Is it possible to get rabies from an animal before the virus reaches its brain?

Uncertain: The virus enters the animal's nerves and travels towards the brain. The virus infects the brain and then travels to the saliva glands and other parts of the body by way of the nerves. It is hard to know if some virus can be in the animal's saliva, while the virus is traveling towards the brain. Maybe it doesn't happen. Maybe the virus only gets into the saliva after the virus leaves the brain.