A bull owned by a farmer in southwestern Manitoba was euthanized late last month, adding to the tally of livestock claimed by rabies during a peak in the disease’s cycle.
The farm where the bull was penned was also placed under a two-month quarantine as a precaution in case other livestock were infected.
Tom Walshe, a veterinarian based at Killarney, Man., said the bull had bellowed incessantly for about three days before it was destroyed. Walshe said the animal was oblivious to his presence when he went to check on it.
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“Every time you see a neurological problem in an animal, you have to consider rabies.”
George Luterbach of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, said Manitoba is at the high end of its rabies cycle.
There were 223 confirmed cases of the disease last year in Manitoba compared to 24 in 1996.
Victims last year included wildlife, as well as cattle, horses, dogs, cats and a bison. Nineteen cattle and three horses were diagnosed with the disease.
Luterbach said signs of rabies in livestock are behavioral changes or symptoms that suggest a neurological problem.
In advanced cases of rabies, varying degrees of throat paralysis can occur, making it difficult for the animal to swallow. That may cause the drooling effect often associated with rabies.
Unusual bellowing can be another symptom.
Walshe said he has encountered a dozen cases of rabies in cattle during his more than 20 years in practice.
Skunks are a common carrier of the disease in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Foxes and raccoons are other carriers.
“If a rabid animal bites domestic livestock, there’s a good chance the (bitten) animal is going to contract rabies.”
Once the animal contracts rabies, the odds are that it will die or will have to be destroyed.
Owners who suspect rabies in livestock should contact a veterinarian to have the animal checked.
Luterbach encouraged pet owners to keep their dogs and cats vaccinated against the disease.
A wild animal that is acting strangely should be reported to the province’s natural resources department and a federal veterinarian.
“We like to encourage people to observe wildlife rather than handle them.”
