If the organism is not walled off in the lung, but disseminates throughout the body, almost all organs can be affected and without treatment, these animals will die. Symptoms vary according to which organs are most severely affected, but often the long bones are heavily invaded and the animal will become lame or sore on palpation of the limb. Treatment is ketaconazole given for a minimum of six months. Once the virus infects the CNS the outcome is invariably fatal. The virus is transmitted by infected saliva, usually by a bite wound, but viral laden saliva may enter preexisting wounds or abrasions.
Infection takes place by deposition of infected saliva in or near a nerve.
The virus travels up the nerve to the spinal cord and finally reaches the brain. The earlier the treatment, the more hopeful the outcome. If there is human exposure to an unvaccinated dog suspected of rabies, the dog is euthanatized and tissues submitted for fluorescent antibody staining. Depending on the State and the vaccination history, a vaccinated dog suspected of rabies that bites a human will be confined for 10 days to 4 months. If any suspicious signs occur during the quarantine period, the dog is euthanatized and tissues collected for testing.