This message is from: "Beth & Sandy - Starfire Farm" <starfiref...@usa.net>
First of all, Beth M., thank you for vaccinating your mare! I can't believe, after all of the rabies exposure we had on the Front Range in Colorado this spring that your barn-mates have not had their horses vaccinated! Shari MacCallum's Fjord gelding, Starfire Finlay, contracted rabies from a "presumably" dead skunk that she found in her pasture. The horse was dead 3 weeks later and she, her entire family and at least 10 veterinarians/vet techs had to receive the prophylactic treatment (several thousand dollars just for her alone.) At least she is alive. He was in the prime of his life...they had performed in the Stock Show with us in January and in the Expo with us in March. She was having a blast with him until this happened. I do not blame Shari, for she did not know that her horses required annual rabies vaccinations in order to be protected. Finlay had been vaccinated two years prior and was due for re-vaccination when he was exposed. It could have just as easily been a horse or horses in my herd, as I had a rabid skunk on my property around the same time (in the vicinity of my paddocks and arena) that I captured and had tested. My dogs were exposed (they had been lightly sprayed but presumably were not bitten and were up to date on their vaccinations). Luckily, my horses were not but I couldn't be too sure. I was just lucky. We did re-boost the dogs and cats (recommended by my vet and the state veterinarian) and I vaccinated my entire herd that week, but I kept a very watchful eye for several weeks afterward for any unusual behavior/signs. I was very worried. It doesn't take a bite to transfer the disease. All it takes is exposure to saliva/blood/bodily fluids. This could be through open skin, etc. The best guess regarding Finlay's exposure is that he must have mouthed or nosed the skunk, as they could not find any puncture wounds on him anywhere. The skunk may have already been dead or dying, no one knows because Shari found it dead in her pasture. I "ditto" what Robin Churchill wrote...all of this would not have happened if her horse had been vaccinated this year. This is serious business. Don't think that, because we can vaccinate dogs and cats every few years, that you can vaccinate your horse the same way. Horses have to be vaccinated annually in order to be protected. It's very inexpensive if you give them yourself. Even if your vet has to give it in your area, the cost comparison between giving a vaccine and you receiving prophylactic treatment is nil. If your horse contracts it, it will die. We had rabid skunks and foxes all over our area this spring. There was report after report of skunks attacking dogs, cats, breaking into houses through windows (seriously!), fox and skunks chasing horses...seriously! Rabies has been moving towards the Front Range in Colorado for several years. Last year it was in eastern Colorado and eastern Adams County. Once we heard the first report of it being found west of I-25, this spring it was too late for Finlay. Such a sad deal! And we in our society have become so complacent that there were no reports in the local news until at least two months after Finlay died. The first news report I heard was on NPR national news! Not our local news. Unbelievable, since if you contract rabies, you die. End of story. I have told all of my friends that I know that it will be moving into their area...even those on the other side of the divide. It is just a matter of time. I have yet to see a problem with giving the vaccine to my horses, dogs or cats. So, those of you out there who are in the more arid areas, don't wait. You just never know when that rabid skunk, fox, possum, cat, bat, whatever...will end up on your property. Beth www.starfirefarm.com This message is from: Main Email <divingduoandcor...@comcast.net> I am the only one at my barn who vaccinates for rabies. We board in a rural area of Colorado (Morrison) south of area with a significant increase in rabies...it was found at a horse barn after a feral kitten was diagnosed with it... after scratching people. Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
