Oklahoma veterinarians see recent rise in horses being diagnosed with rabies
Statewide, veterinarians typically only see an average of two or three cases of rabies per year.
Statewide, veterinarians typically only see an average of two or three cases of rabies per year.
Statewide, veterinarians typically only see an average of two or three cases of rabies per year.
There's been an alarming number of Oklahoma horses diagnosed with rabies in the past month.
Statewide, veterinarians typically only see an average of two or three cases of rabies per year.
"So far, we've had seven cases. But four of them have been in the last month," State Veterinarian Rod Hall said. "This seems to be a little excessive."
Hall said the disease usually is spread by other wildlife.
"The two species that carry rabies in Oklahoma are skunks and bats," he said. "So, it's almost 100% of the time going to be from a skunk or a bat."
The best way to stop the spread is to vaccinate your animals, according to Hall.
"They can either get their veterinarian to do the vaccinations for them, for the animals that they're around a lot," Hall said. "Or, they can purchase the vaccine and give the vaccine themselves to their livestock."
Unfortunately, horses don't survive once they get rabies.
People who think their horses have been exposed should not stick their hands in the horse's mouth. Instead, they should call a vet.