Signs of Horses With Rabies

Though rabies is an uncommon disease in horses, it is still something that horse owners need to be aware of. Once a horse is infected, there is no cure, but infection from the rabies virus can be prevented with vaccination. Correctly identifying the signs of rabies in horses is an essential part of preventing this disease from spreading to other animals and humans.

  1. Behavioral Change

    • Because the rabies virus attacks the central nervous system and causes neurological malfunction, the horse may act in a way that is out of character. Horses that were friendly and outgoing may become shy and retiring, and calm horses may suddenly become aggressive or temperamental. Because a change in behavior can signal diseases like West Nile fever as well as rabies, it is worth taking a horse to a veterinarian if the change persists.

    Hypersensitivity

    • A horse with rabies may show signs of irritation to minor stimuli. If the horse was infected through a bite wound, the horse might scratch, lick or bite the tissue around the bite wound.

    Fever

    • A low-grade fever may be present when a horse is infected with rabies, and this illness may also cause a heightened pulse along with a reduced appetite.

    Lameness

    • Rabies in horses can cause one of the horse's limbs to suddenly become weak or even paralyzed. Though the limb is not tender or painful, the horse may drag the limb or it might buckle underneath the horse when it is performing normal movements or exercises. The lameness may progress to the point where the horse is swaying, stumbling or even falling.

    Drooling

    • While horses do not develop a fear of water the way that humans and dogs do when they are infected with rabies, they will have issues with swallowing water. They are unable to swallow, causing the water to dribble back out of their mouths, and they may appear to be drooling.

    Aggression

    • The aggression that a horse displays if it has rabies is intentional rather than accidental. Accidental aggression occurs when a horse is in pain and clumsy because of it. Horses with rabies will act aggressively towards humans, other animals or even objects that are in their vicinity, and they can be dangerous when they do so. There is also the risk of infected horses passing the rabies virus on when they bite at other animals or humans.