Strangles in the North West

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plumbread31

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We have just found out that there are 2 confirmed cases of strangles at our farm and I am really worried for my ponies.They seem fine but I love them so much and want to do my best so that they doonot get it coz they are my world. The family that run the stables where we livery has been told not to move any or have new ones takin on. Can anyone tell me if there is any feed to help boost ponys immune systems ?
At the weekend there was a few of the ponies coughing and runny snot at the show.I think that they should be sent home coz other people get it. Has anyone else have experience of strangles in Lancaster and does it kill the horse or can they survive ?:(
 
Don't panic!

Your YO has done absolutely the right thing in being open about this and closing the yard. There should be no movement on or off yard until the vets give the all clear.

First things first. Strangles is nasty but rarely kills these days. There can be complications and the entire recovery process is long, slow and very expensive on vets fees. But horses rarely die.

Still - you need to protect your ponies as best you can. Talk to your vet about getting the strangles vaccination. If they are symptom free right now that might help protect them or at least make it less serious if they do get it. Take their advice.

Then - make sure you share nothing with any affected horse. Don't touch an affected horse and go on to your own without washing etc. There should be disinfectant dips by the relevant boxes. Yard tools, hay nets etc should not be shared. If you are worried get your own kit for your ponies and keep it separate. Depending on vets advice bedding from affected animals should be disposed of separately; ideally by burning off yard. Strangles only transmits when wet so do not share water sources, buckets etc with anyone unless you are sure. If something affected sneezes on you - go change before you go to your own horses.

There are immune supports, disinfectants etc. Even brushes said to protect against transmission of strangles. But you can end up spending a lot of money to no effect. I would suggest talk to your vet and take their advice. Good hygiene precautions should be enough.

Good luck. Try not to worry. Strangles happens everywhere. Its keeping quiet about it that allows it to spread so your YO has done entirely the right thing.
 
virkon disinfectant is the best for strangles. if your ponies are not in contact ie turned out with or stabled close by then keep yours out don't allow them to come near infected.
there are 3 groups on a yard usually- the infected, the in contacts (turned out or stabled by) and those non contacts, turned out away from ie not able to touch over fence and not stabled near.

if your ponies fall in the latter just keep out away from yard- they should stay clean then and not get infected. if in middle group carry on as normal, they may or may not get it but disinfectant of all tools stables etc.
keep away from group one, don't touch them etc.

we had it last year all survived and we did as above. yours maybe fine anyway if had immunity from previous yards etc. only 15 of 35 horses on our yard had any symptoms, 5 needed anti biotics from vet, 2 of those needed flushing out of pouches.
don't panic!
 
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