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Discussion on How long til she can come home?
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Member:
Erika
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Posted on Thursday, Jan 26, 2006 - 9:13 am:
I recently sent my young horse out for training. I thought she was up to date on all possible shots. A few weeks after her arrival, a case of strangles broke out at the trainer's farm. He gave the horse penicillin, called the vet. All the others were promptly vaccinated with Strangles vaccine. For some reason the vet said the affected horse did not have strangles (he did not culture) even though he recommended vaccinating all the others.
Of course, several others, including mine got sick, the vet still insisting it wasn't strangles but "virus", and he did not want to return to the farm since he was sure. My vet does not cover that area so I was stuck with the trainer's vet (who went on vacation shortly after the outbreak).
Meanwhile, lymph glands were swelling and bursting, horses continuing to get sick. My horse was grossly swollen and making noises while breathing, not eating. The vet covering for the one on vacation agreed over the phone that it was strangles (finally!) and had me pick up penicillin and banamine for my mare in case she had pneumonia. By the time I got to the farm, the glands had ruptured and she was breathing better, eating hay, so I declined to use the penicillin at that point.
She seems to be recovering, but she has been at the farm for an extra month with no more training. I have a beautiful farm here and it is killing my husband that I am paying board when I could take better care of her here. (nursing care is minimal, at best, and there are lots of horses together--sick and not sick)
My own vet said don't bring her home for another two months after the glands burst! Is that really necessary? Or can I safely bring her home if she is kept away from other horses here? They have all been vaccinated, for whatever good that does!
I read the article and know that she needs separate quarters and drinking water. I'll give her an iodine bath, etc. What do you think?
Sorry so wordy!
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Member:
Ryle
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Posted on Thursday, Jan 26, 2006 - 8:56 pm:
Erika,
Horses can shed the bacteria that causes Strangles for 3-6 weeks (or more) after they stop showing symptoms. Unless you have a way to completely quarantine your horse when you bring her home, I would leave her at the trainer's for at least 6 weeks after she stops showing symptoms so there is less chance of her contaminating your place or passing it on to your other horses. Also, be aware that once a horse has contracted Strangles there is the possibility that they can harbor the bacteria for years and shed it intermittently without showing any symptoms.
Vaccination against Strangles isn't reliable for preventing disease, but it does help limit the severity of disease if a horse comes down with it. It's just hard to produce a vaccination against a bacteria.  So even though your other horses have been vaccinated it is still possible for them to also contract Strangles.
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Member:
Erika
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Posted on Thursday, Jan 26, 2006 - 9:26 pm:
Thanks, Cynthia. I realize she will still shed. My worry is that with poor, or no care at the trainer's place, in a couple of months can she catch it again? I know my son and I have ping-ponged strep infections for months when he was little! I would hate to leave her where horses are all together. Some are recovering, some haven't gotten it--yet. They are not separated. I also worry about infection where the glands have burst. There is no way to keep them out of the mud and crud. Pus everywhere!!
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Member:
Ryle
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Posted on Friday, Jan 27, 2006 - 7:10 am:
Reinfection is not a huge worry. About 75% of horses that contract Strangles develop a fairly long lasting immunity to it.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Jan 27, 2006 - 7:13 am:
It is typical for shedding to continue for weeks after infection and for a very few it goes on for years. Following infection however your horse will have good immunity for a least several years if he is typical. If it is only your horses at home, be sure everyones intranasal vaccines are current, buy yourself a good large animal thermometer, and bring her home 6 weeks after she has healed up. It is important to remember Strangles is very treatable when started early. For more on vaccine frequency and the proper diagnosis and treatment of Strangles, be sure to review the article.
DrO
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Member:
Erika
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Posted on Friday, Jan 27, 2006 - 9:12 am:
Thanks, guys. Dr. O, When you say 6 weeks after she's healed up, do you mean when the gland lesions are completely healed, plus 6 more weeks? I thought I was to wait 6-8 weeks after they burst. Sounds like I'm being particular, but a few weeks difference can mean a lot of money. Besides the fact that I miss my favorite horse! Thanks a lot for your answers.
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Member:
Erika
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Posted on Friday, Jan 27, 2006 - 9:16 am:
By the way, would a course of antibiotics eliminate the shedding? Or is it that it grows out of the reach of circulation, in which case neither immune cells nor antibiotics reach it?
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Member:
Erika
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Posted on Friday, Jan 27, 2006 - 10:12 am:
Me again--if you can stand one more post...After reading many of the threads, including the archived ones, I am astounded at what appears to be a very common mistreatment of strangles. This includes the situation my mare has been in. It appear, if I understand this correctly, that penicillin is safe and very effective in the EARLY stages of strangles. Given later when abcesses are forming, or already bursting, it seems to cause more complications and do little to shorten the course of the disease.
Yet so many vets are prescribing it only after the formation of abcesses, or not at all (as the first vet on my case told the trainer NOT to give penicillin at all). Is this a case of vets not being taught correct protocol, or has the protocol changed significantly since many of them were at vet school?
I respect my usual vets very much, but occasionally, even they seem to be wrong on current treatments/causes. I guess plain old human error can play a part, but all these cases in the discussions here seem to obviate that a lot of horses are being treated wrongly by a lot of vets. Anybody have an opinion on why this is so?
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Saturday, Jan 28, 2006 - 9:09 am:
Just because it burst does not always mean you are over it all, sometimes the other side will burst, I suggest waiting until they healed before you start counting. If you want a little shorter time but more work intensive, you can start counting after his temperature returns to normal.
Whether or not antibiotics would shorten shedding is not well studied but their are suggestions that it may not. I agree with your assessment that Strangles is often mistreated and this is discussed at some length in the article. In spite of that most still get well. I suspect more than anything it is no matter what you do if the horse is healthy he eventually heals, supporting what ever treatment is given. But to be able to go in early and completely stop it in its tracks so the horse does not have to go through all that is a wonderful feeling.
DrO
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