Strangles

Strangles -- a disease affecting the horse's lymph nodes -- can not only make your horse ill, but is also highly contagious. If it is diagnosed, your horse turns into a problem animal.

Strangles is a disease caused by the bacteria streptococcus equi. The name comes from the fact that it enlarges the lymph nodes between the jawbone, causing the horse to make strangled breathing sounds.

The disease begins with high fever, depression and lack of appetite. There is also a thin, watery nasal discharge that quickly turns thick and yellow.

What's happening to your horse? The lymph nodes in the upper respiratory tract become enlarged, the ones between the jawbones being the most noticeable; they can abscess.

Horses of any age are susceptible, but those most disposed are between one and five years. Susceptible horses usually acquire the disease after being exposed to another horse that is shedding the streptococcus equi bacteria that cause the illness. Often, this is a new horse being introduced to the herd.

Although it may no longer be showing signs of the disease, infected newcomers can spread it for about a month. (Shedding the bacteria continues for up to one month after all clinical signs are gone in 20 percent of horses.)

Horse-to-horse contact is the easiest way strangles infects, but it can also be spread through contaminated equipment such as buckets, stalls and tack. Fortunately, the bacteria can't exist in the environment for long periods.

Once horses are exposed, they begin to show signs of the disease in two to six days. Untreated horses will develop abscessed lymph nodes which open and drain within one to two weeks after the onset of the disease. Although most horses recover, about 10 percent of untreated horses die. Death most commonly occurs due to a secondary infection causing pneumonia.

Occasionally, abscesses spread to other parts of the body -- the lungs, liver or even the brain. This is known as "bastard strangles." While uncommon, it is usually fatal.

To control strangles, if the health history of any horse new to the stable is vague or unknown, it should be isolated, as much as practical, for four or five weeks.

A veterinarian can take nasal swabs to confirm that the horse is not shedding streptococcus equi. However, because the bacteria can be shed sporadically, a total of three nasal swabs over a period of seven days are required to assure that the horse is negative.

Vaccinations are another useful control. Although current vaccines are more effective and cause less reaction than those of the past, they do not always prevent the disease. Still, the severity of the disease is lessened if the horse has received the inoculation.

One myth is that horses can get strangles from the vaccine. This cannot happen since the vaccine is made from only parts of the bacteria.

If strangles is suspected, notify your veterinarian to confirm your suspicions. The sooner strangles is identified, the less "down time" the whole barn will have to endure.

Horses with early signs of strangles should be treated with appropriate antibiotics, which can prevent lymph node abscesses.

Outdated veterinary literature has warned against antibiotic treatment at any stage of the disease because of the suspicion that it could lead to bastard strangles. There is no evidence to support this belief. Usually, horses treated at this stage fail to recover only if antibiotics are not given in the correct dosage or for enough days.

These animals still need to be isolated to stop further spread of the disease.

Once the lymph nodes become enlarged and abscessed, treatment will only prolong the disease. It is better to allow the abscessed lymph node to open and drain or to have your veterinarian lance it. Treatment consists of flushing the drainage site, keeping the area clean and strict isolation of the horse.

What to do if the horse you were stabled next to at the show had strangles?

Since horses usually show signs two to six days after exposure, it makes sense to treat the horse with antibiotics for at least six days after exposure. However, if your horse remains in a barn where strangles is present, this will be of little use.


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If it is diagnosed, your horse turns into a problem animal. Strangles is a disease caused by the bacteria streptococcus equi. The name comes from the fact that it enlarges the lymph nodes between the jawbone, causing the horse to make strangled breathing sounds. The disease begins with high fever, depression and lack of appetite. There is also a thin, watery nasal discharge that quickly turns thick and yellow. What's happening to your horse? The lymph nodes in the upper respiratory tract become enlarged, the ones between the jawbones being the most noticeable; they can abscess. Although it usually isn't fatal in horses, it can be. Horses of any age are susceptible, but those most disposed are between one and five years. Susceptible horses usually acquire the disease after being exposed to another horse that is shedding the streptococcus equi bacteria that cause the illness. Often, this is a new horse being introduced to the herd. Although it may no longer be showing signs of the disease, infected newcomers can spread it for about a month. (Shedding the bacteria continues for up to one month after all clinical signs are gone in 20 percent of horses.) Horse-to-horse contact is the easiest way strangles infects, but it can also be spread through contaminated equipment such as buckets, stalls and tack. Fortunately, the bacteria can't exist in the environment for long periods. Once horses are exposed, they begin to show signs of the disease in two to six days. Untreated horses will develop abscessed lymph nodes which open and drain within one to two weeks after the onset of the disease. Although most horses recover, about 10 percent of untreated horses die. Death most commonly occurs due to a secondary infection causing pneumonia. Occasionally, abscesses spread to other parts of the body -- the lungs, liver or even the brain. This is known as "bastard strangles." While uncommon, it is usually fatal. Treatment depends on the stage of the disease. To control strangles, if the health history of any horse new to the stable is vague or unknown, it should be isolated, as much as practical, for four or five weeks. A veterinarian can take nasal swabs to confirm that the horse is not shedding streptococcus equi. However, because the bacteria can be shed sporadically, a total of three nasal swabs over a period of seven days are required to assure that the horse is negative. Vaccinations are another useful control. Although current vaccines are more effective and cause less reaction than those of the past, they do not always prevent the disease. Still, the severity of the disease is lessened if the horse has received the inoculation. One myth is that horses can get strangles from the vaccine. This cannot happen since the vaccine is made from only parts of the bacteria. If strangles is suspected, notify your veterinarian to confirm your suspicions. The sooner strangles is identified, the less "down time" the whole barn will have to endure. Horses with early signs of strangles should be treated with appropriate antibiotics, which can prevent lymph node abscesses. Outdated veterinary literature has warned against antibiotic treatment at any stage of the disease because of the suspicion that it could lead to bastard strangles. There is no evidence to support this belief. Usually, horses treated at this stage fail to recover only if antibiotics are not given in the correct dosage or for enough days. These animals still need to be isolated to stop further spread of the disease. Once the lymph nodes become enlarged and abscessed, treatment will only prolong the disease. It is better to allow the abscessed lymph node to open and drain or to have your veterinarian lance it. Treatment consists of flushing the drainage site, keeping the area clean and strict isolation of the horse. What to do if the horse you were stabled next to at the show had strangles? Since horses usually show signs two to six days after exposure, it makes sense to treat the horse with antibiotics for at least six days after exposure. However, if your horse remains in a barn where strangles is present, this will be of little use. Taken from the magazine Mane Points Back to Top