Hay Friends!
It has been an interesting start to the new academic year, I’d say! I think you would all agree that in order to succeed you need to think about preparing for what is to come and preventing obstacles along the way. So, it’s time to talk PREPARATION and PREVENTION!
I am going to talk about a recent situation to explain the importance of preparing and preventing. This week, a donkey in Monmouth County, NJ tested positive for the fatal but preventable disease, rabies.
Here is what I would do to Prepare and Prevent rabies from happening…
ALWAYS keep your horses up to date on seasonal and yearly vaccinations. This can save you and your horse a lot of headaches.
BUT, if you have missed your annual shots, then – 1) you should schedule to get them; and 2) you should now look for any of the tell-tale symptoms of rabies.
If you think your horse is acting a little funny, these are some red flags that you should watch for:
- Not Eating
- Depressed
- Difficulty in Swallowing
- Excess Salivation
- Lack of Coordination
- Aggressive Behavior
- Colic
- Convulsions or Paralysis
If you notice any of these signs you should call your veterinarian immediately.
Also, you must be careful around your horse! Rabies is a disease that can affect animals and humans and no cure has been discovered yet! This stuff is SEER-EE-US!
Rabies can be transmitted from equids to humans by simple acts such as feeding from your hand, or placing a bit in your horse’s mouth.
PREPARE by always monitoring your horse to make sure that it is happy and healthy. Stay up to date on your shots to PREVENT future infections.
Stay Savvy Folks!
Your Pal,
Lord Nelson