Rare Rabid Cow in GA

[haypoint]

Animal control officers and veterinarians in Jackson and Southern Hall counties are urging people to make sure their pets' rabies vaccinations are up to date after authorities confirmed that a rabid cow had attacked its owner and rabid bobcat had attacked two dogs.



"Our pets are a buffer between people and wildlife, and if people get their pets vaccinated that helps protect people," said Dr. Kinsey Phillips, owner of Commerce Veterinary Hospital.



On Jan. 20 a Gillsville man had to shoot a bobcat that went after his dogs in his yard near the Jackson-Hall county line. A week earlier, a Maysville farmer was attacked by one of his cows, and the animal later was determined to be rabid.



It is very rare to see rabies in a cow, Phillips said.



The Maysville farmer who called Phillips' office had told the large animal vet working on the case that the cow knocked him down and attacked him. Both the veterinarian and the farmer had rabies shots after coming into contact with the animal, Phillips said.

[Allen W]

It is very rare to see rabies in a cow, Phillips said.

I think saying it is very rare is downplaying the incident. Rabies in livestock is not a very common occurance but still a possibilty worth considering.

[haypoint]

Originally Posted by Allen W

It is very rare to see rabies in a cow, Phillips said.

I think saying it is very rare is downplaying the incident. Rabies in livestock is not a very common occurance but still a possibilty worth considering.

So as to not upset you, Allen, I put Rare as the first word in the title, so you wouldn't miss it. LOL

Recently, there was a woodchuck Michigan with rabies. That makes it even more important that we vacinate our pets.

[oregon woodsmok]

Not unheard of. Occasionally, a horse will get rabies, too. But not common enough so that cattle or horses are generally vaccinated against rabies.

Still... know the symptoms.

[DENALI]

Good thing this wasnt in Kansas or i would have assumed it was my MIL

[Patrick]

It's not unheard of. Several years ago there was a rabid cow in Massachusetts. Dozens of people who drank raw milk from her were given rabies vaccinations.