RABIES IN CATTLE AND DOGS
THISdisease, it is a notifiable disease meaning that whenever it shows up the veterinary department must5 be notified for the sake of control.
Rabies is a fatal contagious disease of all species of animals but especially of dog and wild carnivores. The disease is communicable to man and the greatest possible caution must be exercised by persons handling suspected cases of rabies.
In cattle, rabies is almost always caused by a bite of a rabid dog. The is hardly ever spread from cow to cow. Transmission is from animal to animal by the bite of one suffering from the disease or by contact with a rabid animal or one excreting the virus. Transmission to domestic animals and man is usually by means of the bite of a rabid dog.
The rabid implanted in the wound by the bite makes its way along the nerves to the brain where it is responsible for the typical clinical signs peculiar to the various species of animals.
In cattle the following can be seen.
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Aggression is very important symptom, but not always present
Hind quarters paralyzed, walks on fetlocks and so the back goes down.
The tail stays to one side, the animal sways to and fro, and when pricked it cannot feel pain on back. Air is sucked in and out because anus is paralyzed, salvation and yawning and also be seen and the animal would have a voiceless bellow and if it is a milking cow the virus may be present in the milk.
In dogs the character changes. Usually at first the behavior is normal. The dog them slinks about eating garbage, leather wood etc. instead of its usual food.
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The can be found to be going round as if making a nest, sulks or hides away. A happy dog becomes unfriendly, or a quiet shy dog becomes bold and friendly.
It may be barking continuously, for no good reason. Strange howling or catching invisible flies loses appetite.
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It may eat rubbish, sticks, stones and at post mortem stones can be found inside the stomach.
The dog hates water but may try to drink, but swallowing is impossible so the water runs out.
Saliva drips plus wet muzzle and the eyes have a strange wild look. Goes mad and running wildly or just wandering.
It loses fear even of wild animals and chasing anything and biting the it. Biting human beings and animals and so spreading the diseases over a wide area. In the final stage the animal is paralyzed. The time elapsed between the bite of a rabid dog and the appearance of the clinical disease may be days, weeks, or months.
In man the nearer the bite is to the head the less time, there is for therapeutic vaccination, which if given in time, can prevent the development of the disease in human beings. In healthy dogs and also cattle a strong immunity can be conferred by protective vaccination. The injection must be repeated at given intervals.
All domestic animals, sheep, horse, and pigs all show progressive paralysis commencing in the hind quarters. However, where human beings have been exposed to infection, the animal should not be destroyed but should be kept in isolation for at least 10 days oy until it dies naturally in order to enable a firm diagnosis to be made.
Milk and saliva from a rabid cow contain the virus and are dangerous if they come into contact with a wound in human beings. Milk is food for many people and other domesticated animal in orphanage on the farm. It is therefore, important for all livestock farmers to be aware of the importance of this disease among kept animals as well to the farmer himself. For all dairy farmers always have the cows tested and vaccinated against rabies. Anything that sows up with symptoms as described above quickly inform the veterinary department.