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  Discussion on Strangles - or not?
Author Message
New Member:
Redk

Posted on Sunday, Jul 6, 2003 - 10:50 pm:

Hello!

One of the horses at the farm where we board our horses may have strangles. The owner seems to think that's what it is and he is being treated for such. He was off the farm about 14 days ago for an overnight trail ride. He seemed completely healthy until two days ago when a huge abscess erupted under his jaw. He never had any upper respiratory symptoms before this huge abscess appeared under his jaw. He was never off his feed, he never had a runny / snotty nose, he never coughed or sneezed, we never took his temperature because he never appeared ill until this lump ruptured. How long he had the lump before it ruptured, I'm not sure. It looks like a strangles abscess because of it's location - right over the sublingual lymph nodes, however the swelling is very hard around the abscess. He has soft fluctuent swellings encompasing the cheekbone itself and running down his jawline and ending at his chin. None of the 6 other horses who were with this guy on an overnight trail ride have shown any signs of illness. Now the entire barn is under quarantine and all the boarders are angry and terrified that their horses are going to get strangles. I'm not 100% convinced that it is strangles and not a foreign body (?). Would a culture be a difinitive test for strangles? What else would cause this type of eruption? I'm a little concerned because 2 of our horses were on the same trail ride and the same trailer with the horse in question.

Thanks!
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Jul 7, 2003 - 8:53 am:

Yes a culture would be definitive if taken before treatment is started and done by a lab that can accurately speciate Strep. After treatment begins false negatives are common. Any local infection could cause such a reaction. I have seen Strangles abscesses that have this appearance. I do not know if it is because of past infection, past unknown vaccination history, or some attenuated specie. I have also found some of these to be sterile and have other types strep in them. Quarantine is sensible until you know and fear is unjustified as the article explains.
DrO
New Member:
Kris197

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 25, 2006 - 9:50 pm:

This is my first post, sorry if I am posting in the wrong spot. I am fairly new to horses and I have a 25 yr old Appaloosa that this exact same thing happened. he was fine one day and then all of the sudden he had HUGE lumps under his chin (but back farther) I called the vet, he came out, he had no temp,but he did lance the cyst or whatever they are, he said that he had a lot of swollen lymph nodes, 2 on his chest and some in his groin some on his sides they are all over, I am scared to death,When he lanced the cyst not alot of pus came out it was mostly clear liquid and blood and only a little puss, that was 4 days ago, as of today it does drain a little pus out, but the swelling is not going down much.Now tonight when I went and gave him his meds I noticed that from about his hip back to his rump is very cool to the touch, almost like his circulation is not good I don't know, I again called the vet to ask him about it and he told me to get some "red cell" he thinks that he may be getting anemic. He is still eating and drinking fine but he looks to be getting more uncomfortable, his sheath is so swelled up, he has always had a slightly swelled sheath but now it is REALLY swelled, I'm wondering if I should call another vet for a second opinion. My vet says that it is strangles but he never had any other symptoms other that the swollen glands. My vet put him on tucoprim powder 1X daily any advise would be so greatly appreciated. Thank you all in advance.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 26, 2006 - 12:04 pm:

Considering the atypical presentation and the treatment chosen, I would get a second opinion on this or at least discuss this further with your vet after studying the article on Strangles associated with this discussion. You can click on the articles title Strangles & Streptococcus equi off the navigation bar above. If you do have further questions cut and paste the above along with your new questions into a new discussion. The link for this is at the bottom of the frame containing the article and list of discussions.
DrO
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