I absolutely agree with Raven. NO VACCINES. In June of 2006 we
had a strangles outbreak......we still DO NOT know where it originated from,
but suspicion that one of the horses we rescued, and had here for over 5 months
before the outbreak, must have been a shedder. The strangles strain DID
NOT present like normal strangles so it was not until we had 6 horses with temps
and mild snotty noses that we finally had one with a tiny abscess, and
determined that it was strangles (Vet was involved in trying to determine the
"disease" early on). We had one horse develop severe purpura (which is an
auto - immune response to the strangles bacteria) and had to be hospitalized for
18 days in intensive care isolation. We immediately vaccinated all of
the unaffected horses to try and stop the progression per our Vet's
recommendation. The Internists at the hospital told us that they now
never vaccinate unless a client insists, because of the ever increasing
auto-immune response. They stated that for most of the horses, getting
strangles is no big deal, but the purpura is a HUGE assault to the system.
I had only dealt with strangles once nearly 20 years ago, so to have the
immensity of this effect my herd was devastating emotionally (what did I do
wrong in my management strategy?), physically (all of the disinfection and
cross-contamination control) AND financially (the hospital bill alone was
nearly 4,000). On a good note, the horse which was hospitalized
returned home after 18 days in July to continued isolation for 6 weeks, IV meds
4 times per day for a month, oral meds for another 3 weeks, was allowed to mix
with the herd in Sept. and on Oct 21, won the AHA National Championship
CTR. So, they do pull out of it. All the other horses recovered from
strangles without any ill effects. AND, we had 15 of 24 horses get
sick.
I am much more worried about the purpura than I am about strangles (which
is similar to the strep throat bacteria which nearly every kindergarten student
gets within the first few weeks of school). All but 3 or 4 of the effected
horses suffered from mild lethargy, mild temp elevations and nothing else.
The others eventually developed the "classic" swollen lymph nodes, and snotty
noses.
Karen Everhart MEd Rainbow Meadows Rescue and Retirement,
Inc. Serving the equine companions who have so loyally served us... www.rainbowmeadowsranch.com 620-725-3402
Owner/Operator Horse Calls - Equine Management Solutions Centered Riding
Instructor Distance Horse Conditioning and Training www.horsecalls.com 316-648-5082
Subject: Re: [RC] [RC] what is better?
Strangles vacination up the nose or a shot ?
>> would like to know what you think or where i can find
some info on Strangles vac. It is better to give the shot or administer it
up the nose ?
Hi Diana...I'm not a Vet...so, please make sure you
chat with your Vet.
IMHO..I would not give horses any strangles
vaccinations.
I learned while Huginn was at the U of MN, that if there
is a chance that a horse has ever been exposed to strangles....they should
NEVER receive a strangle vaccination.
That if horses have received
strangle vaccinations in the past...titers should be taken before giving
additional strangles vaccinations.
That both the IN and IM strangles
vaccinations have many side effects and adverse reactions, and according
the some vets at the U of MN...they are not "worth" the risks.
That
being said...you really ought to discuss this with your Vet.
Why I will
never again give any of my horses a strangle vaccination? I lost Wizard, my
beloved TWH gelding due to an IN strangles vaccine adverse reaction. The
vaccine caused a bastard strangles abscess behind his right eye on his
optic nerve, blinding him. In spite of trying everything to "get rid" of
the abscess, it continued to grow putting much pressure on his brain. In
the end...he had a serious mental breakdown, similar to dementia and he
became very dangrous. I had my vet euthanize him.
Wizard was
my once-in-a-lifetime horse and I still miss him
dearly.
Raven
