Conference noted::equitation

  My vet is recommending rabies vaccines. He said that when horses get
  rabies, it is not usually the "ferocious" manifestation (the behavior 
  most commonly associated with rabies in cats and dogs) they display, 
  but more often the "dumb" manifestation which means that it may not be
  obvious that the horse has contracted rabies. He went on to say that
  most often horses will exhibit excessive drooling and be very lethargic,
  or as he so eloquently put it: "they'll stand there looking even dumber 
  than usual". :^}

    We had our horses vaccinated for rabies last year and are going to
    again this year.  I mentioned it to the barn help a week or two ago.  I
    will mention it to the owners tonight, because I've been concerned that
    no date has been set.
    
    Raccoons with rabies have been found in several local towns --
    Fitchburg among them.  And I may have seen one in Leominster a couple
    weeks ago -- it was wandering across a highway in mid-morning,
    oblivious to traffic and obviously disoriented.

    As Kiirja said in .1, horses USUALLY take the "dopey" route with
    rabies. But they can also take the violent route. I met a woman 
    from Texas who said that one of her horses contracted rabies and became
    absolutely wild. They had to shoot it because they couldn't get risk
    getting close enough to use an injection.
    
    Either way, rabies is a death sentence. Vaccinations can prevent the
    disease. Better safe than sorry

    We live in Hubbardston and a few weeks back our neighborhood was
    terrorized by an extremely aggressive fox.  Twice he was sitting at the
    barn door growling and wouldn't let us near.  Another neighbor called
    for help getting out of her house!  It was 5am and even her Shepard
    which she kept on a lease wouldn't scare the fox away so she could get
    to her car.  The fox disappeared after about a week - he looked thin
    and sickly so he probably died.  No one reported any other incidents. 
    I'm not sure about rabies, he was probably just dying - do foxes ever
    act this aggressi normally?
    
    JB

               RE:last
    
               No, most often the fox is a timid creature.  The
    only time they are prone to be aggressive, is if they are
    cornered and/or injured.  They usually are more active at night
    and try to avoid any human contact, what-so-ever.  
    
                        Bob

    A woman was bitten by a bat 6 to 8 weeks ago in Westford.
    Confirmed rabies.  She was trimming or cleaning up her shrubs
    and the bat was in there.  Rhododendron type of plants.

    The police have shot raccons in Tewksbury and Billerica
    in the last two weeks, and there were also raccons reported
    in I think Ashby and Fitchburg.

    I know the bat was confirmed as having rabies and I am 80%
    certain the raccons were.

    It's all been in the local paper (Lowell Sun) the last 2 weeks.

    Bill

    A raccoon with rabies was found in Fitchburg a couple weeks ago -- a
    friend of mine from Fitchburg confirmed that.
    
    Mary

    
    I live in Leominster, in last nights paper they said that 3 racoons
    that were destroyed were all confirmed to have rabies.
    
    Mary
    

RE: .4, if you *ever* see a fox up close and it doesn't react by immediately
vanishing, there is something seriously wrong with it - I would guess rabies.
I would react with extreme caution in such a situation.  Based on what I've
read, I'm positive the fox you describe was rabid.

Rabies can also be spread by Skunks.  I went into the barn the other night
and found a skunk eating  out of a grain pail.  Saliva carries rabies.

The vet vaccinated all 5 of the horses two days after I saw the skunk - he
also vaccinated the goats I have.

If you have grain pans in your fields or if animals can get in your barn and eat
out of pails, etc, please vaccinate to avoid a tragedy.

-John

ps: I live in Weare NH, which is near Manchester.  According to my Vet, the 
rabies vaccine is much in demand now.  Shortages could be possible.

    FYI-
    
    I saw a red fox in Northboro crossing RT135, at lunchtime.  He stopped
    at the other side and watched the cars go by.  I thought it was strange
    behavior, and suspect he may be rabid.

    That doesn't sound too strange to me.  Foxes are shy, but also curious. 
    I've seen them watch traffic and passersby in the past.
    
