Very strange question on Strangles???

F

fitzaud2

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 October 2009
Messages
728
Location
Tipperary, Ireland
Visit site
Got a phonecall last night from ex livery, saying totally depressed as 7 of his ten horses had died from strangles. Mare and foal left, as well as 1 of the 2 he had in with me. Didn't get too much info, just that he was so upset, etc...
I've never seen strangles to kill a horse, once treated, never mind that many?? Am I very synicial to think that it was just an excuse to cull them, or can this really happen??
 
I know it can kill horses but not that often.. when we had strangles years ago a foal died and the rest of our horses were fine after recieving treatment!!
 
Yeah, thought as much, considering foal was an accident and she foaled in late september, you'd think they would be first victims. I'm baffled really, unless they were left untreated, but even at that, you'd expect the mare and foal to go down first. will keep you posted, but I'm very scepticial to be honest!!
 
Most deaths are in youngsters, having said that my boy had a terrible time, he had to have nursing to monitor condition, I think he had never encountered the disease before AND got a heavy dose of a very virulent strain.
 
I don't know enough about the death rate of strangles to comment on that part. But why do you reckon he rang to tell you? Sympathy?
 
Just done a little research strangles has a mortality rate in simple cases of 1%!! So he had a 70% mortality rate!! slightly higher than expected. But maybe his was a virulent strain?? But still wouldn't have expected a foal to survive it if it was that bad!!!
 
So I am just a synical bi**h then, just didn't think that it would kill 7 horses, in that space of time, the horse that was here with me was 10, big fat tb, lovely, well mannered horse. Just so sad to think they are all gone.
 
ashlingm said:
I don't know enough about the death rate of strangles to comment on that part. But why do you reckon he rang to tell you? Sympathy?
Click to expand...

yip, def sympathy, has to be that, as he knows me and knows that I wouldn't just take that kind of news on board without asking questions. I feel so sorry for him, if that is the reason they all died, I know i'd be totally devestated if one of mine died, but there is a real "question mark" over it, considering, he's a bit of a disaster and is likely to do anything, wish i'd seen them, in one way, as it would leave no doubt. Funny how I was only phoned after the event. If it was me, the second they were diagnosed, I'd have been on the phone, or on here, looking for advice.
 
Strangles will usually clear up on it's own without treatment, in fact, there's little you can do apart from isolate those affected. I doubt 7 of the 10 would have died from it, it's quite unusual to hear of any dying. There can be complications if the abcesses are close to the windpipe and of course, ******* Strangles is much more serious but I wouldn't expect your friend to be so unlucky to lose so many unless they were in very poor condition to start with?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top