Rabies Vaccine For Pigs

Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the central nervous system of warm-blooded animals, including pigs. Once symptoms appear, rabies is always fatal in animals and people. In the USA animals that most often transmit rabies are foxes, skunks, bats, and raccoons. Rabies is transmitted through saliva — primarily via bite wounds. But it can also be spread by infected saliva entering an open cut or wound, or contacting a mucous membrane, such as those in the mouth, nasal cavity or eyes. When the virus enters the animal’s body, it spreads through the nerves to reach the brain. Once it’s in the brain it multiplies quickly, and that’s when clinical signs appear. The virus then moves from the brain to the salivary glands and other parts of the body. Animals with rabies may show a variety of different signs. Most of them relate to the effect of the virus on the brain.

Rabies appears in pigs and other animals in two basic forms, dumb rabies and furious rabies. With dumb rabies, animals may appear depressed and try to hide. Wild animals may lose their fear of humans, and appear unusually friendly. Dumb rabies may also cause paralysis, often of the face and neck or the hind legs. With furious rabies animals may become very excited and aggressive. Periods of excitement usually alternate with periods of depression. The animal may attack objects or other animals and may even bite or chew their own limbs. Rabies cases in pigs are extremely rare in the USA. The largest rabies exposure risk for pet pigs is outdoor housing or unsupervised exercise time where contact with infected wildlife is possible. Pigs housed indoors are extremely unlikely to be exposed to the rabies virus if the other feline and canine household pets have been properly vaccinated.

Description

Pigs infected with rabies are rare. Early signs may include excitement, aggression, lack of coordination, excessive salivation, backwards walking, phantom chewing, and lethargy. Final stages of disease include depression, convulsions, and lying down. Onset is sudden with nervous twitching of the face muscles, fits and convulsions, rapid chewing, salivation, muscles spasms and posterior paralysis.

  • Prevention: Currently, there is no approved rabies vaccine labeled for pigs. Owners are encouraged to provide adequate housing and fencing to prevent exposure to wild animals and potential attacks.

Features of Rabies Vaccine For Pigs

There is no licensed vaccine for rabies in the pig. Most veterinarians use the dog or horse vaccine for pigs.  Studies have shown that most pigs develop protective antibodies after vaccination with the dog or horse rabies vaccine.This is an economic issue in many ways – the pet pig population is not large enough to support the cost for a drug company to test and develop a proven rabies vaccine for the pet pig.Commercial swine are not vaccinated for rabies. They are generally not exposed because of the method of farming and most commercial pigs are slaughtered before rabies would become a problem.Your veterinarian may or may not recommend a rabies vaccine for your pig.If your pig bites someone, then animal control or other authorities may become involved. In many areas, doctors are required to report animal bites to the health department.   Your pig may be quarantined, either in your home, or at the animal control facility.  Quarantine can be from 10 to 60 days.  Your pig may be seized and tested for rabies.  The test for rabies causes the death of the animal.If your pig has been vaccinated for rabies, it is much more likely that you will be able to quarantine your pig in your home rather than having it seized.If you choose to vaccinate your pig for rabies, it should be vaccinated at 4 months of age, with a booster in 1 year. Then every 3 years.

  • People are highly susceptible to the disease so unless you have been properly vaccinated barricade the affected pig away from the others and keep right away from it yourself.
  • The saliva of the pig is highly infectious and can exist as an aerosol which you might inhale. Call your veterinarian quickly and let him deal with the situation.
  • Beware that other pigs may be incubating the disease. Inspect them all frequently and if any behave suspiciously separate them and keep away from them yourself.
  • In regions where rabies is common farm staff and the farm dogs should be vaccinated.

Prices of Rabies Vaccine For Pigs

$35.95 – $157.99

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