Signs & Symptoms of Rabies in Calves

Rabies is a viral infection that usually spreads to cattle when a rabid animal bites one of them, introducing infected saliva into its body tissues. According to data from the American Veterinary Medical Association, rabies cases in 2008 occurred more frequently in cattle than any other domestic animal except for the cat and dog. If you notice signs of rabies in one of your calves, contact your veterinarian immediately for diagnosis of this fatal infection before it spreads to your other livestock.

  1. Changes in Behavior

    • Typically, the first symptom of rabies that you'll notice in one of your calves is behavior changes. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, some signs your calf may exhibit include nervousness and irritability. Often, a usually friendly calf will be uncharacteristically standoffish, staying as far away from you as she can get. At first, these behavior changes may be so slight that you're tempted to dismiss them as inconsequential; however, as the rabies infection progresses, they increase drastically. Not all cattle enter the excitative stage of the disease, but if yours does, he most likely will show aggressiveness. The Merck Veterinary Manual states that some animals (including cattle) show heightened aggression at this point, often to the point of attacking anything in sight that moves. Alertness (moving ears rapidly back and forth to listen for sounds), lack of any fear, dilated pupils and bellowing for extended periods of time are all characteristic behavior changes that occur with rabies, as well.

    Changes in Eating Habits

    • Changes in your calf's eating habits can be one of the first signs that may indicate a possible rabies infection, especially when coupled with slight behavior changes. According to the Virginia Cooperative Extension, rabid cattle may exhibit drooling and problems swallowing. Your calf may begin by showing a reduced interest in eating, but this often progresses to a complete refusal to eat or drink. As the rabies infection takes hold, your calf will begin to show signs of drooling, which often arises as a result of its inability to swallow. This drooling can be so excessive that it often causes an accumulation of bubbles in the saliva, which explains the stereotyped rabies image of an animal that is "foaming at the mouth."

    Paralysis

    • Progressive paralysis accompanies rabies in many calves. Since the first sign of this paralysis occurs in the throat area (before other obvious signs of rabies may develop), many cattle ranchers and farmers make the mistake of trying to check for objects lodged there, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual. This muscle paralysis extends throughout the rest of an infected calf's body, often in just 2 to 3 hours. You may notice your calf's legs shaking or she might suddenly be unable to stand. Eventually, as this paralysis takes over the entire body, your calf enters a coma and ultimately dies of the infection.