(pics culled from internet).
Rabies a very fatal disease usually prevalent in dogs and wild animals,but also occurs in horses. The disease occurs from a bite from a rabid animal and usually fulminating in an unvaccinated horse.
When a horse is infected with the rabies virus,the horse is unstable and anorexic.The skin is sensitive to touch and there are signs of limping/dragging .The horse is aggressive and easily excitable.The horse attacks surrounding objects,kicking and chewing them,the horse drools excessively and has great difficulty in swallowing.
The horse chews,scratches at the bite-site.The gait is unsteady,with convulsions and paralysis.The typical signs exhibited depends on the form of rabies; the dumb and furious form. The dumb form, the horse is quiet,withdrawn and anorexic.The furious form shows the symptomatic signs already described.The signs also include fever,muscle spasms and incontinence.These signs appear quickly and proceed rapidly resulting in death in 2-5 days after onset of signs,
Rabies virus can be transferred from horse-horse and also from horse-man especially handlers and owners.The zoonotic nature of the virus makes it an important horse disease that need to be prevented and monitored.
Vaccination is the only form of prevention.Vaccinate foals at 6 months and give yearly booster.When a vaccinated horse is at risk of exposure to rabies may be following a bite from a wild animal or dogs then do the following;1) wash bite site with soap and water and isolate horse.
2)re vaccinate the horse immediately.
3)give plenty of fresh water.
(pics culled from internet).
Rabies a very fatal disease usually prevalent in dogs and wild animals,but also occurs in horses. The disease occurs from a bite from a rabid animal and usually fulminating in an unvaccinated horse.
When a horse is infected with the rabies virus,the horse is unstable and anorexic.The skin is sensitive to touch and there are signs of limping/dragging .The horse is aggressive and easily excitable.The horse attacks surrounding objects,kicking and chewing them,the horse drools excessively and has great difficulty in swallowing.
The horse chews,scratches at the bite-site.The gait is unsteady,with convulsions and paralysis.The typical signs exhibited depends on the form of rabies; the dumb and furious form. The dumb form, the horse is quiet,withdrawn and anorexic.The furious form shows the symptomatic signs already described.The signs also include fever,muscle spasms and incontinence.These signs appear quickly and proceed rapidly resulting in death in 2-5 days after onset of signs,
Rabies virus can be transferred from horse-horse and also from horse-man especially handlers and owners.The zoonotic nature of the virus makes it an important horse disease that need to be prevented and monitored.
Vaccination is the only form of prevention.Vaccinate foals at 6 months and give yearly booster.When a vaccinated horse is at risk of exposure to rabies may be following a bite from a wild animal or dogs then do the following;1) wash bite site with soap and water and isolate horse.
2)re vaccinate the horse immediately.
3)give plenty of fresh water.
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