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When Travis' mother and Lisbeth go out into the woods, they are attacked by a lone wolf with rabies. Old Yeller is there to protect them, but he gets bitten by the wolf. Because the family can't take any chances that Old Yeller might have rabies, Travis is forced to shoot Old Yeller.
Regarding this, what did Old Yeller die from?
rabies
Consequently, were any animals harmed in Old Yeller?
Yes, those were real animals fighting, but they were not really fighting. Spike, who played the role of Yeller, was trained under an animal trainer, Frank Weathermax. The fighting scenes that you see in the movie were controlled and well rehearsed before the actual shooting and they are actual animal actions.
Hydrophobia, also known as rabies, is a disease which slowly spreads through the Texan community where Travis lives.