Strangles

12.4.12 Strangles This is an acute infectious disease of horses. It is caused by a bacteria, Streptococcus, which affects mainly young animals. It causes abscesses in the lymph nodes of the neck, which may eventually burst and drain through the skin or nostrils. The pus from these abscesses contains the bacteria which spread to other horses when eating food contaminated by the pus.

Symptoms: Affected horses have a loss of appetite, a high fever, and pus draining from the nose. The throat area is usually swollen and very painful, and the horse often extends its neck to relieve the pain. Abscesses develop around the throat which break open and drain through the skin and nose. Once the abscesses open and drain, the animal gets well quickly.

Diagnosis: Diagnosis is usually easy and based on symptoms.

Treatment: Use penicillin as soon as signs are seen and continue until the horse is well. Try to place a hot compress on the abscess (be careful because the area is very painful) to ripen the abscess so that it can be lanced and drained as soon as possible. See abscesses, page 220.

Prevention: Horses diagnosed with strangles should be isolated so that other horses do not become contaminated by the pus.

Systems of the Body and Associated Veterinary Problems