21/01/2025
What is Strangles?
Strangles is a bacterial infection which affects the upper respiratory tract in horses. It is highly infectious and can spread quickly through nose-to-nose contact or shared equipment. The bacteria can travel up to 3 metres through the air. Symptoms to watch for include:
• Fever (>38.5°C) and or depression.
• Thick, pus-like nasal discharge.
• Swelling or abscesses around the head and neck (lymph nodes) usually where the throat latch would sit on the bridle.
• Cough, difficulty eating, reduced appetite.
• Respiratory noise or breathing issues.
How Can You Protect Your Horse?
• Vaccinate: A Strangles vaccine can prevent infection in some horses and reduce symptoms in others. – PLEASE NOTE When horses and foals are vaccinated against strangles for the first time, they require a primary vaccination course consisting of three doses of the Strangles Vaccine. The three doses are given with an interval of not less than two weeks between injections. Immunity is not complete until after the last injection, and the vaccine does not always provide complete immunity. Booster doses should be given at least annually, and six-monthly revaccination should be considered in circumstances where the risk of infection is known to be high. In common with other respiratory diseases, such as canine cough and feline respiratory disease, immunity is short lived and incomplete. In fact, 25% of horses infected with strangles do not appear to develop immunity. This makes it very difficult for a vaccine to provide complete protection and it is not claimed that the vaccine is an absolute preventative. However, field experience has shown that vaccination can control the disease by reducing the degree of clinical disease and reducing the number of horses affected.
• Isolate any new arrivals for 3 weeks and monitor temperature.
• Limit Contact: Avoid nose-to-nose contact and sharing equipment with infected horses.
• Stay Put: Do not move horses on or off a yard with infected horses.
• Be Cautious When Traveling: Consider the risks of transporting your horse, especially if unvaccinated.
If your horse shows any symptoms, isolate them immediately and contact us for testing and advice.
