strangles.... no obvious symptoms

[juliag]

Hi, last week I posted that I had had the vet out to check the ponies and vaccinate etc. Harvey had been a bit 'depressed' and upon my insistance the vet took a blood test after telling me he appeared fine. Well the news from the vet tonight is that it appears he has been 'exposed' to strangles and the vet is coming back tomorrow both to the house (where my ponies are) and to the livery yard where my daughters 2 showjumpers are kept. (one of them had been out competing with Harvey recently to check on all of the ponies). Harvey is still not 100% despite being on a weeks worth of antibiotics and is still coughing a bit. Although none of my ponies have any sort of nasal discharge or any other signs.
Anyone else had strangles with no obvious symptoms? Aparently it is very common and 90% of owners are not even aware that their horses have or have had it especially if their horses are turned out,

 

[teamsarazara]

PLEASE keep your horses in quarantine! Dont really know an awful lot about strangles though!

 

[juliag]

PLEASE keep your horses in quarantine! Dont really know an awful lot about strangles though!

Yes, yes I am not stupid! Please remember I am the one that insisted on a blood test, my vet on examination said the pony was fine. Also Strangles is a hell of a lot common than you would imagine. Vet Said tonight that not only did 90% of owners never even realised their horses had strangles but that means 90% of those horses have strangles or are carriers and never even get diagnosed

 

['S'teamed]

have had 10 in a barn, 4 with Strangles, the other 6 without..

the 4 stayed with the 6, recovered and the 6 none the worse

some succomb others dont.
no idea why, TBH most horses/ponies are carriers..it just needs something to trigger it off

 

[juliag]

have had 10 in a barn, 4 with Strangles, the other 6 without..

the 4 stayed with the 6, recovered and the 6 none the worse

some succomb others dont.
no idea why, TBH most horses/ponies are carriers..it just needs something to trigger it off

Thats what the vet said to me tonight, I think he was trying to avoid Hysterics. most horses have been 'exposed' to strangles even if they show no signs themselves and can then become carriers. I am doing the responsible thing and allowing the vet back tomorrow to check/ blood test the others even though there are NO strangles symptoms. I should point out that a fortnight ago Harvey went showjumping and was well enough to win the class with ease........ However he must have been carrying then as well! This is how easy it is spread! That is why the vet is off the the livery yard tomorrow to check my daughters 2 other horses as one of them was SJ with Harvey a fortnight ago.

 

[showqa]

You know this is a very interesting subject. I attended a lecture evening organised by my vets very recently, and indeed there are so many variations of strangles that its' daunting. Carriers are frequently undetected and so of course milling around their herds. Indeed, I queried whether my horse was a carrier as he too was depressed, he had been exposed to strangles but hadn't developed it. As it turns out he wasn't, but it is a bit of a minefield.

Amongst other things, the idea that if they have it they're "cured" for life is a myth. They may well be immune for a few years, but apparently their susceptibility does return.

All you can reassure yourself with is that it'll pass, albeit not a very pleasant time for the horse or the owner. Good luck.

 

[showqa]

PS

Did you know, there is now a vaccination against strangles? Might be of interest to you if you're in one of those regions that seems to suffer more than others, on big and busy livery yard or if you're out competing a lot.

 

[Marydoll]

If you follow the bio security guidelines from the animal health trust, youll be fine. The fact that a couple of them are on livery means that you will need to deal with other owners who may not be as careful as you in their comings and goings.
Is the yo/ym being supportive ?

 

[cc14]

Horses can carry strangles their entire life, without ever showing symptoms, yet be capable of passing it on.

At the same time, they can have strains which mimic strangles (as mine got) without contracting the virus, or the opposite.

It really is nothing to panic about. If managed properly, that is Just take precautions until you get the full test results, but no need to panic!