What is a potential clinical sign of rabies besides behavioral change?

Unexplained paralysis is a potential clinical sign of rabies, in addition to behavioral changes. This occurs because rabies is a viral infection that affects the central nervous system of mammals. Once the virus infiltrates the nervous system, it can lead to neurological symptoms as it progresses. Paralysis may develop as the virus spreads to motor neurons, disrupting normal muscle function and leading to weakness or loss of motor control in certain areas of the body. This paralysis can be one of the more severe manifestations of the disease, showcasing the profound effects rabies can have on an infected animal's physiology.

Other signs associated with rabies, such as severe aggression, increased vocalization, or changes in diet, may be observed, but they are more closely related to behavioral changes or responses to the illness. In contrast, unexplained paralysis is a direct physical manifestation of the disease affecting the nervous system, thus making it a critical sign of rabies.