Rabies in Horses Source: Mark Russell, Assistant Professor, University of Arkansas
So far this year in Arkansas (as of March 1), there have been 23 reported cases of rabies in animals. Twenty-one of these cases have been in skunks, while one has been in a cow and one reported case in a dog. Though it is unlikely your horse will become stricken with rabies during its lifetime, as owners we should always be cognizant of the signs of not only our horses having rabies but also other animals that could come in contact with the horses. Further, rabies is especially dangerous, given the fact that rabies can be easily spread to humans.
How does a horse get rabies?
In nearly every case of rabies, it is spread from one animal to another in a bite.
Horses are curious animals who will often walk up to another animal that is acting bizarrely and get bitten on the nose or somewhere on the face.
What does a horse with rabies look like?
Surprisingly, horses that come in contact with rabies will not show signs until 2-6 weeks after exposure. In more rare cases, a horse may not show signs for up to one year.
Signs include:
Change in behavior
Dull
Aggressive
Ataxia
Head pressing and/or circling
Difficulty swallowing
Muscle tremors or convulsing
Treatment
There is currently no treatment available.
Most horses die within 2-4 days after contracting rabies if not euthanized.
If a horse has been exposed to an animal with rabies and its vaccination is more than 30 days old, revaccinate it and hold in in quarantine for 45 days. If there was no previous vaccination, it is recommended the horse be held in quarantine for 6 months.
Prevention
Vaccination is the best prevention for your horse. It is also recommended that dogs and any barn cats that may come in contact with your horse be vaccinated as well. It should also be noted that just because a horse has received a vaccination for rabies does not guarantee the horse will not get it.
Foals and weanlings less than 12 months of age are administered an initial series of three vaccines (the timing is dependent on the vaccination status of the mare). Thereafter, horses are vaccinated annually (even if the vaccine is labeled as a three-year product).
Sources: AAEP, Dr. Stacey Oke, TheHorse.com, Colorado State University Extension and University of Kentucky Animal Science Department.
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