Equine Strangles

After hearing about the diagnosed cases of Equine strangles in Guernsey, Animal Friends would like to help you understand more about this horrible infection.

All about Strangles

Strangles, also known as Streptococcus equi, is a highly infectious bacterial infection of the respiratory system which affects horses, ponies and donkeys. Although fatality rates are low, it is one of the most common respiratory infections in horses which requires expert veterinary attention and isolation. Any horse can be affected by strangles, however, the horses that are most at risk are; younger horses, competition horses that travel frequently and horses that are kept in large numbers.

Strangles is transmitted via human contact, via horse-to-horse contact or through feed, tack, rugs and equipment. Interestingly, it is shown that strangles is frequently transmitted through shared water buckets and troughs; this is because the bacterium responsible can live for longer periods of time in these conditions.

What to look out for in your horse

The most common clinical signs to look for include;

• Nasal discharge, at first discharge is clear but develops to thick mucus with signs of pus, due to ruptured abscesses in the nasal passages.
• A cough 
• Depression 
• Fever 
• Anorexia 
• Enlarged glands and lymph nodes on the head and neck which can then go on to form abscesses.

Generally, the infection is restricted to the head and neck area, however, further infection throughout the body can occur in some cases. If you suspect your horse is showing signs of strangles, you must immediately call your vet.

It is important that if you suspect any horse has strangles, the yard should be put into isolation.
Your vet will make a diagnosis made from the above symptoms; however, a clinical diagnosis is made when a swab has been taken from the nose and throat (including the guttural pouch).

Treatment

Treatment for strangles can be tough as there is not a lot that your vet can do to help your horse. The main source of treatment will come from you, as a loving owner, giving your equine friend plenty of sympathetic care, attention to good stable management and adhering to a high level of hygiene.
If strangles is diagnosed in the early stages, before any abscesses have formed, antibiotics can be given successfully. On the other hand, if abscesses have formed at the stage of diagnosis, then the vet will need to drain the infected pus casuals by lancing them. They are then washed out with an antiseptics solution until they are healed.

Course of action on the yard

As strangles is highly contagious, it is vital that once a diagnosis has been made, the yard must be closed. Infected horses should be isolated; otherwise they will put other horses at risk.

If there are horses which are showing no signs of strangles, you should keep a close eye on them so that any new cases of strangles are diagnosed in the early stages, therefore much easier to treat.

All of the yard and equipment should be disinfected, including tack, clothes and rugs.

Strangles has an incubation period which is usually up to 14 days. However, new cases can occur up to 21 days after the initial outbreak, so be extra observant after the initial fortnight. You should also be aware that approximately 10% of horses who recover will become ‘carriers’ which means they can harbour strangles with no symptoms or clinical signs. This will increase the risk of further outbreaks.

Prevention

There are limited ways to prevent strangles; however, to reduce risk, you should always bring new horses onto a yard via isolation for up to 3 weeks. Avoid overcrowding of the yard as close contact between horses is the fastest way of strangles being transmitted.

It is advisable for you to avoid contact with horses that you are unsure of their origin. All of these methods of prevention are down to sensible stable management, which should be carried out on any yard.

Animal Friends Horse Insurance is committed to help you understand conditions which can affect your Equine Friend. If you have any concern that your horse may be showing symptoms of strangles, we recommend that you seek veterinary advice immediately.