Strangles WWYD

[jenz87]

A yard has been diagnosed with strangles....
They are not closing down, still allowing customers / public traffic on the yard. Also neighbours say no sign of foot dips etc and handling horses mixed up. Whether this is fully true i cant say, but they have said they are still open to public - which is what is worryingme!
Apparently it is not a notifiable disease so DEFRA dont care, is there ANYONE that can be contacted to check that all precautions are being taken and all appropriate methods ie foot dips, overalls, select handling and NOT open to the public? Is this the law or optional as it seems to be???

 

[be positive]

Strangles is nasty but not notifiable to anyone and any precautions taken to keep it under control will be up to those involved, if it is a RS they probably cannot afford to close down and there is no need to if they take care, every time there is an outbreak the rumour mongers start in this case the neighbour who will have only a rough idea of what is going on, take your own precautions to prevent it coming into your yard and ignore the rumours.
I have had it in my yard and kept it well contained, seen it in a big RS which did not close yet managed to contain it to just a couple of ponies, more recently it was in a local yard and stayed within that yard despite them having many yards nearby who continued as normal.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

I really do wish DEFRA would take this awful disease seriously and issue some sensible guidelines for managing it on yards.

There was an outbreak on a yard here in Devon not so long ago: vet advice was that horses from the yard could still hack out

At the same time as this, I went to view a horse at a small-time dealer's yard elsewhere in the county which had a cough and snotty nose: seller didn't tell me that the horse had this before my visit - I would have stayed away if I'd known beforehand (she only told myself and friend when we arrived, after over an hour's journey ) - we were not exactly amused as both have other people's horses on our yards and one cannot be too careful. When I told her as much she got her @rse in her hand and got very shirty with me, didn't see there was a problem......... yeah, right.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

If they move the infected horses away from the rest of the populace of the yard, tell people visiting the yard not to go to other yards without changing clothes and washing hands, and the infected horses don't leave the yard then I'd say all bases covered.

It isn't a nice disease but it's not the killer it was years ago, it only kills the very young, very old and those already compromised by other health issues. It is easily managed and treated, sometimes I think people get their knickers in a twist too easily about it these days.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

It isn't a nice disease but it's not the killer it was years ago, it only kills the very young, very old and those already compromised by other health issues. It is easily managed and treated, sometimes I think people get their knickers in a twist too easily about it these days.

Sorry but I can't agree. Try telling that to some kid who's lost their dear old pony to the disease which just might have been prevented by proper management and precautions. I've got an old boy, he's not frail exactly, but if strangles came to a yard where he was, he might not have the resistance to it that the other horses might, and it would break my heart to lose him. Or someone with a youngster they've just started planning for the future with, and they lose it..........

I'm unashamedly anal about bio-security, any YO should be. Everyone's horse is precious to them, and yes appreciate that there's all sorts of reasons why something can happen to a horse, a bout of colic say, but my view is that strangles should be a notifiable disease which is then treated with the seriousness it deserves by DEFRA and others.

 

[scats]

If they move the infected horses away from the rest of the populace of the yard, tell people visiting the yard not to go to other yards without changing clothes and washing hands, and the infected horses don't leave the yard then I'd say all bases covered.

It isn't a nice disease but it's not the killer it was years ago, it only kills the very young, very old and those already compromised by other health issues. It is easily managed and treated, sometimes I think people get their knickers in a twist too easily about it these days.

My very healthy, fit 9 year old horse nearly died from strangles. It was the most horrific couple of weeks, he barely got off the floor. Some horses on our yard were barely affected but a few (mine included) were seriously ill.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Sorry but I can't agree. Try telling that to some kid who's lost their dear old pony to the disease which just might have been prevented by proper management and precautions. I've got an old boy, he's not frail exactly, but if strangles came to a yard where he was, he might not have the resistance to it that the other horses might, and it would break my heart to lose him. Or someone with a youngster they've just started planning for the future with, and they lose it..........

I'm unashamedly anal about bio-security, any YO should be. Everyone's horse is precious to them, and yes appreciate that there's all sorts of reasons why something can happen to a horse, a bout of colic say, but my view is that strangles should be a notifiable disease which is then treated with the seriousness it deserves by DEFRA and others.

