Strangles :(

[proctor]

It was confirmed yesterday that a few horses at the yard I work on has strangles. I keep my horse in a field a mile away from work and I fear that he may get it as I've been going from work to the field without taking precautions as we didn't know. In the 26 years I've been with horses I have never dealt with strangles before and would like any of your experiences with it. I've been told by my vet to take my horses temperature twice a day for 2 weeks and if it rises above 38.5C then to call them right away.

 

[Miss L Toe]

It was confirmed yesterday that a few horses at the yard I work on has strangles. I keep my horse in a field a mile away from work and I fear that he may get it as I've been going from work to the field without taking precautions as we didn't know. In the 26 years I've been with horses I have never dealt with strangles before and would like any of your experiences with it. I've been told by my vet to take my horses temperature twice a day for 2 weeks and if it rises above 38.5C then to call them right away.

Correct advice, I would also ask vet to immediately send out 12 Danolin, this will see you through a long weekend [two per day is the dosage] if symptoms occur.
See my other posts on strangles, all the info you need is there, make sure you have a complete change of clothing, it would be better to go to your horse first before the yard you are working at.
Buy some antiseptic wipes and use them inside your car. especially steering wheels, obviously leave your potentially contaminated wellies at the yard and have a spare pair for your own horse. you might be able to get disposable overalls to handle your horse in, but make sure you keep anything in your car in black bags so no cross contamination.
Use a bleach based disinfectant spray every time change between the yard and the field.
Everything should be kept clean of mud etc, only this way can you use bleach effectively.
Wash everything daily at 40 degrees, and wear clean clothes at all times.
Use disposable latex gloves or Marigolds which are washed in bleach solution.
Scrub everything in bleach solution including water troughs, really your horse should be isolated from touching any other horse.
Your horse should be probably be OK after five days of taking precautions if temp has not risen, but you may have to blood test just in case it has already been contracted [ask vet], I assume there are other horses in your field. So you have to be very careful. The disease itself is normally much milder than we may fear and symptoms are so minor as to be missed, which is why you need to take the temperature twice a day., write it down in your diary.
There is no need to worry excessively, you must take all precautions and hope for a positive outcome. Keep going with precautions till all horses are cleared.

 

[NOISYGIRL]

If you don't ride your horse you could ask someone where it is kept to feed him so you are not taking the disease with you, you need feet dips and car wheel washes, anti bac soap, wipes, anything to keep yourselve germ free. Or go to your horse first then work

Deal with infected horses last that way you are not dealing with them then going to the uninfected ones

 

[proctor]

Thankyou both. Very useful info. Luckily my horse is alone so I dont have to worry about others. And I'm not riding him out until the 2 week period I've been given is up. And I am defnatly going to see him before work as after work it's dark and as I have no electric, I have to use my head torch...and he hates it!!!