The first is the prodromal phase and usually last for 2-3 days. Apprehension, nervousness, anxiety, solitude and a fever may be noted. Friendly animals may become shy or irritable and may snap, whereas aggressive animals may become affectionate and docile. Most animals will constantly lick the site of inoculation. The furious stage of the disease dogs usually last for 1 to 7 days.
Animals become restless and irritable and are hyperresponsive to auditory and visual stimuli.
As they become more restless they begin to roam and become more irritable and vicious. When caged the dog may bite and attack its enclosure. They progress to become disoriented and then have seizures and eventually die. Cats are particularly prone to developing the furious phase. The dumb phase usually develops within 2 to 4 days after the first signs are noted.