I also have an elderly horse, he is 25 so definitely in the at risk category. My point was that the horse world spins an half truth into the complete truth along with corroborating evidence made on unicorn poop very very quickly.

Horses do die from it, I never stated in my post that they didn't, so I think you need to go re read what you have quoted, but the risk is a lot less with modern medicine. Most vets share the above opinion, well all those I have spoken to any ways and including a few friends vets, hence it doesn't have a notifiable disease tag, that with precautions an entire yard done not have to be on lockdown. So my point was, in case it was missed or glossed over, that you should assume that a yard is taking no precautions when they could be and you just aren't aware of it as you haven't visited.

 

[Pen]

Definitely agree with MJR2BT about this highly infectious disease. A casual attitude to spreading of infection can lead to events similar to the Foot and Mouth outbreak of 2001. It should be a notifiable disease.

 

[be positive]

Definitely agree with MJR2BT about this highly infectious disease. A casual attitude to spreading of infection can lead to events similar to the Foot and Mouth outbreak of 2001. It should be a notifiable disease.

Strangles has no similarity to foot and mouth, for a start horses are not generally produced for food in this country so is of little consequence to the human population in general, it is constantly around in some form and many horses are immune to catching it if they do come into contact, yes a few may suffer the worst effects and some will die but the majority will recover with little more than conservative treatment to lead totally normal active lives.
The comparison with foot and mouth is frankly ridiculous and if it were notifiable the horse world would have to pay in some way, it would have to be policed, all businesses within a certain area would be closed for months and all competitions would be cancelled, hacking would be restricted, certain areas of the country such as the new forest would either be off limits or the pony herd taken off completely, we would have the possibility of our horses being destroyed to prevent a spread of the disease when they have contracted it when they will usually recover with no after effects, our lives as horse owners would be changed forever, fortunately DEFRA have little interest in equines and will not want to be wasting money on something that has no impact on humans other than the few who may be directly involved, a few sensible precautions should restrict the spread and if people were less reactive about it maybe yards that do have it would be more open rather than trying to hide the fact they have it.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Strangles has no similarity to foot and mouth, for a start horses are not generally produced for food in this country so is of little consequence to the human population in general, it is constantly around in some form and many horses are immune to catching it if they do come into contact, yes a few may suffer the worst effects and some will die but the majority will recover with little more than conservative treatment to lead totally normal active lives.
The comparison with foot and mouth is frankly ridiculous and if it were notifiable the horse world would have to pay in some way, it would have to be policed, all businesses within a certain area would be closed for months and all competitions would be cancelled, hacking would be restricted, certain areas of the country such as the new forest would either be off limits or the pony herd taken off completely, we would have the possibility of our horses being destroyed to prevent a spread of the disease when they have contracted it when they will usually recover with no after effects, our lives as horse owners would be changed forever, fortunately DEFRA have little interest in equines and will not want to be wasting money on something that has no impact on humans other than the few who may be directly involved, a few sensible precautions should restrict the spread and if people were less reactive about it maybe yards that do have it would be more open rather than trying to hide the fact they have it.

Very well put *claps hands*

 

[Tnavas]

Interesting that it's not notifiable - here in NZ it is and caused me to be quarantined for three months some years ago when a grazer discovered her new mare had it. We were grazing at the opposite end of the property.

I didn't get to see my horses during that time, I had a friend care for them as I had a mare and new foal at another location and couldn't risk the foal catching it.

It seems the trend for some these days to not care a damn about other peoples horses, they take their horses out to shows with coughs and snotty noses.

 

[Goldenstar]

If they move the infected horses away from the rest of the populace of the yard, tell people visiting the yard not to go to other yards without changing clothes and washing hands, and the infected horses don't leave the yard then I'd say all bases covered.

It isn't a nice disease but it's not the killer it was years ago, it only kills the very young, very old and those already compromised by other health issues. It is easily managed and treated, sometimes I think people get their knickers in a twist too easily about it these days.

