• Home
  • Weblinks
  • Impressum and Contact

Horseback Riding worldwide

The World of Horses - Worldwide horseback riding vacations, riding stables and riding lessons

You are here: Home / Horse deseases – First Aid – Healthiness / Strangles – a nasty and prolonged illness

Strangles – a nasty and prolonged illness

02/15/2012 by Helena

Strangles is a contagious infectious disease which is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus equi.

It is an infection of the upper respiratory tract of the horse.  Especially younger horses can easily suffer from this disease but in the past horses of any age have been infected. Horses with regular contact to unfamiliar horses are particularly endangered (e.g. show horses).

How does my horse get infected?

The disease is spread by contaminated barns, pastures and sometimes by your clothing as well as by contact to an already infected horse.

How to prevent an infection?

An infection can be prevented by good hygienic conditions of the stable and the environment of the animal. Any contact to unfamiliar horses should be avoided. Horses that are already infected need to be isolated from the rest of the herd and any contact should be avoided for at least six weeks.  There is also a vaccine available.

What are the symptoms for Strangles?

First signs of Strangles are fever, nasal discharge and swollen/enlarged lymph nodes.  The lymph nodes are enlarged because of abscesses which are filled with pus. In some cases the abscesses can spread to other organs in the body (e.g. kidney, liver, lung or in some cases even the brain).

What can I do if my horse is infected?

If you think your horse might be infected or if it shows some or one of the symptoms described above you need to contact your vet.  Your vet can decide best if your horse needs antibiotics. In some cases the vet helps the horse by opening up the abscesses and draining the pus. Opened abscesses can be treated with iodine solution to accelerate the healing process.

Are there complications?

If the illness is not treated correctly there can be complications. It is possible that the Strangles becomes chronic. In that case the horse will keep the bactrium for ever. Other complications include asphyxia (due to enlarged lymph nodes compressing the larynx or windpipe), bastard strangles (spreading to other areas of the body), pneumonia, guttural pouches filled with pus, abscesses, purpura hemorrhagica and heart disease.

After recovery

After recovery the horse should be monitored for at least three weeks before it gets into contact with other horses. Additionally the body temperature should be checked regularly to prevent a relapse.

Surftips:

  • Horses with Liver Disease
  • Narcolepsy – If Horses just fall asleep
  • Horses with a Lack of Selenium

Filed Under: Horse deseases – First Aid – Healthiness

Categories

  • Breed of Horse
  • Corona Crisis
  • Did you know, …
  • Equipment for Horse and Rider
  • General
  • Hard to believe ….
  • Horse Care and Feeding
  • Horse deseases – First Aid – Healthiness
  • Horse Movies
  • Horse Quotes and Sayings
  • Horse Training and Manners
  • Horse Trekking
  • Horses and Dogs
  • Not Without My Horse
  • Poisonous and Medicinal Plants for horses
  • Ranch Vacations
  • Ranches for sale
  • Riding Lessons and Training
  • Riding Vacations on Horseback
  • top
  • Travel Stories – Riding Vacations
  • Videos
  • Wild Horses

Recent Comments

  • Essential vitamins for horses - Horseback Riding worldwide on Equine exertional rhabdomyolysis (Tying UP) in horses – the horse immediately needs to stop moving
  • Apples, carrots, sugar beets- useful tips for the right feeding - Horseback Riding worldwide on Essential vitamins for horses
  • The most important minerals for horses - Horseback Riding worldwide on Horses with Liver Disease – Origins and Treatment
  • Did you know, that hoof horn only freezes at ... - Horseback Riding worldwide on Road traffic security for horses – how riders can prepare their horses for the streets
  • Did you know, that horses can smell water? - Horseback Riding worldwide on Road traffic security for horses – how riders can prepare their horses for the streets

Copyright © 2022 — Horseback Riding worldwide • All rights reserved.