[Ryle]

I'm sorry, I misinterpreted the intent of "let them catch strangles" then. But I'm still not a big fan of it. Adult horses are less susceptible anyway so just taking the risk of them getting sick when they are young without trying to minimize the course of disease in them doesn't seem very humane to me. I'm all for that "minimize suffering" and "minimize risk".

[doublebarr]

Originally Posted by Ryle

I'm sorry, I misinterpreted the intent of "let them catch strangles" then. But I'm still not a big fan of it. Adult horses are less susceptible anyway so just taking the risk of them getting sick when they are young without trying to minimize the course of disease in them doesn't seem very humane to me. I'm all for that "minimize suffering" and "minimize risk".

And I shudder because I've seen bred mares come down with strangles while heavy pregnant that I KNOW were vaccinated from foals on. It is NOT pretty.

And I have to ask your meaning of the bolded part. I'm not sure exactally what you are saying in regards to the way I read it.

[Mutrok]

Originally Posted by doublebarr

Same way as a horse with "active strangles". They just dont exhibit the symptoms. So, in reality, you do not know if any horse you come in contact with is a potential carrier, thus why I much perfer my yearlings to go through the virus and develope natural antibodies against the virus. Doesn't matter who we come in contact with, they've got immunity.

I do realize there ARE some cases where they don't, but they are the exception and I and some vets agree that they are also the ones who potentially develope strangles ON a vaccine.

Are they still shedding the virus even if they don't have to open sores? If you can't tell I really have very little experience with strangles

[doublebarr]

Originally Posted by Mutrok

Are they still shedding the virus even if they don't have to open sores? If you can't tell I really have very little experience with strangles

Yes. They are completely non-symptomatic (spl?).

[Spotted Mustang]

Oh, I did not mean to start an argument.

I am not overly familiar with strangles myself. It sounds a bit like chicken pox to me? Better to catch it young and develop a decent immunity to it.

I was not suggesting it was in a horse's best interest to try and get them sick. I am sorry if I misspoke and made it sound like doublebarr was doing that.

My apologies. I was just curious of the various ways to deal with strangles and how to treat your horse if they catch it.

[doublebarr]

I don't think I'm argueing with Ryle. I think she's a pretty smart lady. Which is why I asked her meaning behind her statement. I am currious as to if she "feels" like I read it or if I'm reading it wrong.

Like I said, in talking to a lot of Equine vets about this they are split pretty much 50/50, so I'm very much used to a differing opinion about it. Not gonna make me mad.

[doublebarr]

Originally Posted by Spotted Mustang

It sounds a bit like chicken pox to me? Better to catch it young and develop a decent immunity to it.

See, I agree with this too. Matter of fact, my first two kids were born BEFORE the vacc. came out for CP. My second two were born after it was avaliable and after talking to my Ped. doctor and my Aunt and Cousin who are doctors, I was against giving the vac. and both kids got chicken pox just their their sibs and are fine.

I was also born when the MMR Vac was readily avaliable and parents were told once the "serries" was given to their kids, they would have lifetime immunity. Well, they were WRONG! When I was pregnant with my first child I had to have the Rubella shot right after giving birth because it had become obvious that you DIDN'T develope that supposed lifetime immunity.

Now, would I want to contract Rubella? NO WAY! That IS a serious disease. But there are "viruses" out there that "can" have complications, but they are rare and usually the defences developed by contracting, fighting and developing natural immunities is "better" when weighed against the odds on the other side. IMO.


I was not suggesting it was in a horse's best interest to try and get them sick. I am sorry if I misspoke and made it sound like doublebarr was doing that.

It's ok. I knew what you mean, LOL. Just doesn't always translate to others the same way.


My apologies. I was just curious of the various ways to deal with strangles and how to treat your horse if they catch it.

Missed this last part. I"ll go and answer that in another post on what we do.

[GingerSnap]

Originally Posted by Spotted Mustang

Oh, I did not mean to start an argument.

I am not overly familiar with strangles myself. It sounds a bit like chicken pox to me? Better to catch it young and develop a decent immunity to it.

I was not suggesting it was in a horse's best interest to try and get them sick. I am sorry if I misspoke and made it sound like doublebarr was doing that.

My apologies. I was just curious of the various ways to deal with strangles and how to treat your horse if they catch it.

Don't apologize, we all need to learn. And learning from ppl with experience is really the best way. Thanks for starting this thread because not everyone would have seen the other thread that got this going.

I have learned a few things and since I am having my very first ever go around with strangles I really did feel like a fish out of water.

Amy my 11 yr old mare has it right now, she has a week old foal at her side. Talk about pushing the panic button, I contacted WSU so fast the phone line burned up.

We are still trying to figure out how the horses could have possibly gotten it. Apparently in our area we are having an epidemic of it as several barns within a 2 mile radius have it. Affecting as little as one or two horse to as many as 25 depending on the barn. AT my home right now the 2 that have sypmtoms are quarantined, we are disinfecting with bleach x2 each day this includes the ground, our shoes, water buckets, feed buckets fencing, manure forks and rakes, halters and leads even the horse trailer because we hauled Amy to the vet for a nasal swab to confirm what it was. When we feed we use seperate scoops, buckets for the clean horses and the sick horses have there own stuff including there own feed storage bins. Though from what I understand flies can pass this on to other horses. So if that is the case than my clean horses may get it still.

The one thing that I have been told repeatedly is that Ribbon the week old foal will most likely NOT get it.That would be a blessing.

Vet says our barn is to be quarantined for 6 weeks, so I had to call WyldTerv and tell her not to come until Sept. for our trail ride. I DO NOT want her horses getting it.

On a final note. The vet said that the Strangles vaccine is basically useless because there are several different types of strangles and the vaccine covers one. I am going to confirm this with WSU, and will update when I get an answer.

Also I feel that if ppl choose to vaccinate there horses that is fine that is there choice. And those that choose not to that is fine as well that is there choice. It doesn't make either way the best way or the right or wrong way. It's a personal preference. I personally knowing what I know now will still choose to not vaccinate.

[doublebarr]

Originally Posted by Spotted Mustang

I was just curious of the various ways to deal with strangles and how to treat your horse if they catch it.

What I do. If/when they get it as yearlings.

Move them to a pen where I can monitor their feed/water intake and general "look" to watch for possible issues. I do not fully seggragate (spl?) them from the others as they are allowed to share common fences with the rest of the "younger" herd.

Watch them till the abscess bursts, then treat with a course of PenG.

Once the abscess is healing and the PenG is finished, return them to the regular herd, but monitor "just in case".

That's pretty much it. Usually takes about 2 weeks at most from the forming of the lump/runny nose to the bursting/through PenG treatment and return to herd status. I've had a couple take a full week to burst the lump, but not very many. Most come through within 2-3 days of first visibility.

[Spotted Mustang]

What are some of the signs to watch for that signal a horse might have strangles? I know some, but I thought it might be educational to list them anyway.