A viral disease trransmitted by a bite from, or inoculation with the saliva of, a rabid creature, of which the chief symptoms are, a sense of dryness and constriction in the throat, causing difficulty in deglutition, and a marked heightening of reflex excitability, producing convulsions whenever the patient attempts to swallow, or is disturbed in any way, as by the sight or sound of water; rabies; canine madness.
A very serious disease that may strike dogs, wolves, mice and cats. The rabies virus can be transmitted by the bite of an infected animal. A victim of rabies seeks the dark, is irritable, tries to hide, is given to unprovoked scratching, and is unable to drink because of paralysis of the glottis. Death is certain.