Texas cow with Rabies

[haypoint]

Grayson Co. confirmed case of rabies in cow [TX]

KXII.com

July 26, 2012





GRAYSON COUNTY, TX -- A show cow in Grayson County tested positive for rabies near the end of June. Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the central nervous system and is rarely ever seen in cows.



Each year, the Texas Department of State Health Services reports the number of animals tested for rabies. Of the state's 232 counties listed last year, only nine counties had rabid bovine including Grayson.



Texas Department of State Health Services out of Arlington notified Grayson County Health about the infected cow just a few weeks ago.



The show heffer was a beloved family pet from southwest Grayson County.





Full text: Grayson Co. confirmed case of rabies in cow

[arnie]

A friends saddle horse got rabies a few years ago .a very sad way for a good animal to go.caution must be used around animals espchily live stock as they become dangerious - and are contagious through contact with the salivia ie. Salt blocks feed troughs

[mekasmom]

Stupid question, But---
How does a cow get rabies? It would have had to be bitten by a carrier like a coon or skunk or something, yes?

[copperkid3]

Originally Posted by mekasmom

Stupid question, But---
How does a cow get rabies? It would have had to be bitten by a carrier like a coon or skunk or something, yes?

* * * * * *
feeding at a trough; although a salt block would be a more likely medium.

[wvdexters]

I didn't even realize cattle could get rabies until this spring when my new vet recommended getting my heifers vaccinated. I had always gotten my pets done as this is a bad area for rabies but I never thought about the cows. I am glad I followed his advice.

[arnie]

Originally Posted by arnie

A friends saddle horse got rabies a few years ago .a very sad way for a good animal to go.caution must be used around animals espchily live stock as they become dangerious - and are contagious through contact with the salivia ie. Salt blocks feed troughs

Any mammal can get rabies from being bitten by another carrier the vires lives in the salivia of the carrier so any where the poor animail touches with its mouth or chews salt blocks feed troughs board fences .it is common for a rabid animail to "Foam" at the mouth and drip and sling contaminated saliva in grass which may be ingested by grazers .as there brains become infected and they loose their sanity even a gentle pet horse or cow can bite any thing moveing .raccons , skunks and bats seem to be common carriers and if they are seen out other than there normal times say walking round during daytime or showing no fear of humans tay away.

[Ruralnurse]

According to the CDC the rabies virus can only live a few seconds in saliva outside the host animal. It is unlikely that the heifer got the virus from a salt block or feeding trough. She was probably bit by a bat. They are so common, often not seen by people because they are more active at night and are a common carrier of rabies. A few years ago here a woman was bit by a bat that was in her bed. It had climbed under her blankets and bit her on the ankle. It had rabies and she was successfully treated with post-exposure serum.

There have been rare incidences where deer have been exposed to aerosolized rabies virus from being in a bat infested cave. The cave was tight enough and there were enough bats that the virus could stay "moist" enough (aerosolized) to be transmitted.

I was a vet tech in the Army and rabies prevention was one of our main missions. I was in-charge of the rabies control and animal bite prevention on Ft. Devens for almost 5 years. One of the things I had to do was go to emergency departments and do education for staff. Not how to medically treat the injury but how to get proper information so we could find the animals.

Just wanted to clarify that it would be very unlikely that any animal could get rabies from a salt block or feed trough.

Ruralnurse

[ycanchu2]

Originally Posted by Ruralnurse

According to the CDC the rabies virus can only live a few seconds in saliva outside the host animal. It is unlikely that the heifer got the virus from a salt block or feeding trough. She was probably bit by a bat. They are so common, often not seen by people because they are more active at night and are a common carrier of rabies. A few years ago here a woman was bit by a bat that was in her bed. It had climbed under her blankets and bit her on the ankle. It had rabies and she was successfully treated with post-exposure serum.

There have been rare incidences where deer have been exposed to aerosolized rabies virus from being in a bat infested cave. The cave was tight enough and there were enough bats that the virus could stay "moist" enough (aerosolized) to be transmitted.

I was a vet tech in the Army and rabies prevention was one of our main missions. I was in-charge of the rabies control and animal bite prevention on Ft. Devens for almost 5 years. One of the things I had to do was go to emergency departments and do education for staff. Not how to medically treat the injury but how to get proper information so we could find the animals.

Just wanted to clarify that it would be very unlikely that any animal could get rabies from a salt block or feed trough.

Ruralnurse

Thanks for the medical lesson, I've heard most things can't live in the presence of oxygen for very long. Its reassuring to know my salt feeder isn't a disease spreader.

[noeskimo]

Many years ago, when working at a vet clinic, a stud bull at a children's home contracted rabies. Source of infection was determined to be from a bite on lower leg, probably skunk or raccoon.Remember,a rabid animal can become illogically aggressive, and do stupid things like attacking a bull's leg.