What Causes Horse Strangles?

If you own a horse, you know that the health and wellbeing of your animal is of the utmost importance. Unfortunately, one of the more common illnesses that horses can contract is a bacterial infection called strangles. In this article, we will explore the strangles bacterium and provide an overview of equine strangles. We will also discuss how to identify and treat horse strangles, and provide tips on how to diagnose and manage the infection. By reading this article, you will have a better understanding of the strangles bacterium and how to prevent, diagnose, and treat the infection in horses.

Exploring the Strangles Bacterium: An Overview of Equine Strangles

Equine strangles is a contagious disease of horses, mules, and donkeys caused by the bacterium Streptococcus equi. It is an upper respiratory tract infection that can lead to serious and even fatal complications. Strangles is one of the most common infectious diseases of horses, and is one of the most difficult to eradicate.

What is the Strangles Bacterium?

Streptococcus equi, commonly known as the strangles bacterium, is a gram-positive, facultative anaerobic bacterium that is found worldwide. It is a member of the Streptococcus genus, and is closely related to Streptococcus zooepidemicus, Streptococcus equinus, and Streptococcus equisimilis.

How is Strangles Transmitted?

The strangles bacterium is spread through direct contact with an infected horse, or through contact with contaminated objects, such as buckets, blankets, and halters. It can also be spread through the air when an infected horse coughs or sneezes.

Symptoms of Strangles

The most common symptoms of strangles include fever, swollen lymph nodes in the throat, difficulty swallowing, and coughing. Other signs include loss of appetite, depression, and nasal discharge. If left untreated, the infection can spread to other parts of the body, including the lungs and intestines, leading to more severe complications.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Strangles

Strangles is typically diagnosed by testing a sample of the horse’s mucus or saliva for the presence of the strangles bacterium. Once diagnosed, the horse should be isolated and treated with antibiotics. It is also important to thoroughly clean and disinfect the horse’s environment to prevent the spread of the disease.

Prevention of Strangles

The best way to prevent strangles is to keep horses up-to-date on their vaccinations. Vaccines can help reduce the risk of infection, but are not 100% effective. Other preventive measures include good hygiene practices, such as washing hands and equipment after handling horses, and avoiding contact with horses that are known to be infected with strangles.

Identifying and Treating Horse Strangles: Diagnosing and Managing the Infection

Horse strangles is a highly contagious, contagious bacterial infection caused primarily by Streptococcus equi. It is a disease that affects equine species, including horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules. Strangles can cause significant respiratory symptoms and can be fatal if not treated promptly and correctly.

Symptoms

The most common symptom of horse strangles is a swollen and tender lymph node, usually located on the neck of the animal, but can occur in other areas. Other symptoms may include fever, nasal discharge, difficulty breathing, lack of appetite, depression, and lethargy.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of horse strangles is usually made through a combination of physical examination, laboratory tests, and imaging. During a physical examination, your vet will be looking for signs of a swollen lymph node and other physical signs associated with strangles.

To confirm the diagnosis, your vet will likely take a sample of the lymph node to collect a bacterial culture. This culture will be sent to a laboratory for further testing. Your vet may also take blood samples and X-rays to check for other signs of infection.

Treatment

The treatment of horse strangles depends on the severity of the infection. In mild cases, the infection can be treated with antibiotics. In more severe cases, additional therapies may be required. These therapies can include wound care, intravenous fluids, and nutritional support.

In some cases, the infection may require surgery. The most common surgical procedure for horse strangles is called a “tapping” procedure. During this procedure, a needle is inserted into the swollen lymph node to allow the pus to drain out.

Prevention

The best way to prevent horse strangles is to practice good hygiene. This includes regularly cleaning and disinfecting stalls, barns, and equipment. It is also important to avoid contact with other horses that may be infected, as well as horses that have recently been vaccinated against strangles.

Summary

Equine strangles is an infectious, upper respiratory tract illness caused by the bacterium Streptococcus equi. It affects horses, mules and donkeys and can be fatal in certain cases. Strangles is primarily transmitted through direct contact with an infected horse or contaminated items like buckets and halters. In some instances it may also spread through airborne particles when a sick animal coughs nearby.