Rabies in a Horse

On April 8, 2012, the owner of a yearling horse in Nobles County noted the horse was vocalizing, which was not typical for this animal. The following day the horse tried to bite the owner. The horse was examined by a veterinarian and appeared uncoordinated and aggressive towards another horse. Four days after the symptoms started the animal died and later tested positive for rabies.  The owner has seen skunks on the property in the past several months. There are other horses on the property as well as one outdoor cat. The owner is being advised by the Minnesota Department of Health to receive post-exposure prophylaxis due to his exposure to the horse. Please remember this is a state-wide issue and can affect any of our pets, big or small.