skin or mucus membranes. For example, if a rabid animal bites your pet and the skin breaks, the virus enters your pet’s blood stream from the saliva of the rabid animal.
Humans primarily contract rabies from a bite from a rabid dog, though it can come from other rabid animals. If you're wondering if humans can pass rabies to other humans through touch, to date, there are no human-to-human rabies transmissions from direct contact on record.
This risk of rabies infection is especially high in wild animals or pets whose vaccination status is unknown. If your pet was recently bitten, especially by a wild animal or an animal you do not know, see your primary care vet immediately to rule out rabies.
If your pet has developed signs of rabies, call VEG ER for Pets asap for advice. See the signs below so you can identify rabies quickly. There is no known cure for rabies, but identifying an infected dog is crucial to avoiding the spread of rabies.
Signs and symptoms of rabies in dogs
The signs and symptoms of rabies happens in stages:
Prodromal
Excitation aka furious rabies
Paralytic
Listed below are the signs of dog rabies that pet owners should look out for. You can refer to this list to help you determine when your dog or a stray may become a risk to you or your family.
Prodromal: early signs of rabies
Rabies is caused by a virus. So, some of the earliest signs of being infected with rabies can resemble other viruses. Your pet may develop:
Behavioral changes
Chewing or licking site of bite
Staggering gait
If your pet is showing any of these symptoms, it’s important not to assume your pet is sick with something minor, especially if they have not been vaccinated for rabies recently.
Staggering gait in dogs: what you should know
A staggering gait is often one of the first signs associated with rabies in dogs. It is possible that this symptom could be mistaken for other health problems, however, so pay close attention to your dog if he suddenly develops a wobble.
It is possible that a staggering gait could be related to many other health problems but if your pet has been unsupervised and around unvaccinated animals, both domestic and non-domestic, ruling out rabies should be considered.
Excitation stage: signs of rabies
If your normally chill dog becomes restless, overly excited, or shows aggression after a possible encounter with a rabid animal, act fast and get a diagnosis immediately.
Excessive dog drooling: what you should know
Excessive drooling as a symptom on its own may not always be related to rabies. However, excessive drooling along with other symptoms on this list—or excessive drooling that produces extreme volumes of saliva—is likely to be a sign of rabies.
If your dog is drooling excessively, no matter what the cause, they need to be seen by an emergency vet right away.
Paralytic stage: signs of rabies
Difficulty in swallowing worsens
Paralysis
Weakness
Eventually, a dog in the late stage of rabies will become unresponsive, fall into to coma, then eventually pass away. Seizure is a possible sign dogs will display prior to dying from rabies.
Avoidance of water or difficulty swallowing: what you should know
An avoidance of water occurs when dogs are infected with rabies. Dogs may seem almost afraid of water and unwilling to drink at all. This is because the condition causes paralysis of the throat muscles and makes it difficult or unable for dogs to swallow.
An avoidance of water is a clear sign of rabies. Any dog that is unwilling or unable to drink water along with other symptoms on this list absolutely must be tested for rabies immediately. If your dog is unwilling to drink water and shows no other signs on this list, he should still be tested, but may have another condition instead.
Seizures: what you should know
Like many of the symptoms on this list, seizures on their own are not necessarily indicative of rabies. However, seizures along with other symptoms listed here, or seizures that occur in any dog who isn’t vaccinated against rabies, should always be a cause for concern.
Take your dog to the emergency vet at your nearest VEG ER for Pets if he is experiencing new or worsening seizures, or if he has seizures and is not vaccinated for rabies. The emergency vet will perform bloodwork and other tests, and will be able to rule out other causes of seizures, depending on your dog’s situation.
Paralysis: what you should know
Paralysis is a late-stage rabies symptom that, when coupled with other symptoms on this list, is a sign consistent with rabies. As the disease progresses, it causes progressive muscle paralysis. Typically, this paralysis begins with the throat, but it will eventually extend to the whole body.
Paralysis is a severe symptom regardless of the underlying cause. However, in dogs who are not vaccinated for rabies, it is a very concerning sign and should never be taken lightly. Go to the emergency vet right away if your dog is showing signs of paralysis.
Behavioral changes: what you should know
One of the most well-known symptoms of rabies is also one of the most common. Any behavioral change in a dog who has been exposed to rabies should be treated as a symptom. If your dog has been exposed to rabies and suddenly becomes aggressive, fearful, or even overly clingy, go to the emergency vet for diagnosis and further recommendations.
Behavioral changes in a dog with rabies can be very dangerous. These changes can cause your dog to become aggressive and try to bite. If the dog has rabies and bites another animal or a human, the rabies infection can be very easily transmitted from the infected dog to the target.
Rabies prevention for dogs
Rabies is a progressive disease meaning your pet’s health will worsen over time. You may not notice any changes right after a rabies exposure. Since rabies can incubate for 21-80 days it can be weeks after your pet is infected before symptoms develop.
Because you can’t be certain every dog is vaccinated, and because your pet can come in contact with wild animals, the best protection is to ensure your dog receives yearly rabies shot.
Rabies is 100% fatal but the good news is, it's 100% preventable with the vaccine.
When your puppy reaches 14 weeks old, or as soon as your dog is home, your vet can administer the first rabies shot followed by another vaccination in 1 year, and every 1-3 years for their lifetime. This shot schedule can keep you, your dog, and the animals around you, safe from rabies.
What to do if you think your dog has rabies
If your pet is showing symptoms of rabies, call or bring them in to VEG immediately. sooner you respond to rabies exposure, the less likely you will be to contract the disease yourself.
The sad reality is that the vast majority of dogs who are found to have rabies will need to be euthanized right away to prevent the spread of this extremely dangerous disease.
For more information, contact VEG by calling one of our locations. When a dog succumbs to rabies, it is devastating to the whole family. Please read our blog about coping with grief after the loss of a dog.
