Strangles is a contagious and potentially deadly equine disease caused by the bacteria Streptococcus equi. It can cause a horse to suffer from fever, swollen lymph nodes, and increased mucus production. If left untreated, the infection can spread to other parts of the body, leading to serious complications and even death. Thankfully, strangles is relatively easy to treat and horses can typically recover from the infection in a few weeks. However, the length of time it takes for a horse to recover from strangles depends on a number of factors.
What is Strangles?
Strangles is an infectious disease of horses caused by the bacteria Streptococcus equi. It is spread through direct contact with an infected animal as well as through contaminated objects, including bedding, tack, and feed buckets. The bacteria enter the horse’s body through the nasal passages and spread throughout the respiratory system.
Common symptoms of strangles include fever, difficulty breathing, and the production of thick mucus. Horses may also develop swollen lymph nodes in the throat and neck, which can make it difficult for them to swallow. In severe cases, the infection can spread to other parts of the body, leading to complications such as abscesses, pneumonia, and even death.
How is Strangles Diagnosed?
Strangles is typically diagnosed by a veterinarian based on the horse’s history, physical examination, and laboratory tests. A veterinarian may take a sample of the horse’s mucus or throat swab to test for the bacteria. They may also take a blood sample to check for antibodies to S. equi.
How is Strangles Treated?
Strangles is typically treated with antibiotics, which can help to reduce the severity and duration of the infection. However, antibiotics will not completely eliminate the bacteria from the horse’s body, so it is important to keep the horse isolated from other horses until the infection has cleared.
In addition to antibiotics, horses with strangles may need to be vaccinated against the disease. Vaccination can help to prevent the spread of the infection to other horses.
How Long Does it Take for a Horse to Recover from Strangles?
The length of time it takes for a horse to recover from strangles depends on a number of factors, including the severity of the infection and the horse’s overall health. In general, horses with mild cases of strangles can recover within a few weeks. However, horses with more severe cases may take several months to fully recover.
It is important to note that even after a horse has recovered from strangles, they may still carry the bacteria in their system and can spread the infection to other horses. Therefore, it is important to keep the horse isolated from other horses for at least six months after they have recovered.
Conclusion
Strangles is a contagious and potentially deadly equine disease caused by the bacteria Streptococcus equi. Horses with mild cases of strangles can typically recover within a few weeks with the help of antibiotics and vaccination. However, horses with more severe cases may take several months to fully recover. It is important to keep the horse isolated from other horses for at least six months after they have recovered from strangles to prevent the spread of the infection.