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.
Rabies found in a Horse in Southwestern MN
Recently a horse in Nobles County in southwestern Minnesota was noticed to be lethargic, disoriented and circling. The animal’s health continued to decline and was euthanized on Oct. 1st and tested positive for rabies. Bats and skunks continue to be the common wildlife that carry and spread the rabies virus in Minnesota. To date, all domestic animals that have tested positive have been large animals. But this doesn’t mean our smaller furry friends are not at risk so please make sure your cats’ and dogs’ rabies vaccines are up to date since this is a disease we don’t get a second chance with. To see the full report on this case as provided by the Minnesota Board of Animal Health, please follow this link: MN BAH Rabies Alert. If you have any questions about your pet’s rabies vaccine status, please call us at 763-574-9892.