Another New Horse - It's Bo!

Right, unlike other vaccines that are given to protect your horse (or dog, or cat), rabies vaccine is given to protect the people that come in contact with the vaccinated animal. So it is definitely considered a public (people) health issue (as unpopular, unfortunately, as the concept of public health has become with some in current years).

ETA: Sorry, I hope people don’t think I was trying to start a vaccine debate, just saying why some governments require rabies vaccine in particular. I personally seem to have a minor phobia concerning it so I am sure to vaccinate even when not required, and fortunately have never had any serious reactions in my animals so I have not had to balance those concerns.

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As far as I can find, there is no legal requirement on the state level for rabies vaccination for livestock. It is recommended, but not required like it is for pet animals. All my other animals are current on rabies vax.

I have no intention of turning this thread into a vaccination debate.

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I have an upcoming appointment with my vet and I’m going to ask about rabies vaxx and how it may or may not be regulated by the powers that be. I’m not in the same state as @Heinz_57 but I’m curious now. I’ve always had my horses vaccinated for it and thought it was required in my state for a vet to issue a health very but could be wrong!

ETA: I’ve not had any issues with vaxx reactions but my old horse had a reaction like Bo I’d be strongly considering skipping that vaxx

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I’ve never given my horse a rabies vax, ever. I don’t think anyone I know does either. Now I’m curious. I’m going to do an informal poll of friends and see if they vax.

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I had asked my vet about it once (I’m north of you, in Mt. Vernon), and she said it’s not needed in this area and not worth the risk of reaction that comes with it.

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Oh wow. Where are you if you don’t mind me asking?

I have never skipped rabies vaccination and it is a requirement AFAIK in every boarding barn I’ve been involved in. I’ve turned away potential boarders because they don’t do it annually.

However… rabies has a presence here. A side tangent – years ago my vet/chiro told me about a client horse she was treating that presented as dull and off his feed. She knows I keep up-to-date as much as I can with veterinarian advances, and I’m always fascinated in her cases, so she shares what she feels is appropriate without naming names. She was telling me about the diagnostics she’d done. At first they were worried it might be tooth or mouth related, so they ruled that out first. They scoped him and treated him as if he might have an impaction, although she didn’t feel anything or see anything. She said they pulled bloodwork for lyme, and did a few other tests but couldn’t explain why he’d gone suddenly lethargic. I didn’t see her for a few weeks, but when I saw her again I asked her if she’d ever found out what was wrong with him. She said he tanked within a few days and became neurological, and the owner elected to PTS despite rads not showing anything conclusive. At that point they started thinking about rabies. They sent his head for testing and he came back positive, and he had been vaccinated against rabies.

I do see at least one rabid (wild) animal a year, mostly skunks. A few years ago AC had to come out to dispatch a skunk in my yard that was clearly rabid. It was heartbreaking, I felt so sorry for the poor thing. :frowning:

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Nor was that my intention. Merely giving information for people to know.

I see the logic as it pertains to livestock. Pet dog and cat and more likely to contact people with potential consequence.

Jingles for Bo!

Around here, rabies is pretty rampant and most people vaccinate their horses for rabies. I actually have a family-member-by-marriage whose mini horse got rabies on her home farm and had to be euthanized. :cry:

Which is also to say that I know a fair few (at least 3 off the top of my head) horses that have had a violent adverse reaction to the rabies vaccine and cannot have it again. In fact, it caused a big kerfuffle at a local boarding barn a few years back, as they leased out half the facility to a trainer, one of whose clients had a horse that could not get the rabies vaccine due to the reaction. The barn would not back down in their requirement for the vaccine and I believe the situation devolved to the point where the trainer ended up leaving with all her clients (!)

All this is to say, it’s not uncommon in my neck of the woods and I hope Bo pills through with no future issues! :pray:

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Good to know. Also, WA doesn’t require a coggins either unless you’re shipping into the state of Washington. When I moved out here and bought a horse, I asked the vet to do a coggins thinking I needed one to show and he told me I didn’t as it’s not an issue here.

