Strangles 

What is it?

Strangles is a common bacterial infection in horses that is also extremely contagious. It affects the upper respiratory tract and is caused by the bacteria Streptococcus equi. It not only affects horses but also donkeys and ponies of all ages. It commonly causes the lymph nodes to which lie around the jaw to become inflamed, it the infection is severe it can even push onto the trachea casing the horse to struggle to breathe and in essence strangle hence the name given to the infection.

In rare situations it can even cause abscesses to form on other organs in the body and can even lead to death. 

How is it spread?

As it targets the upper respiratory tract it is commonly spread via sneezing and passing through the air just like a human cold and therefore it is advised that if horses share a stable or paddock then they are isolated so prevent spreading as much as possible. It can also be spread via the handler if they have handled an infected horse and then handled a healthy horse. 

Symptoms 

  • Nasal discharge
  • Loss of appetite/ difficulty eating
  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Drainage of pus around the jaw/ nose

Treatment, Prevention & Control

Treatment for this infection is anti-inflammatory medication prescribed by a veterinarian to allow for easier breathing. Sometimes antibiotics can be prescribed however this tends to be on a case by case basis and is decided by a vet. 

If the horse has any hard pus in their guttural pouch that is removed via endoscopy, in addition to aid with the release of pressure and the drainage of abscesses it is advised that when feeding an infected horse their food should be wet and sloppy but also kept on the floor and not suspended as the downward motion of the head allows for drainage releasing the pressure and for easier eating for the horse.  

As mentioned previously it is advised that infected horses are isolated from healthy horses, ideally 25m away but if that is not possible then at least 10m. In addition,  separate equipment and clothing is used when handling those infected to prevent cross contamination and if possible allocate a single person to deal with the infected and another to deal with the healthy. Regular cleaning and disinfecting of everything is also recommended until infection is completely eradicated which is preferably when at least 3 negative test results are provided in a row.  

This is not a notifiable disease therefore you do not need to notify an governing bodies of any outbreak on your premises.