Rabies is an infrequently encountered neurologic disease. But while the incidence of rabies in horses is low, the fatality rate is high. Because there is no treatment, rabies is invariably fatal and has considerable public health significance.
Rabies can look like many diseases. Clinical signs vary widely and can include:
- Colic
- Ataxia
- Muscle Spasms
- Blindness
- Possible Aggression
- Lameness
- Incontinence
- Paralysis
- Depression
Exposure occurs through the bite of an infected (rabid) animal, typically a wildlife source such as raccoon, fox, skunk or bat. Bites to horses occur most often on the muzzle, face and lower limbs. The virus migrates via nerves to the brain, where it initiates rapidly progressive, invariably fatal encephalitis.
Other AAEP Core Vaccinations:
- Tetanus (Infection – Environmental)
- Eastern and Western Encephalitis (EEE/WEE) (Mosquito-borne)
- West Nile Virus (Mosquito-borne)