Strangles

[Tempi]

All this strangles talk (below) has got me really worried

I had the vet look at Bloss on wednesday as she was covered in large 'lumps' under her skin and her glands were huge, we thought it was an allergic reaction to something in her field, she was stabled for two days and given bute, the swelling reduced and she was happy and eating.

Friday she went back out in her field, came in with lumps under her skin and large glands (i mean REALLY large). Gave her some more bute friday night, swelling went down a bit, she didnt eat all her hay, or finish her dinner - which she ALWAYS does, as shes a pig!!

Saturday she was coughing when i rode, but not a virus cough, a wierd cough when i trotted her. She didnt finish her food saturday night, her lumps were still slightly there.

Sunday she went out in her field for a couple of hours, she had a roll and then started coughing really badly

Rode her, and she was fine in walk, but coughed and weezed a lot in trot/canter. She didnt finish her food again last night, and she had lumps again under her skin.......

Im now really worried that it sounds like strangles, but surely the vet wouldve suggested it to me on wednesday?

Should i get the vet again?? Shes seriously fit and over the past few days ive been really worried about her weezing/coughing and not finishing her food as shes never been like that before

Also when i was mucking her out this morning she was coughing whilst tied up outside her stable......

 

[ColleenIsh]

I would get vet out again .. sooner rather than later

 

[rema]

Oh sounds horrible for your mare.Is her temprature normal??.Would it be possible to isolate her just incase??.

 

[Tempi]

so before i start seriously panicking does it sound like strangles??????? (will get vet out again tonight)

 

[KatB]

Sounds like a virus, but not strangles. If she is coughing up thick mucus, then could be strangles, but from the sounds of things she has just had a reaction/caught virus from somwhere. Keep her in her stable though until vet comes out again and swabs. Strangles isnt the end of the world either, it is just VERY unpleasant, so dont panic, i dont think it sounds like it anyway.

 

[Super_Kat]

I'd get the vet out asap. Hope it's nothing serious though

 

[minesadouble]

We currently have a virus on our yard v. similar - ours have been swabbed for strangles & are negative, one horse in particular had huge glands, other symptoms are off their food & a cough. Apparently it is a type of respiratory infection. Vet is coming for daughter's pony this afternoon whose glands are fine but is off his grub and coughing.
I would get the vet again if i were you- prob not strangles but should swab to be on the safe side and our lot have all had antibiotics to clear it up.
Good luck!

 

[Tempi]

cant isolate.

she does seem happy enough, however just not on top form........i dont know whether because shes really fit and healthy its not as bad as it would be in a horse that wasnt in such good condition as her.......

i havent taken her temp, thats my next port of call tonight i think, before i manage to completly freak myself out

 

[SSM]

I would get the vet, however which glands are up - neck or under head?? We had a scare the other week with neck glands up on the pony and I of course ran for the vet books, Classic strangles (correct me if I am wrong) starts with the under head glands swelling and there will be discharge from the nasal passages - Pony had a virus, antibiotics and she is fine -

Sounds to me like a chest infection, but I would have the vet out (but I am paranoid!!)

PS Big hug from a distance!

 

[ihatework]

i doubt it's strangles, more likely a different virus. But as she's no better after a few days I would probably want the vet up again.

 

[Tempi]

shes not coughing up anything, when she coughs its more like a smokers cough!!! raspy if you see what i mean!!

 

[Tempi]

neck glands, however she does have rather large neck glands anyways - my trainer used to comment on them - they are just bigger than normal atm.....she has no nasal discharge and isnt coughing anything up, so i guess thats a good sign.....

 

[rcm_73]

Has she got any nasal discharge? An early sign of strangles is usually a thick snotty discharge from the nose.

 

[KatB]

Yep I do!! No they do cough up phlemy stuff. There are a few viruses about at the mo. Feed her off the floor (if you dont already) and keep her in, but i'm sure she will be fine.

 

[Tempi]

see above

ok, so i think i can breathe again, i was really worried for a minute there.....il see how she is tonight and if shes still coughing il get the vet to take a look (we have a vet on our yard which is very handy!)

 

[rcm_73]

Forget my post, just seen yours posted at the same time. Doesn't sound like strangles, probably a virus. I'd say get the vet if you're still worried and maybe give her a few days off work.

 

[SSM]

Get her a respitory lickit????

 

[Judie]

Sounds like Blossy is giving mummy the hibbies just for some attention away from the big fella

Seriously though, there are a lot of infections around at the mo, still worth getting her checked out...

 

[AmyMay]

Have you taken her temperature PG?? One of the first things they go off is their food when off colour.

 

[Sarah1]

Hi Hun
Sorry to hear Bloss isn't well

Haven't really got anything constructive to add, sorry, but thought I'd let you know I'm thinking of you and sending good vibes for Bloss.
Chin up, I'm sure she'll be fine, she's strong and healthy so try not to worry to much (easier said than done I know).

 

[dressagespain]

P_G - maybve she has got something stuck in her throat (grass seed or something) hence cough and going off food!

Get the vet, take temp and don't panic

 

[Tempi]

she has respiratory suppliments already for her pollen allergy

xx

 

[_jetset_]

Oh honey, just seen this post.

It doesn't sound like strangles because there is nothing being coughed up and no mucas. It sounds to me as though she has caught a virus or eaten something she should not have done in the field (is she in the different field now??) Hannah gets very swollen glands whenever she eats something she shouldn't do, and it can give her a cough because of the swelling.

 

[Tempi]

nope, going to take it tonight when i get to the yard

 

[_jetset_]

Forgot to add, the lumps under her skin could also signify that she ahs eaten something she should not have done. An allergy tends to travel all over the body rather than just sticking in one area if they eat something that disagrees with them

 

[Tempi]

well vet initialy said shes allergic to the water/sugar in the grass, i suppose it could be something to do with that as to why shes coughing aswell.......il have to see how she is when i get to the yard tonight....

 

[Tempi]

hmmmmm i think so too!! its working tho!!

 

[Tempi]

i think i just over panic'd a bit!!!!!

 

[berry]

We had a little mare just come in to our yard with a virus a couple of weeks ago, was kept isolated until giving the all clear by the vet last week then on friday she was ill again and so was the pony in the stable next to her. Vet came out has swabed for strangles again on both but he phoned today and said that at the moment all the bugs that are showing on the culture (sp) is E coli!!!!!! Has gave us some other antibiotics that will hopefully work but how do horses get E coli??????