Swollen Lymph nodes - A cold or Strangles?

[trojanpony]

Hi, I'm after your advice and experience please -
My horse just arrived on his new yard 2 and 1/2 weeks ago, went out inf a field with a few other geldings. After about 5 days he came in with a snotty nose and slightly swollen, infected eye. I put it down to being in a new place and not having any immunity, put antibiotic eye cream in the eye and waited to see how he was. He was clearly feeling poorly for a couple of days, so he only did very light work but after about 5 days he was feeling better, eye all better and hacking out happily again. He's still blowing his nose a bit when out hacking, but no where near as runny a nose as before.

Last night after a hack I noticed he has swollen lymph nodes under his chin (not behind his cheek as per swollen salivary glands from grass) - they're very hard and appear to be a bit tender.

Am I being over cautious worrying about this swelling - or could it be strangles? Anyone else seen swollen lymph nodes like this after a cold? Or have you seen a strangles case where the horse was feeling fine eating/working happily until the ulcers 'popped'?

Thanks!

 

[Honeypots]

Not over cautious at all. I would get the vet in to check especially if strangles is suspected!
My mare came in with swollen lymph glands out of the blue one day and was dead a month later (sorry to scare you). They were swollen but hard and tender. She had cancer...

 

[VictoriaEDT]

Will be quick as i have to go out but dont take the risk, get the vet. swollen submandibular lymph nodes nearly always indicates something viral (strangles is viral).
Bilateral nasal discharge also indicates upper respiratory airway infection......again another sympton to strangles. Not saying it is strangles but it is defo a virus and needs checking out by vet. Good luck!

 

[woolyjumper]

Firstly I would take the horse's temperature. Then if you are still concerned get vet to check it out. The majority of strangles cases I have seen have had only mild clinical signs, and no ruptured abscesses.

 

[trojanpony]

Okay, update - I spoke to the vet and he didn't seem to concerned. Said if it was strangles the horse would be feeling really poorly, not eating etc.
He can swab for strangles but it takes 5 days to get the results - but surely if strangles I will know by then anyway, since if it's an abscess it will either have grown or ruptured?
He said watch over the weekend and call again on Monday if no improvement or sooner if he gets worse.
He's currently out in the field, but maybe I should bring him in to be on the safe side? If it is viral the vet probably won't be able to prescribe anything anyway will he? And antibiotics aren't necessarily the right way to go for strangles....?

 

[vam]

Not all horses will go off their food and feel really poorly, depends on the horse. my mare had no outward signs just laying down in the field which she had never done before. she was treated with antibs for a chest infection but blood test showed she had contact with strangles. she was treated with more antibs, got worse and was put down 6 weeks later.

Please get the vet up and swab or blood test. if treatment is needed i dont think you will need antibs as you need it to come out.
Im not against antibs as another horse was treated for it with them and was fine but i think it supressed it and caused the internal abcess but i'll never know and hindsight wont bring her back.