What causes strangles in horses?

Strangles is a highly contagious disease of equids including horses, donkeys and ponies. It is caused by the bacteria Streptococcus equi, often abbreviated Strep.

How do you treat strangles in horses?

The best treatment at this point is to flush the drainage site, keep the area as clean as possible, and to maintain strict isolation of the ill horse. If your horse was stabled near one who had strangles at a show or rodeo, it is reasonable to treat it with antibiotics for at least six days after exposure.

How long should you quarantine a horse with strangles?

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.

What are the symptoms of strangles in horses?

What are the signs of Strangles?

• Depression.
• Loss of appetite/ Difficulty eating.
• Raised temperature.
• Cough.
• Nasal discharge, often thick and yellow (purulent or pus like).
• Swollen lymph nodes (glands) around the throat.
• Drainage of pus from the lymph nodes around the jaw.

Can humans get horse strangles?

Transmission to Humans.

In rare cases, humans have contracted infections from the bacteria that cause Strangles. To prevent human infection, people caring for horses with Strangles should avoid getting any nasal or abscess discharge from the horse on their eyes, nose, or mouth.

What disinfectant kills strangles?

Strangles is easily killed by most disinfectants and doesn’t survive well in direct sunlight. But it can live for up to 6 weeks in water troughs or drinkers. Virkon is a good disinfectant to use as it is not deactivated by organic material.

How do you prevent strangles in horses?

Prevention

1. When away from home use your own buckets, limit mingling with other horses, wash your hands after handling other horses.
2. At home have separate grooming kit, tack and buckets for each horse.
3. Anyone moving between horses on various yards should wash hands, disinfect boots, and if possible change outer clothes.

Is there a vaccine for strangles in horses?

To help protect horses against strangles, look to PINNACLE® I.N. –the only two-dose, modified-live bacterial vaccine developed to help prevent strangles caused by Streptococcus equi (S. equi). Strangles is a highly contagious upper respiratory infection most common in young horses.

Can strangles in horses be transmitted to dogs?

About strangles

Strangles is spread to other horses by direct contact and can also be spread by contaminated food, water, equipment, handlers and their clothing as well as other animals, eg dogs, that may come into contact with the horses.

How many times can a horse get strangles?

One to two weeks is likely adequate, especially if proper cleaning and disinfection of high risk or highly contaminated surfaces is performed. Can A Horse Get Strangles More Than Once? Yes, but this is uncommon. About 75% of horses that get strangles will also develop a very strong immune response against S.

Is strangles an airborne disease?

Whilst strangles is not spread through the air (airborne), the bacteria can spread when a horse with strangles coughs or snorts.

Is strangles a reportable disease?

Strangles, a highly contagious upper respiratory tract disease caused by Streptococcus equi subsp equi, remains one of the most common diseases in horses. As of 2017, strangles is a reportable disease in the United States and many other countries.