Twist to strangles saga

Bossdog

Bossdog

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Ohmigod

Well, the other new horse that moved in last week (not the one with strangles although they have been in contact) has just been discovered as pregnant (11 months!). However, she is only on grass livery and doesn't have a box. The owner is going spare and wants to send her back to the dealer (she's had her 8 months) but obviously with strangles on the yard she can't be moved can she? There are no spare boxes, although there is a barn that I suppose we could convert if she can't be moved. How will strangles affect the foal?

Jules x
 
no the mare cannot be moved-nothing on or off!

strangles and a foal is NOT a good idea! The best idea would be to make the barn area a safe and clean area away from the rest of the yard-separate everything and hope that the strangles does not spread to the pregnant mare
 
omg - what rotten luck
I don't know how strangles could affect an unborn foal.

whilst in the womb it will receive the same blood supply as the mother so presume that if the mare suffers a fever (as in strangles) then the unborn foal will receive an impact via the umbilical blood supply

In the worst case there could cause an abortion of the foal.

It depends on what type of horse the mare is and what the weather is - but she could foal outdoors if necessary and if she hasn't been in contact with the affected horse I'd leave her out and not bring her into the yard (but keep a close eye on her) - she might escape the disease that way.

I'd definitely move the mare to a separate paddock if possible and also try to rest a portion of the grazing that is the most secure for a newborn foal and mum.

If the mare isn't young herself - then she may have been exposed to strangles before and have some immunity. Strangles is worst usually for young horses and old horses - but there are always exceptions to every rule.

If the vet hasn't advised I'd keep a daily eye on the temperature of my horse and check it in the same location, same time and same circumstances every day. (e.g. 5pm, in the stable, before feed time) A temp. rise may well be the first sign of catching the disease and early anti-biotics can mitigate some of the effects.
 
This is terrible news she must be so worried,as I'm sure you all are.There seems to be a lot of strangles around.Mine are due their vac. but it is still not on the market and we have had our flu/tet without having the strangles booster.
I hope everyone understands the need for isolation ,it is horrible you feel unclean, but its no ones fault[well maybe the person who she bought it from knew about it]
I hope it all works out ok
 
The more I think about this the more upset I'm getting. The mare is a beautiful Belgian Draught (only 15.2hh but just as wide!!) and I've only known her a week but she's lovely. Whilst I understand that her owner is angry with being missold a horse, I personally couldn't send her back after all this time and it breaks my heart that she could get rid of her so easily. I'm also really scared about the foal, I'm sure it's going to be gorgeous with a mummy like that and it will be devastating if it gets strangles. Which unfortunatly is very likely. We ahve been careful about keeping Katie seperate whilst she is new so she hasn't had direct contact with teh strangles horse but he has been sharing a field with the pregnant mare for a week.

I come from down south and i find the attitude in this area abismal, we were always taught about the importance of good hygiene, bio security and isolating new horses. But as we were new to the yard, we didn't feel we could say anything, and now I wish wish wish I had raised my doubts about two new horses being put in a field together. The only one to suffer in this scenario is that poor little foal and I should have done something about it sooner.

Sorry for ranting on but I really hope this highlights to everyone just how important disease control is, take heed!
 
Don't beat yourself up.I'm sure that only a few yards have full quarantine procedures and it certainly isn't your fault and everyone at the yard will suffer through no fault of their own. Just all support each other that is important ,no one must blame anyone and everyone needs to pull together.
GOOD LUCK
 
Jules im sure you already know this but feel I ought to say......dont go anywhere near the new horse and if possible only allow one person to see to its needs who should also use a footbath and disposible gloves after handling (Virkon is good).

We had a scare at ours a few months ago....turned out is was just a normal abcess, but you do feel guilty as though you have got something dirty and nasty on the yard. I really dont understand why it is that strangles illicits this sort of reaction in some people.

Tba I doubt the dealer will be obliged to take the horse back as at 3 months when he sold her to your friend it wouldnt in any way have been apparent that she was up the duff.

Its a BOGOF deal and you never know she could ebd up with one superb baby!
 
Thanks everyone for your nice words, as it's such a small yard (5 horses, soon to be 6!) it's hard to keep everything seperate so all we can do now is keep our fingers crossed that it all blows over and the that the foal will be lucky. Can't wait to meet him or her now, I'm even a bit jealous of the owner, it is indeed a BOGOF!!

Thanks again

Jules x
 
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