Vaccinating for strangles before transport

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chrisley

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The new Strangvac vaccine came out a couple of years ago but I can’t find much online from anyone who’s used it. I’m pretty sure my horse caught strangles during transport from Spain to the UK, and I have a new boy coming from Portugal soon. I’d like to vaccinate for it beforehand but was hoping for some experiences if anyone has had any? It’s supposed to have few side effects and also doesn’t create a positive strangles test in future, unlike the previous vaccine.

If anyone’s used it I’d love to hear your experience!
 
Our 3 horses have had 2 Strangvac shots each so far, and will be getting boosters every 5 / 6 months, unless we feel the need to boost sooner, e.g there is an outbreak nearby.

I would absolutely rather deal with the vaccine than the disease, or the gutteral pouch washes etc.
 
Cragrat said:
Our 3 horses have had 2 Strangvac shots each so far, and will be getting boosters every 5 / 6 months, unless we feel the need to boost sooner, e.g there is an outbreak nearby.

I would absolutely rather deal with the vaccine than the disease, or the gutteral pouch washes etc.
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It’s the scopes that do me in. So unpleasant for the horse, but mandatory if you move yards with a horse with strangles antibodies. We got lucky with strangles symptoms, he had a cough but that was pretty much it. It could have been much worse though.
 
TheMule said:
What a bizarre answer- why on earth would you prefer a potentially deadly disease that makes the horse very unwell and can cause long term complications.l?
Or do you mean you’d rather take the risk of the horse catching the disease than vaccinate?
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I thought that was a strange thing to say as well
 
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chrisley said:
@Cragrat did they have any unusual symptoms from the vaccine?
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About 12 -24 hours after the vac, they were SLIGHTLY lethargic. The sort of thing that was only noticeable because I was looking for it. Not off food or anything. After discussion with the vet, we had planned the vacs so they all had 3 days of no work after each one, and then had a couple of easy days. I do know some people that just cracked on and kept their horses working, with no ill effects, but I opted to be cautious.

I also decided to not combine it with their normal flu vac, although the vet said it could be. I might reconsider in the future.
 
Thank you @Cragrat that’s super helpful. Assuming he passes his vetting this week I’ve decided to get him the jab. I believe the first two are done four weeks apart, is that right? I somehow have to fit both in, get him castrated and healed and onto a lorry in 60 days, not an easy fit without overlapping the jabs and castration! Luckily vet call outs are a lot cheaper in Portugal so I guess three separate trips isn’t going to break the bank.
 
I wonder if Ginger witches experience is from the initial (original) vaccines which proved nearly useless, in some cases actively detrimental and which had to be administered into the top lip.


I've no idea about the most recent set of vaccines.
 
conniegirl said:
I wonder if Ginger witches experience is from the initial (original) vaccines which proved nearly useless, in some cases actively detrimental and which had to be administered into the top lip.


I've no idea about the most recent set of vaccines.
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That’s what I was wondering too. With the old vaccine I saw a lot of advice to avoid it completely.
 
Yinool said:
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My vet talked about the Swedish use of the vaccine. He said that due to the severe weather, the competiition horses spent a lot of time undercover one way or another, and Strangles used to be rife in the winter, but the vaccine has almost eradicated it.
 
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chrisley said:
Thank you @Cragrat that’s super helpful. Assuming he passes his vetting this week I’ve decided to get him the jab. I believe the first two are done four weeks apart, is that right? I somehow have to fit both in, get him castrated and healed and onto a lorry in 60 days, not an easy fit without overlapping the jabs and castration! Luckily vet call outs are a lot cheaper in Portugal so I guess three separate trips isn’t going to break the bank.
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A lot of planning, but do-able, and well worth it IMO . Good luck!
 
chrisley said:
The new Strangvac vaccine came out a couple of years ago but I can’t find much online from anyone who’s used it. I’m pretty sure my horse caught strangles during transport from Spain to the UK, and I have a new boy coming from Portugal soon. I’d like to vaccinate for it beforehand but was hoping for some experiences if anyone has had any? It’s supposed to have few side effects and also doesn’t create a positive strangles test in future, unlike the previous vaccine.

If anyone’s used it I’d love to hear your experience!
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Reaction to vaccinations (in chest)

PS the have only ever used Proteq Flu - I don’t know what other brands are available? It was Proteq that mine have always had too. My vet said it was the least reactive* brand. *that it causes the least reactions, least "offensive" vaccine. I just can't remember his exact wording or even what...
forums.horseandhound.co.uk forums.horseandhound.co.uk

Read reply 37. This happened about ten years ago so things might have moved on by now, but just so you are informed.
 
Birker2020 said:

Reaction to vaccinations (in chest)

PS the have only ever used Proteq Flu - I don’t know what other brands are available? It was Proteq that mine have always had too. My vet said it was the least reactive* brand. *that it causes the least reactions, least "offensive" vaccine. I just can't remember his exact wording or even what...
forums.horseandhound.co.uk forums.horseandhound.co.uk

Read reply 37. This happened about ten years ago so things might have moved on by now, but just so you are informed.
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The new one is Strangvac, it only came out in 2022 and is a completely different type of vaccine to the old ones.
 
Thank you Peter, I hadn’t heard about any supply issues but I’ll find out more if and when the time comes. The poor horse in question flew through his vetting with the exception of having an undescended testicle, so I’m now trying to figure out whether and how to proceed with that!
 
Bit late to this party but my horse has had the strangles vaccine twice now. He didn't react too well to it the first time (into his neck) and was feeling very stiff in his neck and and sorry for himself later that day so I got the vet back out for an anti inflammatory jab, which perked him up almost immediately. Next time round I think we went for the chest - I don't remember properly but we definitely used a different spot and it didn't cause the same issue.
 
Widgeon said:
Bit late to this party but my horse has had the strangles vaccine twice now. He didn't react too well to it the first time (into his neck) and was feeling very stiff in his neck and and sorry for himself later that day so I got the vet back out for an anti inflammatory jab, which perked him up almost immediately. Next time round I think we went for the chest - I don't remember properly but we definitely used a different spot and it didn't cause the same issue.
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This is super helpful, thank you! I’ll ask the local vet if they have them in stock tomorrow (if he’s working, I have a feeling I won’t learn anything more until the new year, at this point).
 
I checked his passport later last night and he's actually had it three times - the initial two jabs as soon as the vaccine became available, then two annual boosters. I would do the boosters closer together but a) money, and b) he's actually due in March (I was wrong) so he's well protected over the summer season when we're out and about, and less so in the winter when he's a hairy blob hacking around the village.
 
I asked the vet if he can get ahold of it and he didn’t mention a shortage, just that so few people ask for it, and it comes in a pack of 8 doses, that they end up with more doses than they can use! So he’s asking around other vets to see if they can come up with enough clients so they aren’t wasting them.
 
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