    The fox described earlier -- with very aggressive behavior --  sounded
    more like rabies.

    Up until May, I had a pair of fox that would stop by every
    night to check out the catfood leavings....one would sit
    and watch me go up to the barn, and go back in the house.
    It actually was waiting for the dog biscuit I tossed it.
    
    Haven't seen them since, tho'........

Cross-posted from CANINE conference. It's long but it's very worthwile 
reading.


            <<< DOGS::SYS$SYSDEVICE:[NOTES$LIBRARY]CANINE.NOTE;1 >>>
                                  -< CANINE >-
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Note 822.37                       Rabies in NH                          37 of 40
TNPUBS::MACKONIS "Our world-another planet's hell!" 148 lines  30-SEP-1992 22:20
                      -< Detailed explanation of Rabies >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    For the noter that was surprised about her "pet" racoon being rabid and
    living close to town -- a note I input [.10] described the rabid racoon
    killed at my friends house -- in suburban NJ.  It is about a 6 hour
    drive from Nashua to her place.  She lives in a small subdivision,
    densely populated.  The other story I input [.12] described the number
    of cases of rabies this area of NY has had and the increase from last
    year to this year -- they had 2 rabid racoons on their property this
    year alone.  That is about 4 1/2 hours from Nashua.
    
    I was rasied in CT and my folks still ive there, they called last year
    panic stricken about getting their cats vaccinated, etc.  They were
    having clinics every 2 or 3 weeks, announcements on the radio, etc.
    
    The state board of health makes the final decision with the Dept of
    Agriculture about which vaccines are valid in the states you reside in.
    I have lived in several states (AL< SC< NC) where rabies was considered
    in epidemic proportions and vaccines were mandatory on an annual basis
    to license your dogs.  It is not harmful to give extra vaccinations.
    
    I guess I never realized there was actually  such a thing as a sub-cu
    shot, only IM.
    
    I think I also mentioned in another note that after Jan 1st in NH it
    will be mandatory to vaccinate all cats as well.
    
    I have an article from the Globe that I have been meaning to post about
    the spread of mid-Atlantic strain rabies over the last 10 years.  It is
    a matter of time -- but the numbers are interesting.
    
    Curiousity got the better of me, so I pulled out my Merck Veterinary
    Manual and looked up rabies.  It is too lengthy to transcribe the
    entire section, but I will include some (pages 280-284).  By the way,
    the Merck Manual is an indisposable addition to any household with
    critters!
    
    RABIES
    
    An acute encephalomyelitis caused by a virus.  It is a natural disease
    of dogs, cats, bats and wild carnivores.  However, all warm-blooded
    animals are susceptible.  The disease is world wide except for some
    countries that have eradicated or remained free of rabies due to their
    natural protection as islands and by enforcing rigorous quarantine
    regulations.  It is endemic and at times epidemic throughout the 
    Westerm Hemisphere in bats, dogs, foxes and skunks.
    
    Mode of Transmission
    The virus may be recovered from the CNS (Central Nervous System) and
    salivary glands as well as most tissues of infected animals.  In
    nature, it is tansmitted from animal to animal by means of a bite
    introducing the virus-bearing saliva.  Rarely, rabies may be transmitted
    by viral contamination of fresh, already existing wounds.  Virus may be
    present in the saliva and be transmitted by an infected animal several
    days prior to the onset of clinical signs.
    
    Incubation Period
    The incubation period is variable, but generally is within 15 to 50
    days.  In rare cases, it may be much longer, even several months.
    
    Pathogenesis
    Infection takes place by the deposition of infected saliva in or near a
    nerve.  The virus is carried to the CNS via the nerve trunks. 
    Experimentally, it has been shown to reach the spinal cord within 24
    hours and can be demonstrated in the cord tissue within 4 to 5 days. 
    The virus may remain at the site of infection for half the
    incubation period, which justifies the infiltration of hyper immune
    serum in the region of the bite.  
    
