Heat will kill the rabies virus. Rabies is a virus that infects the central nervous system of mammals. Several different strains of the virus are carried by different wildlife species. Rabies is primarily transmitted by a bite, but there is also some risk of infection if saliva or nerve tissue from a rabid animal gets into someone s eyes, nose, mouth or into an open wound. The time between infection and any outward sign of the disease can vary, from 2 weeks to 3 months.
Paralysis usually begins in the hindquarters and throat.
The animal finally dies when the virus damages the brain and spinal column to the extent that respiratory or circulatory functions fail. A rabid animal can transmit the disease through its saliva during the clinical period, and for as much as 5 days before showing signs of the disease. The virus might also infect an unvaccinated pet through an open wound. If your pet is unvaccinated, it should be confined for four months, or euthanized. Rabies can be positively diagnosed only through scientific tcsting of tissue from the suspected animal.