There is no treatment or vaccine currently available for this disease. History Scrapie is found in countries all over the world. It was made a reportable disease in Canada in 1945, and there has been a control program in place since that time. Scrapie was last diagnosed in goats in Canada in 1973. Once an animal appears ill, however, it will die in one to two months.
Cases usually occur in animals between two and five years of age.
Once an animal has the disease, it is infected for life. Most of the symptoms involve the nervous system. Early on, animals may display a change in their behavior, becoming either aggressive or apprehensive. Owners often notice that sheep with scrapie seem disoriented and do not remain with the flock when it is herded. Later on, infected animals may start grinding their teeth, nibbling with their lips, or biting at their feet and limbs.