Didn't want to hijack other strangles threads but looking for info...

sandi_84

sandi_84

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As above ^ I know what the disease is and what happens to the horse - scary! especially the nasty strain :( - but I've no idea about how both forms are treated :o Luckily I've not come across it but I always think it's handy to know these things.

Does the vet hand out a course of antibiotics or are the strains (the normal one and the ******* strangles) treated some other way?
 
Strangles are abscesses which form around the underside of the face, jaw and throat area. The horse generally speaking spikes a huge temp, swellings appear and the horse looks generally really miserable. It's a horrible condition that doesn't generally require any medical attention unless there are complications. All horses are affected differently and some end up worse than others. My mare had it 2 weeks before my wedding this year and I felt awful for her. Her face swelled up and was so tight. As I knew I wouldn't see it again I took pictures every day (quite macabre I know, but its something I'd not come access before)
 
Sorry was looking for info on treatment, posted in the vet forum too and apparently with the normal strain it's just a case of let it work it's way out and treating burst abcesses.

What about the b****** strangles tho?
 
Taken from an info leaflet I had to make for a part of my uni course!

Complications
 Once the glands have burst most cases improve rapidly. Most horses recover with no complications and around 70% of horses gain life-long immunity
 In ‘simple’ strangle there is less than a 1% mortality rate
 In up to 10% of cases, especially in the young or old horse, the organism can spread from the upper airways, causing abscesses in the lungs, brain and lymph nodes of the abdomen
 This is known as B*****d Strangles and is nearly always fatal
 Also, between 1 – 2% of horses develop a condition called purpurs hemorrhagica 3 – 8 weeks after they appear to have recovered. This is an anaphylactic reaction to the toxins of a streptococcal infection – 50% of cases have a fatal outcome.
 Horses that have recovered can become ‘carriers’ of strangles and although they show no signs of the disease, they can pass it on to other horses


Treatment
 Careful nursing – the abscesses should be encouraged to mature and burst by constantly applying heat either by bathing with hot water or using heat pads
 Steam inhalation (with or without vick) to help breathing
 Food should be soft and palatable to encourage eating
 Antibiotics are not recommended – they can prolong the maturation of the abscesses which can increase the chances of ******* strangle developing
 
xxRachelxx said:
Taken from an info leaflet I had to make for a part of my uni course!

Complications
 Once the glands have burst most cases improve rapidly. Most horses recover with no complications and around 70% of horses gain life-long immunity
 In ‘simple’ strangle there is less than a 1% mortality rate
 In up to 10% of cases, especially in the young or old horse, the organism can spread from the upper airways, causing abscesses in the lungs, brain and lymph nodes of the abdomen
 This is known as B*****d Strangles and is nearly always fatal
 Also, between 1 – 2% of horses develop a condition called purpurs hemorrhagica 3 – 8 weeks after they appear to have recovered. This is an anaphylactic reaction to the toxins of a streptococcal infection – 50% of cases have a fatal outcome.
 Horses that have recovered can become ‘carriers’ of strangles and although they show no signs of the disease, they can pass it on to other horses


Treatment
 Careful nursing – the abscesses should be encouraged to mature and burst by constantly applying heat either by bathing with hot water or using heat pads
 Steam inhalation (with or without vick) to help breathing
 Food should be soft and palatable to encourage eating
 Antibiotics are not recommended – they can prolong the maturation of the abscesses which can increase the chances of ******* strangle developing
Click to expand...
A pity my vet had no leaflet to hand out, she uses mushroom management so can never be "in the wrong"
Only a few horses get abscesses.
Not all abscesses burst, some have to be opened up with a scalpel and the pus collected in a bucket and by bandaging/poulticing. Some vets used antibiotics on some horses, though they started out with no antibiotics, for some reason antibiotics are not very effective.
There is no mention of Gutteral Pouch treatment, which is used to prevent carriers, so that is a big omission.
 
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