Strangles in horses how long does it last

Aside from observing the obvious physical signs in diagnosis, veterinarians can run cultures of the nasal drainage to see if it contains the streptococcal organism.

Exposure often occurs when a new horse, who's shedding the S. The organisms spread from horse to horse through direct contact, such as touching muzzles, environmental contamination and shared equipment, such as feed buckets and bridles.

Strangles spreads rapidly, producing large outbreaks in herds not previously exposed or vaccinated. The infection is especially aggressive in populations of foals and young horses. Most horses recover, but fatalities do occur, primarily from secondary pneumonia that takes hold in debilitated or immune-compromised animals. And every now and again, S. Isolation is the single most effective means of controlling the spread of the disease.

Infected horses usually show signs within two weeks of exposure, so preventing contact between potential carriers and a healthy herd for at least that long should reduce contagion. Three- to four-week quarantine periods for newcomers or exposed horses are usually enough to slow or stop the spread of the disease. In textbook terms, then, strangles isn't really a big deal. It hardly ever kills or causes lasting damage to horses, and it's easily controlled by physical separation, the most basic of medical precautions.

Yet the fact that strangles isn't effectively prevented or treated by the same means applied to other common equine diseases gives it a rather sinister cast. It must be some sort of super infection, right, if treatment is iffy and vaccines aren't reliable? Well, not exactly. The myths and misconceptions surrounding strangles tend to overplay the current gaps in scientific knowledge about the disease.

Given recent genetic advances in characterizing the strangles organism, truly effective prevention is no longer a pipe dream. It's a very poor survivor in the environment.

It competes poorly with other bacteria and lives for hours or days, not weeks or months. Months later, when all infected horses have recovered and nasal swabs are negative for S. If strangles does visit your farm, you still want to exercise vigilance about decontamination practices and isolating sick animals because the bacterium is readily carried from horse to horse. Brownie was stabled in the isolation barn and cared for by a single staff member, who removed her shoes and donned designated rubber boots before entering the stable.

Avoiding all direct contact with Brownie, she fed him, then removed the boots as she exited the stable and put on her shoes. The precaution reduced the likelihood of her tracking the bacteria to other areas of the farm. Finally, Brownie's caretaker disinfected herself, showered and changed clothes before going back to work at the main barn. When the abscesses at Brownie's throat came to a head and burst, making him especially infectious, Kranz hired an outsider who did not work around any other horses to perform the tasks that required being near the pony.

These sorts of precautions help reduce contagion while a horse is shedding bacteria, and over time, whatever bacteria remain in the environment do succumb to natural forces. The idea that a contaminated farm can never recover is a fallacy. Immunity to S. Timoney says that one in four horses may be reinfected within five years of a strangles infection. Bryan M. Waldridge, DVM, associate professor of equine internal medicine at Auburn University, cites the scientific evidence for the variable nature of equine immune reactions to the bacteria.

Unless you've taken care of a horse from his birth onward, you can't be certain of his strangles status. Though not routine veterinary practice, a serum antibody test could be run to reveal the presence or absence of immune factors targeted to S. If antibodies are present, the horse was either vaccinated or had strangles previously, both of which should reduce his risk of suffering a full-blown case if he is again exposed to the bacterium.

Not really, says Waldridge. A very high fever should be treated, but if the temperature's no more than Brownie, the camp pony, fit into the latter category. Brownie had a nasty abscess but he was never sick. Once the abscesses burst, the recovery process usually begins. A small percentage of horses develop complications, especially when the infection goes into parts of the body other than the head and neck lymph nodes. This so-called "bastard" strangles can kill the animal.

Horses suffering from strangles generally need supportive care until the disease has run its course. Most vet will not prescribe antibiotics to fight the infection, as these drugs slow the process of abscess formation. Apply warm compresses to the swellings to encourage the abscesses to rupture. When they do blow out, flush the hole with diluted iodine for a few days until there's no more drainage.

Your vet can prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to ease the horse's pain. Horses recovering from strangles usually shed the bacteria for up to six weeks. They must be separated from other horses and strict quarantine protocols observed. Barn workers should always feed and water these horses last, after taking care of the healthy stock, washing their hands with antiseptic soap afterwards. In rare cases, a horse might shed the bacteria for as long as 18 months.

Gruntman commonly treats colic, colitis, enteritis, gastric ulcers, pneumonia, equine asthma, neurologic diseases, and many other common and vague illnesses.

Close Search Section Search Search. Search Directory. Search Search. Recognized most for its signature symptom, strangles is a bacterial infection in horses similar to strep throat in humans.