Says someone who I would take a guess has whose never had a horse compromised for life strangles

 

[Tnavas]

Strangles has no similarity to foot and mouth, for a start horses are not generally produced for food in this country so is of little consequence to the human population in general, it is constantly around in some form and many horses are immune to catching it if they do come into contact, yes a few may suffer the worst effects and some will die but the majority will recover with little more than conservative treatment to lead totally normal active lives.
The comparison with foot and mouth is frankly ridiculous and if it were notifiable the horse world would have to pay in some way, it would have to be policed, all businesses within a certain area would be closed for months and all competitions would be cancelled, hacking would be restricted, certain areas of the country such as the new forest would either be off limits or the pony herd taken off completely, we would have the possibility of our horses being destroyed to prevent a spread of the disease when they have contracted it when they will usually recover with no after effects, our lives as horse owners would be changed forever, fortunately DEFRA have little interest in equines and will not want to be wasting money on something that has no impact on humans other than the few who may be directly involved, a few sensible precautions should restrict the spread and if people were less reactive about it maybe yards that do have it would be more open rather than trying to hide the fact they have it.

9 years ago Equine Flu hit Australia, by shear determination, a total ban on all movement of horses in and around the affected areas completely cleared it. It cost all the equine businesses big time, some went out of business, some survived.

Equine industry employs thousands of people who rely on their income, Equine flu destroyed many. There were selfish people who tried to move horses at night when they thought they could get away with, sadly you always have those that don't give a stuff.

Strangles can have that effect too, can put riding schools out of business, bankrupt racing stables, affect sales in saddlery stores.

It may not be a notifiable disease but should still be treated with very great care and respect, it can be passed on so easily.

It does kill, and some that have had it remain shedders throughout their lives. Get strangles in a stud and all the foals are at grave risk as they cannot suck if they have strangles.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Says someone who I would take a guess has whose never had a horse compromised for life strangles

I have dealt with it before, so please do not assume anything, kind of like what the OP has done with this yard of which the original topic was about. How many people have a horse compromised by something? Be it a colic/surgery, cushings, ems, ocd, shivers would you like me to carry on? We do not have to pop our résumé online to be able to post our opinion.

As I have said before, I know of a good few people who have had their horse pop a positive test and never even known they have been exposed, every time you go to a show or someone from your yard goes to a show you run the risk of bringing something home.

 

[Goldenstar]

I have dealt with it before, so please do not assume anything, kind of like what the OP has done with this yard of which the original topic was about. How many people have a horse compromised by something? Be it a colic/surgery, cushings, ems, ocd, shivers would you like me to carry on? We do not have to pop our résumé online to be able to post our opinion.

As I have said before, I know of a good few people who have had their horse pop a positive test and never even known they have been exposed, every time you go to a show or someone from your yard goes to a show you run the risk of bringing something home.

like I said you have never been left with a compromised horse because of strangles it's can be an appalling experience.
And anyone whose experienced that won't ever be laid back about strangles .
Large Livery yards are fertile homes for strangles with lots of horses who move homes and are stressed because of it .
Anything from a dealers yard is isolated and completely barrier handled if it comes here ,any word of strangles about and I stay away from other horses .

 

[Damnation]

*Touch wood* I have never had a horse or dealt with a horse with strangles.

However, as a horse owner I'd be incredibly miffed if my horse got a preventable and highly contagious disease from lack of quatentine procedures.

 

[Birker2020]

*Touch wood* I have never had a horse or dealt with a horse with strangles.

However, as a horse owner I'd be incredibly miffed if my horse got a preventable and highly contagious disease from lack of quatentine procedures.

We had strangles twice on our yard. In those days we were told by the vets to monitor our horses temperature ideally twice daily. If there was an increase above what was 'normal temperature for our horse' then we were to contact the vets who would supply us with some antibiotic or something (sorry this was in 1995 so I don't remember exactly what we were given).

My horse was supplied it on two separate occasions. We were told that no one could go off the yard in a lorry/trailer but we were allowed to hack out.
People were advised not to share tools, etc. I don't remember having a foot bath or similar but I do remember having the footbaths and stuff to drive through in our vehicles with the foot and mouth outbreak. I also remember during that at a show having to take our horses out of our transport and walking them over a massive straw bed which was full of antiseptic type solution before driving over it in our vehicles.

