[QUOTE=skydy;7143519]
And how embarrassing it was, for the CSU Vet. school that one of their bison herd died with neuro symptoms and was ,upon necropsy, found to be infected with the rabies virus. http://www.nbc11news.com/11today/headlines/Bison_dies_of_rabies_at_CSU_research_station_160882625.html
I must say I was shocked that the VET SCHOOL hadn’t vaccinated since rabies is notable in the area, especially in the skunk population.[/QUOTE]
Buffalo are a lot of fun to vaccinate…
[QUOTE=stoicfish;7143530]
Buffalo are a lot of fun to vaccinate…[/QUOTE]
I’m sure they managed to get it done…
How effective is the human rabies vaccine? When I was at the UCD VMTH, everyone working with the horses had to get vaccinated raises hand. I figured it was to prevent exactly this sort of thing.
Maybe only students had to get vaccinated, and not all employees…?
So sorry to hear this has happened to you. It is one of the many reasons I never let anyone handle our stallions except for my husband and I. While I love our vet technicians and veterinary clinic, I would never let them handle one of our stallions…even though most of our boys are pussy cats to handle.
[QUOTE=CrowneDragon;7143604]
How effective is the human rabies vaccine? When I was at the UCD VMTH, everyone working with the horses had to get vaccinated raises hand. I figured it was to prevent exactly this sort of thing.
Maybe only students had to get vaccinated, and not all employees…?[/QUOTE]
That is an important question. There (obviously) cannot be clinical trials that introduce a fatal virus to humans. I have not kept up with the subject so can only send a link. http://www.immunizationinfo.org/vaccines/rabies#effectiveness-of-the-vaccine
http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/ (courtesy of Google)
Thanks for bringing the subject to light. It is interesting. :yes:
The human rabies vaccine is pretty effective. I, as a vet, am vaccinated and have titers drawn every 2 years. I have yet not to need a booster.
If I were exposed to a rabid animal I would not need the post-exposure prophylaxis which is good enough for me!
I have never, ever, in my career as a vet denied any horse, dog, or cat patient a rabies vaccine. NC is a Rabies endemic state and I will gladly put rabies vaccine into any animal the owners will allow. We had a raccoon test positive recently from the middle of VERY suburban Chapel Hill.
I wouldn’t trust titers for this, honestly. Since, as mentioned, it’s just not legal to try to purposefully give a fatal disease to a person, I can’t imagine there are any valid tests done to prove that titers mean anything for this disease, especially in light of it already proving that titers (in general) are iffy in animals.
My horses and dog are vaccinated against rabies and I do remember the story (near Orangeville I think) where a man was charged by a horse and died. Necropsy confirmed the horse had rabies. That was quite a few years ago… but… it happens.
It was in 2001/2002
http://www.agrinewsinteractive.com/archives/article-2853.htm
http://www.horsenewsandviews.com/Links/rabies-vaccination-is-it-needed
My DD got the preventative series of shots ($$$) when she was in first year university because she wanted to volunteer for foal watch. Never got a chance, but at least, I am sure she is still protected. Our own vet told us she was vaccinated when she started volunteering as a teenager and runs her titers regularly… she is still quite fine.
Rabid animals travel… CA is not isolated like GB is and they did not have rabies for the longest time, BUT they had very strict import rules and quarantines of 6 months if you wanted to bring in a dog… even vaccinated! I know it has changed a bit, but that was the only way they could say they had no rabies on the ground!
[QUOTE=Ibex;7142965]
Or some people live in areas with no reported cases of Rabies 
It has historically stopped at the mountains. Heck, I don’t think Alberta vaccinates for Rabies as a matter of course either, unless horses are heading into an area where it’s endemic (Great Lakes and parts further east).[/QUOTE]
Alberta does rabies vacs in dogs and cats. Every 3 years, I think? Rabies isn’t a huge concern, especially if you are in town with a little house dog. But farm dogs get into things, and while I don’t think our rabies incidences are overly high, I have never heard of dogs/cats NOT being vaccinated in AB.
I haven’t heard of them for horses at all. But I think I’m going to ask my vet about that.
As an aside, my friend (who used to event at ** and *** levels) was checking her fencelines and found a skunk caught in wire. Bad judgement prevailed and in freeing him she got sprayed, bit, and subjected to a 5 or 6 week round of post-bite rabies shots just in case. Because of course, she got bit FREEING the skunk…so it’s not like he was available to euth and test for rabies. Cute little bugger, but not very grateful. My friend being my friend, though, would do it all over again. Because hey, she’s now vaccinated and covered for X years! :lol: She is one of my favorite people.
Vaccination with the 3 shot series followed by titers every 2 years and boostering if necessary is how the AVMA recommends that we handle our vaccine status.
Though I agree, that without good info on the titers it is not ideal. However, I suffer greatly from side effects of the vaccine and it is recommended by my Dr. That I do not get it unless my titers are low.
