Prevention and Management to Protect Against Strangles

Understanding what strangles is, how it is spread, and treatment options is crucial for caretakers.
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In late March, an outbreak of strangles closed the Saratoga Casino and Raceway in upstate New York for three weeks. As spring competition season approaches, it is important to remember that strangles is a highly infectious disease that can have severe consequences for horses. Understanding what it is, how it is spread, and treatment options can prove to be a lifesaver for your horse.

What is it?

Strangles, explains University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine Assistant Professor of Medicine Ashley G. Boyle, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, is an infection caused by the bacteria Streptococcus equi subsp, equi. It can cause severe swelling of the lymph nodes around the throat, making it difficult for a horse to breathe; hence the name, strangles.

Boyle, who works at Penn Vet’s New Bolton Center in the Section of Field Service, says that strangles should be strongly suspected if a horse suddenly develops a high fever–sometimes higher than 103°F (about 39°C)–and appears lethargic or depressed. After the onset of a fever, nasal discharge is typical and the lymph nodes in the neck and under the jaw can enlarge. If abscesses develop in the lymph nodes, the airway will narrow, making breathing noisy and swallowing difficult. Affected horses sometimes hold their neck out straight looking for relief. In horses under the age of five (who have yet to develop normal immunity), horses older than 20, or immune-compromised horses, the signs of strangles will be more pronounced

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