Do I need to worry about rabies?

[mpete]

I know I seem like I am being a worry wart, but one of my pack wethers had a
knotch bitten out of his ear late morning/early afternoon. Not a big knotch, but you can tell it was done by a canine-type animal. I have a history of my
neighbors dogs harrassing my animals and since it was the middle of the day I am assuming it was his dog...But....if it 'was' a wild animal during the day should I worry about Rabies? Can goats get the vaccine? What should I look out for?

[farmmom]

I believe any animal can get the vaccine. Depending on your state laws, a vet may be required to administer it. I have a goat with two notches in her ear where a dog got her through a chain link fence when she was still on the bottle. Made me so mad!!

[julieq]

Back when we lived in Alabama there was a huge rabies population. I'm not sure of the symptoms to watch for, but I'd certainly ask a vet. We vaccinated all the animals that we were in close contact with (basically everyone except our beef cattle). That included dogs, cats, horses, goats and our dairy cow.

[Minelson]

As far as I know there is no rabies vaccination available for Goats.

[mygoat]

The rabies vaccine can be ordered through jeffers and can be used on almost any animal. To be recognized by, say, a court if your dog bites someone, in most states it MUST be given by a vet and be on record. Wether or not the vaccine is APPROVED for goats, I have no idea - though I have heard of people giving the vaccine to goats. Most things we give our goats isn't approved for them, anyways.

Goats are mainly not given rabies vaccinations because of the very miniscule numbers of goats affected by rabies - and also because they'd really have to gnaw on a human to transmit the disease to us through biting. Also, for the profit oriented goat person, it just isn't worth it.

[Bearfootfarm]

also because they'd really have to gnaw on a human to transmit the disease to us through biting

It can be spread through unpasturized milk, and any contact of bodily fluids to an open wound.

It's not just from bites

[mygoat]

Yes, that's true - that's why I said through bites - but the relatively low transmittance from goats to people thorugh any form is likely why it isn't given more often.

[Pony]

I'd check with the county to get the numbers on the morbidity/mortality for rabies in your area.

If the neighbor's dogs are harassing your animals and bit one of them, you also want the county to know so they can verify if your neighbor's dogs are vaccinated. If the animals are not vaccinated, the neighbors may have to pay a fine, quarantine the dog(s) in question, and a bunch of other unpleasant consequences that come with not taking care of your dogs.