This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Respiratory System » Strangles & Streptococcus equi »
  Discussion on Treat or Not to Treat Stangles?
Author Message
New Member:
Along151

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 12, 2006 - 12:35 pm:

I am confused! I board my horses at my parents farm, I have 3 horses and a pony, and my brothers girlfriend had 2 horses and just brought in another on Saturday. We have since learned she has strangles and now ALL of the horses are infected. They are all coughing, running noses, etc. I've talked to 2 vets, and they both give me different opinions on what to do and I don't know how to go about this. One said start them on Penicillin 12 cc 1 x per day for the horses and 6cc for the pony. (He was initially called out to do vaccinations and he said it would be fine to do their vaccinations tomorrow as planned, I thought you were never supposed to do vaccinations if your horse was sick!)

The other vet said not to treat it, and let it run its course but if I really wanted to try and treat it there is a 50/50 chance it might help. She said do 2cc per 100lb 1 x day for 7 days.

I'm not sure what to do, treat or not treat? Do vaccinations or not do them? How many cc to give if I do treat? Once a day or twice a day?

If anyone has any help or suggestions, please send them my way! I've never dealt with any of this ever, my horses have always been healthy before this new mare came in with Strangles!!

Alanna
New Member:
Along151

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 12, 2006 - 2:54 pm:

Sorry, one more question. I've been reading all the information I can find on this site as well as internet (I've read the article too) But how long is too long to start treating? I know the article says that if you catch it "early" it is easily treatable. But how early is "early"? The horse with strangles came to our farm on Saturday, my horses began showing signs of infection just a couple of days later, yesterday I noticed it the worst and called a vet because they we all coughing. I find out today that it's strangles. Most of the info I read says to not treat it with penicillan unless you catch it early. I don't want my horses to have to have the abcesses if penicillan can prevent that, but I fear I may be too late.

Alanna
Member:
Prakashb

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 12, 2006 - 4:50 pm:

Hey, our ranch just got over strangles, we had about 40 horses, so we just let it run it's course. The only horse that had problems was mine (of course), and she ended up having it for about 2 months! The other horses had it for 2 weeks tops, and they were over it. I have read both methods to use, but I'm glad that we did what we did and let it run its course.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Apr 13, 2006 - 6:35 am:

Alanna read the article more carefully, it gives specific clinical signs that are indications for using penicillin and when not too. For horses early in the disease the penicillin will return the horse to normal in just a few days rather than the 2 wk to 2 mo experience Parkash had. You should also review the dosages your veterinarian has given you they appear low to me, see Equine Medications and Nutriceuticals » Antibiotics and Antimicrobials » Penicillin.
DrO
New Member:
Along151

Posted on Thursday, Apr 13, 2006 - 1:16 pm:

We had the vet out this morning, he said he doesn't beleive it is strangles and thinks Rhinovirus or flu. His advice was to vaccinate and possibly do 5 days of penicillin on the horses that were coughing the worst. I haven't given them any penicillin but he vaccinated with 5 way, west nile and strangles. He said if they were his horses, that is what he'd do. I'm concerned with my mare, she has yellow runny nose and I'm worried he misdiagnosed and it is strangles! He said since there was no swelling at all under the jaw, it was not strangles. I'm at odds now if I should still do penicillin just in case on all or just my mare that has a very runny yellow nose. His suggestion is 20 cc once a day for 5 days. I'm not sure what 6,000,000 units are in comparison to cc's as the article said.

Alanna
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Apr 14, 2006 - 8:17 am:

Sort of a confusing recommendation, he thinks it is a virus and yet recommended 5 days of antibiotics. Antibiotics are not without there risks also and if it is a virus I would not give them. Does your horse have a fever Alanna? In order to get the dosage you have to divide the recommended dose by the concentration of your penicillin product.
DrO
New Member:
Along151

Posted on Friday, Apr 14, 2006 - 8:39 am:

Yes, they all have fevers ranging from 102.2 to 103.3 as of yesterday. We also found out that this new mare was already vaccinated 3 weeks ago with everything we vaccinated for, plus she has a strangles vaccination last fall. The previous owner said when she DrOpped this horse off at the farm we got her from, she saw horses with strangles, and didn't want to leave her there, but she did anyway. So, I still have a feeling it's possible it is strangles that my horses have and this mare carried it in, even though she was vaccinated for it last fall. I did start treating with penicillin last night just in case it is strangles, I gave 20cc to each horse and 10 cc to the pony.

Alanna
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Apr 14, 2006 - 5:36 pm:

It is good to make a decision Alanna, now be sure you treat twice daily and for 3 days past when the fever resolves. Penicillin is not very effective with once daily treatment. DrO
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Apr 28, 2006 - 9:53 am:

Alanna, I was wondering how you were doing?
DrO
New Member:
Along151

Posted on Friday, Apr 28, 2006 - 10:19 am:

Thanks DrO, the vet we had out said he didn't think we had strangles on our farm, he said it was a respiratory infection/influenza causing the runny noses and coughing/fever. We treated them for 7 days with penicillin then called him back to see if we should stop as they were still coughing a little bit but getting better. He suggested to stop treatment and call if things got worse as long as they were eating/drinking. We did notice that a couple of the horses started back with yellow runny noses a couple days after treatment stopped, and some are still coughing a little, but all seem to be getting better and coughing less except one of our mares who constantly coughs for up to 5 mintues at a time.

So, our worst fear was strangles, but they never did get those lumps on their jaw/necks, so I guess the vet was correct and we didn't have strangles. Now it's just waiting and watching to make sure they don't get worse and are improving.

Alanna
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC