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  Discussion on Strangles?
Author Message
New Member:
bcreaves

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 25, 2007 - 11:49 am:

Dr. O,

My neighbor called to tell me her horse had been diagnosed with Streptococcus and was on antibiotics. I immediately think strangles, but she says her vet never mentioned the word, nor talked to her about isolation. She is new to horse-keeping and is doing what her vet tells her to do, but I am concerned this is really strangles and my horse has been exposed.

I went over and took a look at her horse after she called, he's a 5 year old gelding and he did not have a runny nose, but did have a mass in the right throatlatch area bigger than a canteloupe melon. There is no active drainage. I have no idea what his vaccination status is, although she's had him at a training barn recently, so I assume he's current.

My 10 year old horse has been vaccinated and is afebrile with no symptoms at this time. The first exposure to her horse would have been 5 days ago, and her horse began the swelling in his neck 3 days ago.

Is it possible for a horse to have symptoms like this and a diagnosis of streptococcus and it NOT be strangles?

Thanks!
Caren}
New Member:
bcreaves

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 25, 2007 - 1:06 pm:

OK, more info...just got home and the neighbor called and said her vet says it is strangles and also Distemper. I read your article on Pigeon Fever and Distemper and it indicated that infected horses are usually not a risk to pasture mates, but then several posts on discussion boards indicate a need for near isolation/decontamination, etc. I certainly understand this with strangles, but is the same true of distemper?

I know that a horse can recover from strangles and then weeks later other horses can contract it. If my horse continues to show no symptoms, when would you consider it safe to take him out and about? The last thing I want to do is unknowingly expose others.

Thanks!
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Jul 26, 2007 - 6:38 am:

Whoa Caren,
I am confused, the veterinarian says the horse has both Strangles and Pigeon Fever?

Communicability of pigeon fever is a poorly understood event. While it is "observed" that cases often occur in isolation in herds it is certainly "wise" to isolate infected individuals in an attempt to limit or prevent contamination of the the ground with infective puss.

Yes a period of observation (see article for the prepatency range and monitoring) and a good shampoo bath and you can be confident that your horse is unlikely to be carrying Strangles.
DrO
Member:
bcreaves

Posted on Sunday, Jul 29, 2007 - 9:48 pm:

Sorry Dr. O,

I was unable to have computer access for a few days. Thanks for the advice. So far, my gelding seems to be asymptomatic. The neighbor's vet did say strangles and distemper....hopefully her gelding will pull through OK.

Thanks,
Caren
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