On a previous yard of approx. 45 equines over 3/4 were vaccinated against strangles, the ones that had been vaccinated all had side effects including a nasty colic and an enlarged heart. At a guess I would say this was around 2010 maybe?? My horse missed out on the vaccine as he was on antibiotics at the time, but you could tell the ones that did have it as they were all stood at the back of their stables looking very poorly, heads down, no interest in food or people. The vet was so concerned about the side effects on such a huge number of hoses that he contacted the manufacturer and they took the drug off the market and paid out for the problems that developed in the horse with the enlarged heart which needed quite a bit of monitoring with ECG's etc following the vaccination. The vet said he would never vaccinate against strangles again- lesson learnt.

 

[Tnavas]

We had strangles twice on our yard. In those days we were told by the vets to monitor our horses temperature ideally twice daily. If there was an increase above what was 'normal temperature for our horse' then we were to contact the vets who would supply us with some antibiotic or something (sorry this was in 1995 so I don't remember exactly what we were given).


My horse was supplied it on two separate occasions. We were told that no one could go off the yard in a lorry/trailer but we were allowed to hack out.
People were advised not to share tools, etc. I don't remember having a foot bath or similar but I do remember having the footbaths and stuff to drive through in our vehicles with the foot and mouth outbreak. I also remember during that at a show having to take our horses out of our transport and walking them over a massive straw bed which was full of antiseptic type solution before driving over it in our vehicles.

On a previous yard of approx. 45 equines over 3/4 were vaccinated against strangles, the ones that had been vaccinated all had side effects including a nasty colic and an enlarged heart. At a guess I would say this was around 2010 maybe?? My horse missed out on the vaccine as he was on antibiotics at the time, but you could tell the ones that did have it as they were all stood at the back of their stables looking very poorly, heads down, no interest in food or people. The vet was so concerned about the side effects on such a huge number of hoses that he contacted the manufacturer and they took the drug off the market and paid out for the problems that developed in the horse with the enlarged heart which needed quite a bit of monitoring with ECG's etc following the vaccination. The vet said he would never vaccinate against strangles again- lesson learnt.

Must have been a bad batch. Here in NZ broodmares and racehorses are vaccinated against Strangles and some pleasure/competition horses too. It's not guaranteed to totally prevent Strangles, but will reduce the level of sickness.

Antibiotics should only be given once the abscesses are open. Treating before then can cause the infection to affect Lymph nodes deep within the body, these are the ones that can kill as when they rupture they release pus into the body cavity.

Strict hygiene methods are crucial in preventing the spread, boot washing is good in case you've stepped in mucous from the nose. Rubber gloves, overalls and hair covered should be the norm, and always work with the sick horse last.

 

[tristar]

2 horses had strangles about 20 metres from my yard, but mine did not get it, because it is contagious, that means you have to touch to contaminate and catch it, unlike f and m which is airborn, it is a bacteria, although i must admit to nearly having heartfailure when i realised what was going on next door.

strangles is a dirty filthy disease, which makes horses very, very poorly and i would`nt wish it on any creature, it involves huge absesses and a high temperature, if it goes internally it can be fatal, not a risk worth taking.

so its well worth any amount of effort to avoid at all costs while not panicking, just make it clear to all around of the potential consequences.

any dull horse with a temperature should be isolated immediately, where strangles is a possibility

 

[Tnavas]

Strangles can be spread by birds and wild animals too, they only have to stand in the mucous and carry it with them.

 

[MaeBee93]

Strangles is nasty but not notifiable to anyone and any precautions taken to keep it under control will be up to those involved, if it is a RS they probably cannot afford to close down and there is no need to if they take care, every time there is an outbreak the rumour mongers start in this case the neighbour who will have only a rough idea of what is going on, take your own precautions to prevent it coming into your yard and ignore the rumours.

I was told a RS will have to close down by order of the council and can only reopen after 3 clear swabs of each horse affected and a council/vet inspection. Livery/competition side can run as normal.