Not always Rabies

Living in North Dakota brings with it some unique experiences. One thing very common here that I haven't had to deal with anywhere else is Rabies. It is a big problem and we have several cases a year. I know you are all having flashbacks to Old Yeller right now. We actually see cases very commonly in cattle as well as dogs, cats, horses and really most of the species we deal with. We rarely see a foaming at the mouth animal that is trying to bite someone. Generally ours are just acting funny or walk funny or can't stand up. Rabies is endemic in both skunks and raccoons in the state so we have a doubly great chance of contracting rabies.

Since it is so common we have many clients that have animals acting unusual and almost always the first question out of their mouth is, "Could it be Rabies?". Not surprisingly our very diplomatic answer is generally, "It could...and there are some other things we should think about". A case this week was one of these.

A cow presented with history of drooling with her tongue hanging out and acting a little funny. As she walked off the trailer I was pretty sure that it wasn't rabies. The tongue was hanging out and she was drooling but she also had a big lump on the side of her cheek and was very thin. My immediate thought was that this cow had broken her jaw. Another doctor was right there with me and began examining her mouth and immediately piped up with, "well you guessed wrong". One quick look in her mouth showed that a broken bone was the problem, but it wasn't hers...she had half of the pelvis of a calf jammed sideways in her mouth and was completely unable to close her jaw or move her tongue. Of course we took it out, gave her antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory and sent her on her way.

Just goes to show you that your first guess, and all too often your second guess isn't always right. That and not every cow that "foams at the mouth" has rabies.