    The virus travels upward in the cord and finally reaches the brain 
    after a variable time.  The virus usally travels centrifugally from the
    CNS and reaches the salivary glands via their nerve supply. 
    Hematologic spread can occur but is rare.  Although the disease is
    usually considered fatal once signs appear, recovery has occurred in
    both animals and man.
    
    Clinical Findings
    Rabid animals of all species  exhibit signs that are typical of rabies,
    with minor variations peculiar to carnivora, ruminants, bats and man. 
    The clinical course of the disease, particularly in dogs, can be
    divided into 3 phases:  the podromal, the excitative and the paralytic.
    
    The term furious rabies refers to animals in which the excitative
    phase is predominant; and dumb or 'paralytic' rabies to dogs in which
    the excitative phase is extremely short or absent and the disease
    progresses quickly to the paralytic phase.  In any animal, the first
    sign is a change in behavior which may be indistinguishable from a
    digestive idsorder, injury, foreign body in the mouth, poisoning or an
    early infectious disease.  Temperature change is not significant and
    inability to retain saliva may or may not be noted.  Animals usually
    stop eating and drinking and may seek solitude.  There is frequently
    irritation or stimulation to the urogenital tract as evidenced by
    frequent urination, erection in the male and sexual  desire.  After the
    prodomal period of 1 to 3 days, animals either show signs of paralysis
    or become vicious.  Carnivora, swine, and occassionally, HORSES and
    mules bite other animals or people at the slightest provocation. 
    Cattle will butt any moving objects.  The disease progresse rapidly
    after the onset of paralysis.
    
    Paralytic Form
    This is characterized by early paralysis of the throat and masseter
    muscles, usually with profuse salivation and inability to swallow. 
    Dropping of the lower jaw is common in dogs.  Owners frequently examine
    the mouth of dogs and cattle, searching for a foreign body, or
    administer medication with the bare hands.  These animals are not
    vicious and rarely attempt to or are able to bite.  The paralysis
    progresses rapidly to all parts of the body with coma and death in a
    few hours.
    
    Furious Form
    Furious rabies represents the classical "mad-dog" syndrome in which the
    animal becomes irrational and viciously aggressive.  The facial
    expression is on of alertness and anxiety, with pupils dilated; noise
    invites attack.  Such animals lose all caution and fear of natural
    enemies.  There is not evidence of paralysis during the excitatory
    stage.  Dogs rarely live beyond 10 days after the onset of signs.  Dogs
    with this form of rabies frequently roam streets and highways, biting
    other animals, people and any moving objects.  They commonly swallow
    foreign objects, feces, straw, sticks, stones.  Rabid dogs will chew
    the wire and frames of their cages, breaking their teeth, and will
    follow a hand moved in front of their cage attempting to bite it. 
    Young pups apparently seek human companionship and are overly playful,
    but bite even when petted, usually becoming vicious in a few hours.  As
    the disease progresses, muscular incoordination and convulsive seizures
    become common.  Death is the result of progressive paralysis.
    
    Rabid domestic cats and bobcats attack suddenly, biting and scratching
    viciously.  Foxes frequently invade yards or even houses, attacking
    dogs and people.  Rabid foxes and skunks are responsible for most
    pasture cattle losses, and have attacked dairy cattle in barns.
    
    
    The article continues to describe symptoms in cattle, horses, bats, and
    so forth.  Evidently cattle are quite dangerous and will attack man, as
    will horses.
    
    It also states that caution should be taken if you see bats out during
    the day.  One of the most effective means of control is decreasing the
    population of stray dogs!
    
    Vaccines should be given IM only.
    
    Unvaccinated animals should be destroyed and if they owner does not
    wish to do this must be quarantined for a minimum of 4 months.
    
    Animals bitten by an infected animal that have been vaccinated must
    receive a booster within 7 days of being bitten.
    
    dana

Please.  Let us not panic and assume that all unusual behavior by animals
shows that it is rabid.  We don't want to needlessly kill animals just because
they MIGHT be rabid.

That would be like killing humans just because they MIGHT have AIDS.  Well
not quite that bad  :^)

Ed..

