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  Discussion on Strangles
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Member:
vickiann

Posted on Sunday, Jul 22, 2007 - 2:34 pm:

Dr. O -- A week ago I hauled my horse home from 2 weeks of riding in North Carolina. Now he has cloudy yellow snot coming out of his nose and upon exertion may cough a bit, is snorting at times and seems to be trying to clear his airways. He does not have a fever and has a good appetite, etc. I talked to a Vet this afternoon from the clinic that I use and she said that given the circumstances and symptoms, the horse has strangles. (He has not been examined or cultured as of yet -- should I get that done?) A few days before our trip he (among other things) got an intra-nasal vaccine for strangles. She believes either the vaccine or exposure (plus shipping -- 12 hour trip) in one of the two barns we stayed in caused him to get strangles. She is NOT recommending antibiotic use because she says that will prolong the illness. I see that you and others do suggest antibiotics at early stages. Do you think that my horse is past the stage where he would benefit from antibiotic treatment? Also, she says that though I have two horses on the opposite side of the barn and fences (they don't use the same water tank) that since I don't have double fencing I can consider my others already exposed. Also, I didn't know that my horse was getting sick so probably exposed the others by not hand washing between feeding, handling, etc. A friend's horse is and has also been over here and he and the sick horse have had very close contact (they go into the same stall together and share a water tank)and my horse licks out the other's feed bucket. This visiting horse was here when mine were given their vaccines, when my riding horse and I were out of town, and again had close contact ever since we returned home a week ago today. Would THAT horse benefit by being returned to his own farm and being put on antibiotics? I asked the Vet. if I should contact her if the horse begins to run a fever and she suggested giving half a dose of Banamine today and more for fever if he gets one, as he very well may. I think I am supposed to contact her if he starts to have a lot of difficulty breathing, otherwise she is not concerned about seeing him. Also, I see Bute is sometimes recommended for fever? When the visiting horse returns to his home, I was anticipating turning all 3 of my horses together again to best take advantage of the pastures that I have. The Vet. I talked to didn't seem to think it would matter if I turn them back together at this stage, but I am not sure that is what I would take away from your articles. Please advise -- I never expected this to happen as a result of indulging my desire to ride in a cooler climate for a couple of weeks!
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Sunday, Jul 22, 2007 - 4:21 pm:

Another Vet. who my friend contacted felt this may be some other kind of upper respiratory infection because this horse is 15-years old, has no fever and generally seems to be feeling okay. She said to get it cultured, but this evening (after wiping the yellow snot out of his nose earlier today) I don't even SEE any more yellow cloudy snot -- only a thin trail of watery liquid. I was in the barn with him for about 45 minutes and he only did a couple of short (pipe-clearing) coughs upon beginning to eat some hay. He does stretch his neck out when he does this. If the yellow snot stops is there anything worth culturing?
Member:
christel

Posted on Sunday, Jul 22, 2007 - 5:25 pm:

Hi Vicki,I have to agree with the 2nd opinion. All the strangles cases I have seen or heard of was accompanied with an abscess in the throat area, with the abscess being allowed to come to a head before lancing or administrating antibiotics.
Hope your guy continues to improve.
Chris
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Jul 22, 2007 - 6:27 pm:

The quickest way to get this id'ed Vicki is contacting the barns you stayed at and asking if Strangles has been a problem in the past or have they had other problems? Approach this in a non-confrontational manner to prevent a defensive and therefore less accurate response and in a manner that you would like to help them and will keep them in the loop if anything shows. Almost all of your specific questions on Strangles is answered in the article on Strangles but the first job is to try and id this. I have to say that in general if there is no fever it is hard to justify antibiotics.
DrO
Member:
hwood

Posted on Sunday, Jul 22, 2007 - 7:10 pm:

Vicki, the horses I've known who had strangles had fevers along with throats so sore that they just couldn't eat and just stood over their food looking very depressed and ill.

Is it possible that your horse may have had an allergic reaction to something in NC?
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Sunday, Jul 22, 2007 - 10:26 pm:

Thank you all for the information. I will certainly try to get some definitive answers. A friend of mine is still boarding at the facility I was at most of the time, but since she is there longer term she was in a different barn than I was. She will check on things and let them know that perhaps there is some reason for concern. While there, my horse was boarded in a barn where horses belonging to lots of different campers come and go, and those in 3 adjacent stalls could touch noses with my horse through the board walls. Though you have to show a coggins to come there, many riders are from NC or Tenn., so I doubt if everyone who boards short term has a health certificate like I did. They also have a couple of big horses shows there in the summertime. There were lots of rhododenDrOns blooming along the trails and that did cause allergy problems for some of the riders and horses,but my problems began a few days after I got home, so don't think that is the problem for my horse. The other facility I was only at a couple of nights and my horse was the only one in the barn. All of the other horses there were turned out in various pastures with run in sheds for shelters, but I did hear a couple different horses coughing at that facility -- especially upon exertion! That was a closed and controlled herd situation but that doesn't mean they haven't had strangles there or some other respiratory virus. My boy seems to be feeling quite well presently and so far no additional snotty nose. The symptoms seem to be lessening. We decided to keep my friend's horse here for the present time so that he will not infect neighboring horses on either side of his home just in case he may come down with something. Again, thank you all! It is great to have you and Dr. O to confer with.
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Monday, Jul 23, 2007 - 2:35 pm:

A Vet who I know has a lot of experience with strangles examined Lance today and found evidence of some upper respiratory infection, lungs clear and no lymph node involvement. No more yellow snot, so nothing to culture that would give a more definitive answer, though it would show "all kinds of bacteria present." He gave him two shots -- one to reduce inflammation and swelling in the upper airways, and one an antibiotic of some kind. If Lance begins lots of dry, unproductive coughing, I am to call him for more treatment. For the next week or so it is suggested we keep the horses located as they now are and avoid contact with any others from outside, because all should be answered within that time frame. If strangles, he said all would fall sick and there would be more profound symptoms than seen so far. He feels quite strongly that this is NOT strangles. I'll let you know how this works out. Thanks again to you all for your help and information.
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Saturday, Aug 4, 2007 - 4:45 pm:

No one else became ill and now Lance seems fine, so this was not a case of strangles. The facility where we stayed in NC claims to have "never" had a case of strangles (interesting, since the stable has been in this location for over 100 years). They say allergy problems while there or after leaving there are not uncommon, perhaps made worse by the higher elevation where they are located. Now I need to know when it is safe to ride this horse again and how to proceed. He never had a persistent cough -- just a couple coughs or few snorts off and on, especially when eating.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Aug 6, 2007 - 7:26 am:

For suggestions on expected recovery time and activities see the articles on viral respiratory disease like influenza and rhino. It should be noted that individuals are effected differently so the bottom line is the horse will tell you when he is ready. Until the horse returns to absolute normal you need to take it easy with him.
DrO
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