With 12 cases of equine rabies already confirmed in 2013, horse owners should be vigilant about vaccinating their horses against this fatal disease. Those equine cases are among the hundreds of cases discovered this year in other species, including bats, cats, dogs, cows, foxes, raccoons, and skunks.

“In 2011, which is the last year for which we have complete data, there were 44 confirmed cases of rabies in horses,” says Megan Green, DVM, equine specialist for Merial’s Large Animal Veterinary Services. “But what really should be a concern for horse owners is the number of cases in wildlife as most horses are kept in areas near wildlife habitats. I’m sure every barn owner has seen skunks, foxes, raccoons and the occasional bat in and around their barns.”

Besides the cases in horses, in the past several years, there have been thousands of incidents of animals with confirmed rabies, 92% of which were in wildlife: 2009 saw 6,694 cases, 2010 saw 6,155 cases, and 2011 saw 6,037 cases.

The fate of horses that contract rabies is dismal, as rabies is always fatal. Clinical signs include, but are not limited to, going off feed, depression, excessive salivation, difficulty swallowing, lack of coordination, aggressive behavior, hyperexcitability, colic, convulsions, or paralysis. These signs are similar to other diseases affecting the horse’s nervous system, but in the case of rabies, become so severe, the horse is euthanized or dies within days