As there has been a recent rise in the number of cases of strangles in the UK I thought this post was worth revisiting.
If you are continuing to compete, and travel off site with your horse then you want to ensure there is no nose-nose contact, and only use your own water and equipment to minimise the risk of catching Strangles. Then just being sensible if you go to different yards, like me, by keeping clothes clean, hands washed, and stay knowledgeable about developments abs confirmed cases in your area.
I heard from a friend who I haven’t seen for a while that there has been a few cases of strangles in the area.
For those of you who don’t know what strangles is, it’s a respiratory disease caused by the bacteria Streptococcus equi, that is highly contagious.
Strangles can be fatal, but it’s primary cause for concern is the speed at which it spreads around a yard or area, particularly in enclosed stable settings.
Symptoms of strangles include fever, nasal discharge and depression initially, with the horse losing their appetite. Typically, the temperature rises to 41°C. After a few days lymph nodes around the throat swell, forming abscesses. The horse can have difficulty breathing and swallowing (hence the name ‘strangles’). A nasal discharge is at first clear and then becomes purulent after the abscesses have ruptured in the nasal passages. Sometimes the vet surgically opens the abscesses to help…
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