Century Equine

Rabies is a zoonotic (meaning humans can be infected) neurologic disease that is fatal. Horse infections occur infrequently and happen from the bite  of an infected animal, usually wildlife. Horses are usually bitten on their muzzle, face or lower limbs due to their curious nature. The virus then propagates along nerves until it reaches the brain. Once there, it causes a fatal encephalitis. The virus must be introduced into bite wounds, open cuts or onto mucous membranes from saliva or brain/spinal cord of infected animals.

Symptoms in horses can vary and can manifest from several weeks to a couple of months after being bitten. Symptoms can be deceiving as what initally appears to be colic or lameness to apparent neurological deficits. There are two forms in which symptoms may manifest, dumb vs furious. Horses tend to exhibit the dumb form. This includes difficulty swallowing, head tilt, loss of anal tone, depression, blindness, drooling and ataxia. The furious form is similar to what a rabid dog might exhibit. Horses become aggressive, develop a fear of water and light, convulse and react violently to stimulus. Diagnosis can only be done post mortem on analysis of a brain sample.

There is no treatment. Not only is this disease fatal to horses, but it is also fatal to humans. However rare, you could contract this disease from your horse. If your horse is bitten by a rabid animal and is vaccinated then he will need to be re-vaccinated immediately and quarantined for 45 days. If un-vaccinated, your horse will likely be quarantined by public health officials for 6 months after vaccination.

Rabies is a disease that is preventable with vaccination. This is considered a core vaccine for horses by AAEP due to the public health concern and fatality. These vaccines are considered excellent and induce a strong immune response.