About Strangles

Strangles is a highly contagious and dangerous infection caused by a bacteria known as Streptococcus equi which affects the lymph nodes. It is spread to other horses by direct contact and can be spread by contaminated food, water and equipment. Horses under 5 years of age are more susceptible than older horses and it most often occurs when the weather is cold and damp. Once a horse becomes infected the symptoms usually appear within 2 to 6 days.

Symptoms of Strangles

Symptoms of Strangles include sudden high temperature, inflammation of lymph nodes accompanyed by nasal catarrh and often coughing. The horse is distressed and may be off its feed as swallowing is difficult. Although not usually fatal if left untreated the lymph nodes can abscess. These will usually burst and drain but in extreme cases the abscess can become so large as to cause the windpipe to be crushed resulting in strangulation of the horse.

Treatment of Strangles

Any horse suspected of suffering from Strangles should be isolated from others and veterinary advice should be sought immediately. Antibiotics will usually resolve the infection but in severe cases the abscess may require to be lanced and the horse fed intravenous fluids.