Rabies shot ?

Question

my new horse bit another horse i dont have the papers that says he got his rabies shot but im pretty sure he did his previous owners were supposed to mail the papers to me but havent returned my phone calls in 2 weeks. Can the owner of the bit horse have my horse put down? how can i find out if he has had his rabies shot? what should i do im scared?

P.S. i live in ny state in case the laws are diffrent

Answer 1

Horses bite other horses *all the time*. It's natural behavior.  I can't believe there is a law that says a horse can be put down for biting another horse. I looked up the law (see below) and the New York rabies law only applies to dogs, cats and ferrets. The only reference to horses is if a dog attacks a horse, the punishment for a dog damaging livestock.

It sounds like you ran into an a$$hole owner who just wants to scare you. I'm betting his/her horse is a show horse and he/she is freaked because their horse now has a blemish and wants to punish you emotionally by scaring you with this impossible threat.

It's very, very rare for a horse to carry rabies. It's not the same as a dog or other animals that carry rabies.

Relax.

Answer 2

Most horses do not get regular rabies shots unless there's an outbreak among feral dogs, cats and local wildlife.  It's unlikely the horse that bit yours has rabies, but if you are concerned about it, talk to your vet.

Answer 3

well if u tried everything to reach the owner then they are probably avoiding u becuase he didnt get a shot

i would reccomend getting another shot if u can afford it

Answer 4

Horses can get rabies but it's not really that commom.

In what situation did your horse bite the other horse? It's pretty common for a horse to bite another as they are herd animals and that is how they establish their "pecking order". How severe was the bite? Did it keep "going after it" or was it just a fast bite then ignore it after it was out of reach?

Rabies in horses generally shows many neuroliogic signs before the classic onset of aggression. These usually start as fver, being hyper-sensitive to any touch, strange lethargy or even a phantom lameness that you can't find a cause for, or weakness such as dragging or knuckling a leg but it not sensitive or showing any pain or lack of mobility in it.

That progresses quickly to more extreme symptoms like swaying, inabilty to rise from the ground, stumbling, inability to swallow ect, or other symptoms caused by lack of motor control and partial paralysis.

Usually the extreme aggression, attacking objects like mangers, walls ect and (yes they will attack humans as well!) is closer to the last stage that includes siezures, extreme heart rate & respiration, seeming to slip in and out of a coma like state ect.

To me it doesn't sound like your horse has contracted rabies, I'd go more strongly towards it just bite another horse for whatever reason made sense to it at the time. Some horses are just more aggressive about protecting their space.  Horses are not like dogs that have the "bite laws" having them put to sleep if they bite a human or another dog.

I certainly don't think you need to worry about the owner of the bitten horse being able to have yours put PTS, at the worst I think you would have to cover any vet bills or treatment resulting from the bite.

You can find much more info on rabies at this link. I think it will greatly help ease your mind to find out more info. If on the off chance your horse is exibiting more classic symptoms talk to your vet. Rabies can show many signs and symptoms of almost any other disease so all of those should be thoroughly ruled out first by your vet.

Click here;

http://www.petplace.com/horses/rabies-in...

Answer 5

The only thing that can be done is for you to get a date or the previous vet's # to get the dates of vaccinations.

If your horse hasn't had a rabies then you need to start the series (for your horses security)

The owner of the bit horse just needs to get another rabies shot if they are that freaked out.  *rolling eyes*

Aint that the whole reason for getting a rabies? To prevent?

you to them:

"Ummm, does your horse have a rabies? Then why are you all freaked out?  He's safe"

Talk to your vet then you can tell the other people if they continue to be idiots...to get bent.  No no..don't say that!  Just tell them they need to discuss rabies with their own vet to educate themselves :)

Answer 6

Rabies in horses are rare and usually only occurs in wild horses.  They won't put your horse down unless it is known to carry rabies.  If there is a possibility, it may be quarantined for several months.  

Horses often bite each other.  It is a natural form of self-defense.