HORSES AND DROOLING.

Horses ,like any animal have salivary glands that produce saliva for digestive functions .When a horse is hungry or perceives food in the environment,it drools.There are cases where horses drool/ hyper salivate continuously that is not food related,this is where veterinary attention is required immediately. PLEASE NOTE; NOT ALL SALIVATING/DROOLING HORSE HAS RABIES. Drooling is actually caused by a blockage in the small intestine/stomach,thus fluid accumulates in stomach and finally backup in the esophagus into mouth and nasal passage.The common causes of drooling are 1) injury to the mouth. 2)inflammation in buccal cavity. 3) broken teeth. 4)irritations. 5)allergies to ingested materials. 6) reactions to toxins;especially fungal toxins gotten from pasture. 7)nerve damage /head injury. When drooling is accompanied with fever that does not abate readily, if the horse does not eat or refuses drink ,accompanied with high heart rate,; seek vet attention immediately. When the drooling involves the nasal passage its an esophageal obstruction. .

RABIES IN HORSES.

(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 The dumb form, the horse is quiet,withdrawn and anorexic.The furious form shows the symptomatic signs already described.The signs also include fever,muscle spasms and incontinence.These signs appear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.