Some states in New England require the rabies vaccination for horses. We have enough of a problem with rabies in foxes, skunks, raccoons etc that it is prudent. There was a probably-rabid coyote a few months ago just west of here; authorities shut down all hiking trails in the area. Hopefully it was caught and destroyed.

One time riding my made, she almost stepped on a fox that was probably rabid. Luckily it chose to leave the scene rather than attack.

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Jingles for Bo!!
On the rabies vaccine and reactions. I just had my horses given their annual rabies shot. The pony is known for vaccine reactions, but we gambled since she was getting nothing else done right now. Cue extreme lethargy, high fever, overall body pain, mild colic symptoms, no willingness to eat or drink, and reduced poop for about 36 hours. I gave her the maximum dosage of bute as soon as the symptoms were apparent on the vet’s orders. (had no Banamine to hand)
I’ll keep vaccinating for it, since rabies is pretty common here and the horses live outside in close proximity to all sorts of wild animals. In fact we just had a rabid fox a mile from me and a rabid cat a few towns farther away. But, I would rather not…

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:rofl:
So glad to hear Bo is on the upswing.
If it’s not too far, go visit & bring him a treat (if there’s something he really likes - mine are Dollar Tree gingersnaps hos)

First time I fed a warm mash to my Ginormous TWH, the pan came flying back at me through the stall door :bowl_with_spoon::dash:
Current Walker will grab the edge of the pan & shake to bring stray grain to the middle.
Showing me All Gone:

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Oh no, I’m sorry! I’m glad it resolved. Hopefully your vet can advise on some kind of pre-vax plan for next time… I know lots of people do banamine before and after in an effort to reduce these side effects. I have one horse (different one, not Bo) who I really try to avoid giving banamine unless it’s dire - even one dose really knocks him down. Thankfully he’s never had a vaccine reaction.

@2DogsFarm I still haven’t heard anything, getting a bit impatient. I haven’t yet explored what Bo’s favorite treats are, but I can tell you he thinks the ‘low sugar’ ones I have for the ponies are DISGUSTING. I think they contain beet pulp, one of his hell-no’s. The look on his face of total offense when I offered him one was priceless. How dare you offer that to me?! Peppermints are also a big NO.

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I know the feeling :persevere:
Even if it means piling on layers to walk the 250’ to the barn, I’ll do it to check on anyone NQR.

My Big Walker came to me with a half-full container of his favorite treats, per old owner.
He refused to touch a single one, flat out.
My TB happily disposed of them :smirk:

If you feel splurgy, the German Horse Cookies seem to be a winner with all horses. I’m just too cheap to shell out $20 for a bag.
Why? When the $1.25 gingersnaps make them so happy :sunglasses:

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German Horse Muffins and Mrs. Pasture’s Cookies are wildly popular with my boys

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:smirk: Big Spender!
I’m CheapX100 :relieved:
Another uber-cheap treat is dry pasta, any shape.
Go figure.

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He would probably like the german horse muffins, and they are probably soft enough for his lack of teeth. Elmo prefers Chicken in a Biscuit crackers and Cheerios. :joy: I use the Cheerios (one at a time) for clicker training…

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Kelcie’s Pumpkin horse treats are a huge hit with my horse. And I think they pretty much disintegrate in the mouth, so they’re good for those who lack some teeth! (My horse has a full set, but the 32 year old in the barn, whose teeth are a little sparse, likes them as well).

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Lol I keep the good (read expensive) treats in the house and dole them out on special occasions. I buy one bag of each approximately every quarter and they are always on my wish list for birthday and Christmas!

Everyday treats are the Purina Carb Conscious and Purina Outlast

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Used to be that one didn’t have to worry about rabies west of the Rockies. But it has crept into Utah now in the bat population.

When I moved here from New York State 25 years ago, my vet looked at me like I had 2 heads when I asked for rabies vax. Nowadays they will special order it for you. They still don’t carry it on the truck.

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