Strangles testing?

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ghostie

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Just trying to work out the logistics of my new horse and would appreciate any insights! My yard insists on seeing a copy of a recent negative strangles blood test/nasal swab before they will accept a horse. The horse (when I find one I love :) ) will have a five stage vetting, so presumably I can ask the vet to test for strangles at the same time, but any idea how long it takes to get the strangles results back?

Obviously can't take the horse with nowhere for it to go so is it fair and reasonable if the horse passes the vetting to pay a deposit but ask them to keep the horse until the stangles results are back?

Also, any idea what is a reasonable charge for a 5 stage vetting and/or strangles test in the South East? I will need to find a vets local to the horse so don't have one to call and ask for indicative prices atm.

Opinions gratefully received :)
 
TicTac

TicTac

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Seems a bit extreme for your yard to want a strangles test done. I'm sure the vets could do one but on the other hand I would want the yard owner to let me see negative test results from all the horses on his/her yard too!

At a guess I would say that a 5 stage vetting would cost between £300 - £400 . Shop around as vets fees can differ.
 
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be positive

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I am sure the vet will be able to do the test at the same time as vetting, it should take about 3 days to get the results. The blood tests may come back positive if the horse has previously been exposed to strangles, although may not be a carrier, I would ask the vet you choose which method is best in your situation because you could have a blood test done and then need a guttural pouch swab done.
It is usual for a deposit to be paid before vetting so that the horse is taken off the market, depending on the seller, they should be happy to wait for results and have balance paid on collection.
Cost of 5 stage vetting vary but around £250 is usual, no idea of the cost of tests.
 
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ghostie

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I agree, it does seem a little OTT to me, but on the bright side at least I can be confident that they are taking the health of their charges seriously and the yard is so great in many other ways that I guess I just have to suck it up.

I did a bit of googling and freaked myself out about it with the whole positive blood test, guttural pouch performance. Fingers crossed for a nice negative first time round!

They insist on a three week isolation with no turn out too which is going to be a lonnnnnng time to keep a new horse in for, but again I guess I have to live with it.

Trouble is there are very few yards round here (London) and this one has the best facilities and the kindest and friendliest people.
 
Ginger Bear

Ginger Bear

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Our yard has 70ish horses on the yard & every single horse has a strangles blood test before being allowed on the yard. My boy got a positive blood test and had the guttural pouch test. Blood test takes about 3 days to come bk.
 
Miss L Toe

Miss L Toe

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Yes agreed the cost of the blood test which would be done on the day of the vetting, so about £25 extra, results 1 to 3 days, will show if horsehas been exposed, if positive a GP will be need, £150 to £200, the vet leaves a long term residual antibiotic in place and tests for live organisms and if possible [not always] will examine with opthalmoscope for abnormalites.
A nasal swab is useless. a big yard with a history of the disease may ask for the test s and then will isolate for 14 days when you come on to the yard.
 
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