Hmm… rabies… vaccine side effects? I’ll take the vaccine thanks. Mine has been boostered every 2 years. (realized I left out the word NOT above)
[QUOTE=JB;7143156]
That’s an interesting thought - could a vet be held liable in, say, California, if they don’t even suggest the rabies vaccination, and a client’s horse does indeed become infected?[/QUOTE]
You better believe it. All it would take is for some little princess to get rabies from her pretty pony. If the family’s insurance carrier is worth half of what they get paid, they would find out real fast that, despite AMVA/AAEP guidelines specifying rabies vaccine as a core vaccine, pretty pony’s vet never recommended it.
And pretty pony’s trainer could possibly be held liable, too, as well as the barn owner, etc.
Juries are known to get pretty outraged at times.
I’m not sure how living in suburbia would prevent your horse from coming into contact with the main carrier of rabies - bats.
Vaccinating against rabies is not about avoiding quarantine, it’s about public safety. I wonder how you’d feel about vaccinating if you were the handler who had to undergo post exposure treatment? I’m betting you’d be hopping mad that the idiot that owned the horse was too foolish to have it vaccinated.
As for your horse not having rabies, well, let’s hope not, and indeed probably not, but no-one knows for sure because you didn’t have him vaccinated.
For those of you wondering about rabies cases in Canada.
Can’t read through all the posts, but a few years ago National Geographic ( I think) did a segment on coyotes in LA. They filmed at night with infrared and you wouldn’t believe the huge numbers of coyotes criss-crossing the streets, I mean all over the place. This along with the raccoons, foxes etc not to mention bats which are the most prevalent vector species.
I believe it was a few years ago that Virginia had a horse with rabies and I’ll research that.
Yep, did a quick search and it was in January of 2012 a horse tested positive for rabies in Virginia near the NC border.
[QUOTE=Eventer55;7144021]
Can’t read through all the posts, but a few years ago National Geographic ( I think) did a segment on coyotes in LA. They filmed at night with infrared and you wouldn’t believe the huge numbers of coyotes criss-crossing the streets, I mean all over the place. This along with the raccoons, foxes etc not to mention bats which are the most prevalent vector species.
I believe it was a few years ago that Virginia had a horse with rabies and I’ll research that.
Yep, did a quick search and it was in January of 2012 a horse tested positive for rabies in Virginia near the NC border.[/QUOTE]
There was not just one, but FOUR cases of Rabies reported in horses in Virginia in 2012.
http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/DEE/Rabies/documents/statistics/2012WeeklyReport.pdf
rabid skunks! nooooooo
[QUOTE=skydy;7143519]
I must say I was shocked that the VET SCHOOL hadn’t vaccinated since rabies is notable in the area, especially in the skunk population.[/QUOTE]
As if I weren’t freaked out enough about the rabid squirrels/bats/rats and feral cats, now I won’t sleep cuz of pepe le peeeu…:eek: when can I vaccinate the fillies? one’s only 2 months old. omg, omg, omg
for the poster/vet who’s clients think you’re trying to pad the bill, I think the grand total I’ve paid for a rabies vaccine is in the neighborhood of $12-20.
My rabies vaccines are $22
For your fillies, no earlier than 6 months of age. Should get a 2 shot series.
Here are the AAEP guidelines: http://www.aaep.org/rabies.htm
In the east, we can’t get into shows/events/clinics/hospitals without proof of rabies vaccination. There is a place right on our coggins form for the brand and serial number of the vaccination. I didn’t realize that was any different in other parts of the country.
[QUOTE=SMK;7143189]
Maybe for horses, and perhaps dogs, but that’s a pretty old school thought when it comes to cats. I choose to do titers on my cats due to the high incidence and unpredictable nature of vaccine associated sarcomas, and I’ve never had a cat found to be even close to needing any sort of booster in all of my years of pet ownership. I’m happy to meet more vets these days who are much more aware of real immunology, and not just ancient recommended vaccine schedules not based on actual titer results.[/QUOTE]
I’m curious about what people pay for titers to avoid having to vaccinate and wonder if protective antibody levels for all of the various cat diseases are even known?. I’m pretty sure that information isn’t available for horses and even if it were, it would cost much, much more to draw titers for all diseases horses are routinely vaccinated for. An ELISA for Lyme disease alone costs over $100.
Rabies is a mandatory vaccination in RI for any warm blooded animal that comes in contact with humans (cats, dogs, ferrets, horses, etc.). A rabies certificate less than a year old signed by a licensed veterinarian, along with a current Coggins, are required to legally move your horse off your property, at all shows and boarding stables.
[QUOTE=SMK;7143189]
Maybe for horses, and perhaps dogs, but that’s a pretty old school thought when it comes to cats. I choose to do titers on my cats due to the high incidence and unpredictable nature of vaccine associated sarcomas, and I’ve never had a cat found to be even close to needing any sort of booster in all of my years of pet ownership. I’m happy to meet more vets these days who are much more aware of real immunology, and not just ancient recommended vaccine schedules not based on actual titer results.[/QUOTE]
As has been said, titers may not be a reliable indicator of immunity. There is an adjuvant-free rabies vaccine available for cats. It’s a one year vaccine.
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