[Jacob-list] (rabies)

[Grose]

I have to go along with Sue's thinking about rabies on this. It doesn't help
that vaccines are not often checked for use on sheep, since they are a
'minor use animal'. From what I understand, sheep and cows both have a
rather low "spreading" capability as compared to critters with sharp teeth
and a biting temperament. People like me are at some risk because we treat
animals that are sick on a regular basis, and it is not easy to come up with
a good diagnosis of these animals early on. Ketotic animals, for example,
may mimic rabies symptomatic animals. It is almost a necessity to do a post
mortem exam on any animal that has neurological problems and dies. Several
years ago, we had a heifer in the pasture that became sick and died with
neurological symptoms, after I had done things like drench her with
electrolytes. The vet at the lab came in on Forth of July weekend to post
her! Fortunately, it turned out that she had had hardware. [She had consumed
a piece of wire that had punctured the reticulam and gone into her heart.]

Neal Grose
North Carolina

----- Original Message -----
From: <stonecroft235 at juno.com>
To: <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
Sent: Sunday, September 15, 2002 9:29 PM
Subject: [Jacob-list] (no subject)


> Regarding rabies -- it seems that nearly every year a rabid wild animal
> is discovered in the area where we live.............and we certainly are
> surrounded with lots of foxes, raccoons, skunks, etc.  I have had two
> separate instances where we have had sheep sprayed by skunks --- in fact,
> one of our ewes is presently still carrying a faint scent of "Polecat
> Cologne".   Our neighbors regularly vaccinate their horses - we have
> never vaccinated our sheep.......although certainly the cats and the dog
> are all up to date with their vaccinations.    My reasoning goes
> something like this -- a horse costs a lot more than a sheep--therefore
> vaccinate them -- a vet bill to vaccinate costs about as much as a sheep
> and  a rabid sheep will probably not bite me and it's behavior will alert
> me of its condition---so we opt to not vaccinate.  (Sorta like a guy we
> know who doesn't bother to give his beagle Heartguard - he figures the
> money he spends on Heartguard could also be spent on a new beagle!!!)
>
> Sue Martin
> Stonecroft Manor
> Lititz, PA
>
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