Rabies
Prior to 1951, all cases of human rabies were caused by either cat or dog bites. Folowwing extensive vaccination campaigns, dog-borne rabies has been virtually unknown in the United States.
A growing number of wild animals such as foxes, rabbits, bats, skunks, and raccoons have been reported as carriers in the United States and it is unlikely that the disease will ever be completely eliminated.
Known from earliest historic times as a menace to humans, Rabies remains a justifiably much feared disease of warm-blooded animals. Many species of wildlife, such as bats, skunks, foxes, raccoons, and feral cats and dogs serve as natural reservoirs of the virus. Rabies is deadly, therefore, your dog must be vaccinated at 4-6 months of age, and every year thereafter (unless you receive the 3 year vaccination). Very effective vaccines have made rabies in properly vaccinated dogs extremely rare. Rabies in dogs may take either of 2 forms: in the "furious" form, the dog is extremely aggressive and often attacks other animals, humans, or even inanimate objects. In the "dumb" form, the dog becomes extremely lethargic, and gradually lapses into torpor. In either case, there is a great tendency for the infected victim to avoid water, hence the common term for the disease: Hydrophobia. One can become infected when saliva from either form of a rabid animal enters an open skin wound- one does not have to be actually bitten to have Rabies transmitted to them.
The onset of clinical symptoms of rabies can take several weeks or even months. In the early stages, the dog will be moody- irritable at one moment, then affectionate. It is hypersensitive to noise and light. They will also eat stones and wood- as well as other non food objects and reject any real food. The later symptoms are running amok, attacking and biting, difficulties in swallowing and excessive drooling.
The rabies vaccination must be given by a vet- you cannot give this vaccine yourself.