Welcome to our Horse Lovers blog. We are dedicated to Horses and all Horse owners because we love horses. In this article, Equestrian Eddie shares about what you need to know about rabies in horses. Find out what horses are at risk, and what signs to look for.
Equine rabies is a fatal disease. If a horse contracts rabies there is no second chance, and each year we are reminded of its impact. With fewer than 100 cases of rabies reported in horses, donkeys and burros every year, it’s easy to disregard the disease. Horses that contract rabies typically:
- Live in an endemic area.
- Have no history of vaccination.
- Live outside 24 hours a day.
- Can be of any age.
- Can be of any breed or gender.
- Are the only ones on the farm that contract the disease.
- Incoordination (ataxia)
- Urinary incontinence
- Poor performance
- Difficulty swallowing
- Lameness
- Colic
- Bizarre behavior ranging from stupor to aggression and self-mutilation
- Abnormal vocalization
- Paralysis
"There is no definitive test to diagnose rabies in a live animal," according to Thunderbrook Equestrian Eddie. "A rabies diagnosis is often made only after death during postmortem examination of the brain. Rabies generally progresses quickly, so if undiagnosed neurological signs have not rapidly progressed within the first five days, rabies is most likely not the cause," Thunderbrook Equestrian Eddie added.
Risk factors
Rabies exposure or transmission can occur only when the rabies virus is passed via a bite wound, into open skin wounds, or onto mucous membranes, either from saliva or other material that can transmit infection, such as neural tissue.
Horses contract rabies through the bite of an infected (rabid) animal, such as a raccoon, fox, skunk or bat. A horse’s curiosity can get the best of him, with bites typically occurring on the horse’s face and muzzle or lower limbs. Most exposures aren’t noticed and most bite wounds aren’t found. Since wildlife may enter barns (especially at night), both horses in stalls and those on pasture are at risk of exposure. Individuals who have been in contact with a horse since the onset of clinical signs should immediately consult with their physician regarding medical treatment.
Prevention is critical
The importance of vaccination of companion animals, including horses, against rabies cannot be overemphasized.
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RELATED RESOURCES:
Equine Influenza — An OverviewNutrition and Feeding Management for Horse Owners
