Glands up..........Strangles?

[moneypit1]

My 19 yo tb has lost a lot of condition in the last week but otherwise in himself he seems ok, eating, drinking well etc. Noticed tonight that his neck glands are enormous! Rang vet in panic and she asked if I had let him out on new grass recently which I have done all week for 2hrs a day. (normally kept in). No nasal discharge or coughing but she said new grass can bring glands up. What are the other symptoms of Strangles? He hasn't been near other horses except my other two (who are fine) so how is it transmitted? Can't help but worry.

 

[polyphonic]

my horse who spends all day munching the grass, his glands around his neck and cheeks come up after his head has been down for so long i presume! i will say if u see my other posts ive had the ver out as my horse had all of these symptoms last week but wasnt strangles, he had a course of anti biotics injected daily into his muscle because he wasnt eating and he is back to normal a week later. if in doubt though, get the vet out

Clinical symptoms are characterised by fever, nasal discharge or pus, and swollen or enlarged mandibular lymph nodes - around the neck and face

 

[charlie76]

I would think that its prob grass glands TBH. When some of our horses had stangles they still ate. They had nasal discharge of the thick disgusting variety which sometimes had blood mixed with it. They breathed very heavily and had huge abbcess' on their necks and faces.
I wouldn't panic.

 

[evsj]

i posted on this last week. if like my mare, it is to do with a reaction to fructons in the grass which get more concentrated after frosty conditions. The glands around the throat and jaw swell but generally there are no other symptons. My mare's goes down overnight after she has munched through her hay.
He maybe didn't eat because of the discomfort the swelling caused?

 

[jcberry]

Oscar has had swolen glands scince about the end of january untill about the end of last week, and we havent noticed anythign scince. think its the spring grass coming through. xxx

 

[SpruceRI]

I think it's a swelling of their Parotid glands, as Moodimare says, it's to do with a reaction of their salivary glands to the sugars in the grass.

All my mares get it in the summer at various times, though my gelding hasn't done. Probably would feel a bit uncomfortable for the horse initially