Re: [RC] Advise on Strangles from the Vets - Kelly
Curious.......I understand that
once a horse has strangles, they build up an immunity and "usually" don't "get
it" again. Are there different strains??
Tony, I'm not a vet but there is tons of info out there on
strangles. The consensus seems to be that penecillin is *not* indicated
on a routine basis. It is also possible for a horse to be an asymptomic
carrier for quite some time, and that horses can be contagious for 6 weeks
after recovery. Incubation period is 4-14 days. Spread of the
disease can also happen via clothes and shoes of people in the
area.
I personally applaude the folks who are willing to self-impose a
60-day quarantine on their horses and not inadvertently (and selfishly) risk
exposing potentially hundreds or even thousands of other horses to this ugly
disease which does carry a risk of mortality. It's one thing to go to a
ride and then discover that your horse was exposed or carrying something, but
completely another to consciously make the decision to do
so when there is a chance, albeit remote, that you could infect other
peoples' horses. I personally would not even think of
attending rides under those circumstances.
Dana,
also in CA who would rather not share a trough with you less than a month
after your horses have most likely been exposed to strangles (they might be
separated by distance, but insects and other creatures travel, and people are
woefully careless with aseptic technique)
