Pied Piper of Hamelin
Hamelin in 1284 suffers from a plague of rats.
One day a stranger reports to the town council claiming to be able to rid the town of all rats.
The rat-catcher takes out a flute and begins to play.
As if hypnotized, the rats follow the man with the flute from every hole and hole.
He runs with the rats to the river in which he drowns them all.
At the Efteling, a reference to the fairy tale is present in the Diorama.
Mice and rats, nobody wants them and yet they are often present in stables even today and can do quite some damage: they bite your blankets, can gnaw on the electrical wiring but can also make your horse quite sick.
Leptospirosis or Weil’s disease, also called rat disease is caused by a bacterium Leptospirosis and it can be transmitted by rats.
It is present in the urine of the animals and enters the body through small skin lesions or intact mucous membranes.
Often you won’t notice anything about your horse, but sometimes the disease can cause mild to quite severe symptoms.
Horses may experience drowsiness, diarrhea, mild colic symptoms but abortion in the pregnant mare may also occur.
Because the symptoms are so variable, it often takes a while to diagnose.
It is important to demonstrate the bacteria in infected tissues or fluids.
This is best done in conjunction with the demonstration of antibodies in the blood.
In terms of treatment, antibacterial treatment should be started as soon as possible, and preventively, extra attention should be paid to proper pest control.
If your horse is showing signs of illness it is wise to have a veterinarian come in.
If your horse is recovering from rats disease or another illness, a detox cure with Golden Herbs can give your horse extra support.
Author: Hilde Vrancken
Veterinary specialist