    
    
    	I have many red fox in my back yard and in the near by woods. I
    have been around them all my life. Foxes are NOT scared and DO NOT 
    run away. I have been within 10 feet of them. They are smart enough 
    to know that they can bolt away from me at a moments notice. The person
    who said that if a fox does not run must be rabid is WRONG !
    
    	About 2 years ago I used to put some food in my back yard after 
    Sunday dinner and watch the foxes come and get it. Every time I went
    closer and closer and after a while I was able to feed all 3 from
    within inches.

    The basic problem with saying that animals which exhibit "strange"
    behavior are or may be rabid is that most folks don't know what "normal" 
    behavior for the critter is...Therefore, they panic when animals don't 
    behave as the humans think they should...
    
    It is NOT unusual for a fox to watch things or to eat food that is left
    out in a yard for it. I wouldn't even think it was unusual for a fox
    to watch car traffic when it was trying to cross a road. They aren't
    dumb! He may just have been waiting to get across safely! Or just plain
    old curious.
    
    We had many foxes around our NH farm during the years we lived there. They 
    would frequently watch our activity from dirt mounds, fallen trees or even 
    in the grass. More than once, we had a fox sit in the tall grass and 
    watch us ride our horses. When they got bored, they'd go about their own 
    business. On one or two occassions, the fox's departure caused a horse to 
    spook because the fox had been so still that the horse didn't see it until 
    it got up to go! On one of these spooky occassions, the fox was less
    than 10 feet away.
    
    It IS unusual for a fox to chase things larger than itself. Smaller
    critters are considered dinner even though you might consider them your
    hens, house cat or Pomeranian. After all, foxes are predators and they
    have to hunt/chase down their dinner. Since that dinner is frequently
    field mice and woodchucks, I was glad to have foxes around. Of course,
    I did keep the chickens in a very good coop...
    

    I wasn't going to go theu the newspaper recycling pile
    to confirm this but the paper has 2 new articles today.

    Three raccoons in Fitchburg and 1 bat in Westford tested
    positive for rabies.

    Not all racoons shot in Tewksbury were tested but the one
    that was tested, tested negative.

    The other were sick, maybe distemper, but the state only
    tests animals that bite someone, the one tested bit a dog.


    Rabies exists in several 'reservior' species:
            bats    skunks    racoons
            foxes   coyotes   bobcats

    It is not found in other species such as:
            squirrels    chipmunks    rabbits
            rats         mice         guinea pigs
            hamsters     gerbils

    Most cases in humans are transfered from a reservior species
    to the pet cat or dog.

    In California and the midwest, skunks are the problem animal.
    In Mass it's racoons.

    We are in the midst of a racoon population because:

        . Increased food supply   -   garbage
        
        . Lack of competition     -   Bears, foxes, coyotes, hares and other
                                      species do not as readily coexits
                                      with man.

        .  Lack of predation      -   The lowest populations of racoons was 
                                      during the 1950's, the public mania for
                                      Dave Crockett 'coonskin caps.

                                      The demand for pelts has fallen steadily
                                      since, and with animal rights and bans on
                                      leg hold traps, trapping is to un-
                                      economical.

    Prepare for this to get worse.

    The newspaper had a 'summary' article on the raccoon
    rabies in the Fitchbug MA area over the summer.

    I don't have it with me but here are the points I remember.

    . This is a 'pocket' outbreak and is not part of the wave
      of rabies expected to reach MA next summer.  Public health
      officials cannot explain it.  I think there were 6 cases.

    . The more raccoons, the more raccoon rabies there will be
      and the population has exploded in MA in recent years.
    
    . The good news is that there has never been a human rabies
      infection from raccoons.

    . They are wild animals, keep your yard clean, don't leave pet
      food outside and leave them alone.

    In the Sunday newspaper there was a small article regarding a horse
    in VT which died (and was later confirmed thru the equine equivilent
    of an autopsy) from Rabies.  NE first confirmed case.
    
    The article did say that rabies can hapen in horses, but it was rare.