What's the strangles situation?

[runaway]

Hello guys and gals,

I'm probably asking something that has already been asked a thousand times but at the moment, in Lincolnshire, there is a lot of talk, with the word strangles being mentioned very frequently in it.

So what's the situation? I understand (rightly or wrongly) that Yorkshire is suffering badly at the moment, can anyone put me right on this? Are any owners from Lincolnshire aware of specific problems in the county or is it just "talk".

Thanks for reading my post.

 

[eekmon]

Don't know about Lincs, but I live in Hants and I keep hearing it's down here too! A local yard whom is run by a ' not very nice man' is rumoured to have it! And he won't be bothered about it spreading round! Its a very worrying time but I don't know if its true or not

very annoying!

 

[maisie]

not sure about your area - sorry - but in mine it is rife - I am in the home counties and I know several people who have it - some quite 'well off' people with breeding/race horses as well as their own kids ponies and they are still competing/travelling horses and ponies everywhere without a thought for anyone else - it disgusts me!

 

[runaway]

So basically strangles is still a problem? A case of act responsibly and be aware that even if there's no "outbreak" in your area there is still quite a high risk it will appear? That's the feeling I'm getting here.

 

[threeponies]

There's a lot of it in my are too (glasgowish) I know of a coupleof yards with closed doors

 

[GTs]

I would not worry - you people in England act like it is the black plague, mix that with horse people who need drama you always be hearing it.

 

[terrierliz]

Am panicking now - in East Yorks - noticed this morning that my boy was a little bit swollen, am now desperate to get home from work and that won't be until 6.30 and check him over.

Haven't had first hand experience of strangles what do I need to look for?

 

[GTs]

Snot, and temp.

I personally would not worry too much, he unlikely has it.

 

[terrierliz]

Thanks, that's reasurring!

 

[Sparklet]

I am from East Yorks area and there is a local vet who is ringing alarm bells all over the place trying to get yards to vaccinate horses with the strangles vaccination. The practise has done quite a bit of publicity with the local press and a slot on TV and has also rung all 'receptive' livery yards and riding stables in the area. I have said receptive because quite are not receptive to this particular vet.

Further enquires with the vet revealed very few confirmed cases with only 5 confirmed cases this year in the whole of York and Linc area - same vet unable to confirm number of cases last year which was quite odd.

Their publicity naturally gives contact info and cost of vaccination just to chivvy people along to their practise.

It has caused massive needless panic among quite a lot of horse owners who have reacted to the publicity and quite a lot of shows have been cancelled fueling the panic. Those that have gone ahead have had a huge drop in attendance and will probably not organise another.

It is such a shame that this vet is putting profit before concern for the equine community and causing all this fuss.

 

[terrierliz]

Well I panicked! Anyway mine was fine when I got home last night, having done a quick search on the internet it looked like vets trying to encourage strangles vaccination

Thanks for the info

 

[tarzipan06]

I had my pony vaccinated back in April and she has just had a follow up jab. Hearing rumours it is in Beds, Bucks and Herts but no shows have been cancelled.