Strangles update

[DebO]

I've just been told (by a reliable source) that there are outbreaks in the Gatwick area. Because people do not know it is around they do not realise what they have got until too late and it has swept through their yards.

Other cases I know of are near Chichester in West Sussex, Wickham near Fareham in Hants, and someone said there has been a case in Chesire.

There is too much secrecy surrounding these outbreaks, if people aren't careful it will end up like foot and mouth.

If you don't know, Strangles is a very contagious disease easily spread by humans. The horse will have a high temp, be off its food, be depressed, have thick nasal discharge, swellings under the jaw (hence why its called strangles as these swellings can be fatal if pressing against windpipe). These swellings sometimes have to be lanced, or will burst. No antibiotics can deal with this disease. Strict handling with limited human contact, disenfect everything the horse has come into contact with. It can last for weeks. Some horses show no signs but can be carriers. Only swabs can detect it if there are no visible signs.

[Showbod]

Essex, has just recently had several cases!

[Rakeli]

I've heard (it might not be reliable) that very near me, some people who have had their horse on loan are taking it back, but this horse has strangles! They don't seem to care at all, the disease dosn't matter to them, which is making me really angry...

[Jane.A]

There is a homeopatic nosode available from Ainsworths homepathic pharmacy which you can give your horse to help prevent it getting the disease. I had it on my yard three years ago. It hit the two youngsters but idn't appear to affect the three older horses at all. My friends eventing yard had it this year. He did the responsible thing and told people but with the response he had he wished he hadn't. A visiting horse for training brought it in. This horse had what appeared to be a mild cough and went off its feed for one day only, then perked up. Ten days later the mare in the next box developed a cough, temperature and runny noe, she also got the characteristic swellings. He called the vet and had all the horses swabbed. People were saying he shouldn't be going out teaching and all sorts of stupid things. He always changed and showered after being on the yard and before travelling but people were gossiping out of fear and ignorance. He has two yards and when he was out hacking from the unaffected yard he received abuse. the irony of it is that the kind of people who were abusing him would probably have not known if their horses had strangle or not!
If you suspect a yard has the disease then ring them and check it out. Conjecture and rumour mongering just causes unneccessary anxiety and you may find there is nothing to worry about. If your suspicions are confirmed then protect your horse with the nosode, its not expensive and counld save you a vets bill.

[Alison+Rio]

There is also an outbreak of strangles in kincardine in scotland! Gleneagles was closed due to suspected strangles but it turned out it was a viral infection, not strangles! Everyone be careful this is not a nice thing for horses to get!