BOO!
I’m back again to talk to you more about equine viruses. In case you missed it, check out the other blog posts, “Ah-Ah-CHOO!” which was all about upper respiratory infections (URIs), “Swimming with Bugs,” and “Lockjaw!”.
With Halloween, around the corner, I want to share with you the scariest of all viruses. It has been known to turn ALL animals into…ZOMBIES!!! Aggressive, unbalanced, foaming at the mouth, convulsing, and a hunger for BRAINS! AHHHHH!
Okay, Queenie, calm down, just breathe…Think happy thoughts…
I seemed to have scared myself. Luckily, horses and other animals can’t really turn into zombies, however they can get rabies, which can make an animal appear very zombie-like. An animal infected with rabies may show the following symptoms:
- Loss of appetite (for anything without a pulse)
- Fever
- Stomach pain
- Lameness
- Sensitive to touch
- Trouble swallowing
- Behavior changes
- Irritability
- Seizures
- Death
Rabies is EXTREMELY dangerous and deadly, but highly preventable with an annual vaccination. When I mentioned it affects ALL animals that also goes for humans. Any bite from an animal should be followed up with a review of the previous vaccination status of the animal. If the animal in question is not up-to-date on its vaccinations or is a wildlife animal, it must be quarantined and tested for rabies. There is a rabies treatment for humans and unfortunately, not for horses. Consult with your physician AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!
Luckily, rabies is not common, however it still exists. The only zombies I want to see are the ones in movies or trick-or-treating at my stall door.
Overwhelmed with all this talk of diseases and symptoms and vaccines?? Luckily for you, we created a simple vaccination kit that includes disease information cards and posters on the vaccine schedules for adult horses! We also have a separate poster for foals and weanlings, too! The kit is only $12 and the posters can be purchased for $3 each. That’s a bargain! These kits are great tools for any experienced horse owner as well as young horse enthusiasts!
Have a safe and Happy Halloween!
Queenie