Rabies continues to be a concern in Colorado. There have been cases of rabies in horses and other animals in El Paso County and other counties in the state of Colorado in 2009 and already in 2010. Please consider vaccinating your horses for rabies and ensure that your dogs and cats are up to date on their rabies vaccinations as well.
Rabies is a viral disease in mammals—including people.
Rabies infects the brain and other parts of the central nervous system, causing brain swelling and damage, and ultimately, death. Rabies is spread primarily through the bite of rabid animals, resulting in the spread of the disease through their infected saliva. Rabies also can be spread when saliva from an infected animal gets into open wounds, cuts or enters through membranes of the eyes, nose, or mouth. No cure exists for rabies once symptoms appear. Preventive medication is available for people known or suspected to have been bitten by a rabid animal. It is critically important for people bitten or scratched by a wild animal or an unfamiliar animal to contact their health care provider.
Rabies always is present in bats in Colorado. The finding of rabies in skunks increases the possibility that rabies will spread to other wild animals, including unvaccinated pets and livestock—the animals that have the most frequent contact with humans.
In addition to ensuring that pets and livestock are vaccinated properly against rabies, Buckland recommends these prevention steps:
Don’t feed wild animals or allow your pets around them. Be sure to teach children to stay away from wild mammals.
Contact your veterinarian if your dog or cat is bitten or scratched by a wild animal, such as skunks, bats, foxes or raccoons.
If you suspect you’ve been exposed to rabies, contact your physician without delay.
Discuss rabies vaccination of your livestock with your veterinarian. Vaccination should be considered for horses and other equines, breeding livestock, dairy cattle or other high-value livestock.
If you observe a wild mammal acting strangely, especially a skunk, or if you find a dead skunk, stay away from it. Strange behavior for a skunk would include being out and about during daytime hours.
If you find a dead skunk on your property, wear rubber gloves or lift the carcass with a shovel or other tool, and double-bag it for the trash.
