STRANGLES: Your go to guide on how to recognise, manage and avoid this highly infectious equine disease.

Did you know strangles is reported more than 600 times a year in the UK?
And likely many more go unreported. In fact, over 100% of horses who come in to contact with the disease become infected. Although majority of horses do successfully recover, it can have life threatening effects on immunosuppressed horses who already have medical conditions, as well as elderly or young horses.

What is strangles? and how to recognise:

Strangles is an infection of the upper respiratory tract caused by a bacteria called ‘streptococcus equi’. It can cause large abscesses to form, making swallowing and breathing difficult. It’s painful and distressing for the horse.

While strangles is not an airborne disease, it is highly contagious via direct (even a brief touch with an infected horse) and indirect contact (water troughs, hay feeders, transport, yard equipment and even peoples hands and clothes).

Signs to look out for:

– Fever (temperature above 38 degrees) It’s always a good idea to have an idea of your horses ‘normal’ temperature to use as a guide.

– Loss of appetite – is your horse less interested in its food, picking through it?

– Dull or depressed – is your horse less interested in his surroundings than usual? Perhaps standing alone away from his field companions?

– Thick coloured nasal discharge – a clear runny discharge is usually considered less of a problem.

– Lymph node swelling (behind the jawline or below the ears)

– Abscesses under the jaw – these would be visible in a case that has already progressed.

It usually takes up to 3-4 days for symptoms to appear after coming into contact with the bacteria but there have been cases that have taken up to 21 days. Horses with infection will present quicker with a fever than the other symptoms, it’s always a good idea to take your horses temperature before and after staying away from home.

 

Did you know the FEI ‘federation equestre internationale’ (the international governing body for equestrian sports) have a dedicated app for horse health?

All competitors are required to record their horses temperature 3 days prior and during competing in an FEI event? They also have a vet check (including temp check, heart rate and trot up) before entering the competition stable block and upon leaving after competition.

 

Diagnosis and treatment:

If you suspect your horse has strangles you must call your vet and isolate immediately.

There are 3 different methods of diagnosing strangles that your vet could use;

– Blood test Antibodies can be detected in bloods around 2 weeks after exposure and remain detectable for up 8 months.

– Guttural pouch endoscopy By using a scope your vet will be able to take a sample directly from the nasal passage. This is the most accurate way to diagnose.

– Swab if a horse has nasal discharge or a burst abscess, a sample can be taken directly from the discharging fluid.

Treatment wise, unfortunately the disease will need to run its course. The horse or pony will need to be isolated (see isolation advise below) until tested negative by your vet. A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (bute or similar) may be given by your vet to help keep the horse comfortable. Antibiotics often have little effect.

There are things we can do to help our horses while they recover, such as:

– Soaking feed. This will help encourage the horse to eat if they’re having trouble swallowing but also to keep them hydrated. You could also add soaked sugarbeet. Be aware that if you are adding medication to feed this may put your horse off eating! Monitor carefully and give separately if needed.

– Stabling to encourage horse to rest and keep them warm and dry. Provide a large deep bed.

– Warm compress applying a warm compress to abscesses will encourage them to burst as well as being soothing. Never be tempted to squeeze or pierce an abscess.

– Bathe ruptured abscesses to keep them clean and encourage draining.

– Raise feed and hay off floor while abscesses are developing, and then feed from the floor once they have burst and are draining.

– Environmental enrichment this could be a wide field of vison, where possible provide isolation in view of other horses with plenty going on. Stable toys and mirrors. Multiple feeding stations. Spreading out feed and hay over 24hr period.

 

Strangles carriers

Around 10% of horses that have suffered from strangles will continue to carry live bacteria for months or even years in their guttural pouches. These strangles carriers look healthy, making them difficult to identify, but they have the potential to infect other horses. Carriers are believed to be the most common source of strangles outbreaks and until they are treated, can trigger outbreaks time and time again.

A carrier can shed strangles bacteria at any time. However, the likelihood of shedding increases during periods of stress, such as travelling, moving home, being introduced to another horse or suffering injury or illness. Strangles carriers can be identified by testing. Once diagnosed and treated by a vet, they can go on to live healthy, normal lives like any other horse.

Most strangles carriers remain infectious because they have chondroids. Chondroids are formed when pus starts to solidify within the guttural pouch, rather than draining out of the nasal passage. Chondroids are usually full of live bacteria that can occasionally make their way down the horse’s nasal passages, causing new strangles outbreaks to appear seemingly out of the blue. But once a carrier is identified, a vet can remove any chondroids and flush the guttural pouch, before re-testing to check that the horse is completely infection-free and presents no further risk.

 

Isolation

Isolation is the single most important thing when dealing with strangles. It is paramount that you inform your yard owner, or whoever your equines share space with so they too can remain vigilant. Isolation can be set up in a field or stable, wherever you feel best equipped to set up and where your horse is best settled and easily treatable.

Here is a traffic light system to use a guide:

Red zone – strict isolation for horses that have tested positive or have strangles symptoms.

Amber zone – strict isolation for horses who may have had direct or indirect contact with the sick horses in the last 3 weeks and may be incubating the disease.

Green zone – close monitoring but normal routine for horses who are not thought to have come into any contact with the sick horses.

 

10 things you’ll need to set up your own isolation zone:

 

1. An allocated area where a horse can be managed separately with no risk of contact with other horses, facilities or equipment.

2. Barriers and signs to clearly mark the area (ideally with a margin of at least 10 feet between the horse and the boundary).

3. Disinfectant that is active against Streptococcus equi (strangles bacteria). For example, Virkon powder disinfectant or Safe4 liquid cleaner.

4. Bucket, measuring jug, sprayer and suitable containers to be used as foot dips and overall soaks. Some people like to wear wellies in isolation as they can be easily disinfected, then left at the entry point as part of designated isolation kit.

5. Full length overalls that will cover sleeves, collars and trouser bottoms (re-useable or disposable) and a plastic bin with a lid for storage.

6. Disposable caps (the sort used in food preparation).

7. Disposable gloves and/or veterinary grade hand sanitiser.

8. Tools and horse care equipment (including thermometer) that can be stored and used in the isolation area only.

9. Large, thick bin bags or old plastic feed bags for storing muck and rubbish.

10. Hay and bedding – to be kept within the boundaries of your isolation zone.

 

After Strangles

You’ve made it through the worst! All horses are now testing negative and able to leave the isolation zone. Now its time for the clean up. Here are some must-dos for you to follow;

– Stables and paddocks All areas that have been used by any horse with strangles need to be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. Dried discharge can be tough to remove and may need scrubbing or scraping. Rubber matting in stables will need to be lifted and scrubbed and disinfected on both sides. It’s a good opportunity for a very thorough spring clean! It is not practical or effective to disinfect grassland, so rest any paddocks that may be contaminated for at least two weeks. Rest the paddock for at least six weeks if it contains a natural water source like a pond that horses have access to for drinking.

– Water Strangles bacteria survive for longer in water. Empty and disinfect all water tanks and buckets, making sure that water has enough neat disinfectant added to it to kill bacteria before tipping it away and rinsing the tank or bucket thoroughly.

– Equipment All equipment that has been used in an isolation area must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. For peace of mind when disinfecting a red zone leave items such as hay nets, head collars, lead ropes, rugs etc to soak in disinfectant before being thoroughly rinsed and dried. Be especially vigilant about rinsing disinfectant from food bowls and water containers.