Strangles is one of the most common infectious diseases in horses, but managing it presents a multifaceted challenge: From diagnosis, to treatment, quarantine and hygiene measures, tackling suspected and confirmed strangles cases can be a headache for veterinary professionals, plus a significant expense for horse owners. From the largest yards to small stables, rapid testing, biosecurity and vaccination can all be valuable in the effective handling of the disease.
For veterinary professionals, strangles can be a challenging disease to identify and diagnose. Early-stage infection can be asymptomatic, while the clinical presentation of pyrexia, nasal discharge and swollen lymph nodes can resemble other respiratory illnesses. Furthermore, commonly used tests for strangles can be ambiguous and difficult to interpret. Following a positive strangles diagnosis, implementing effective isolation and management of infected individuals is key to preventing the spread of disease, adding logistical complications, especially for larger yards and those where there may be frequent movement of animals.
For horse owners and carers, strangles comes with significant financial implications – the costs associated with testing, quarantine and lost days of work can quickly escalate. While strangles outbreaks often spark panic in horse owners, the majority of cases are mild, and the condition has a very low mortality rate. If left unmanaged however, the disease can rapidly spread through the equine community, leading to increased animal morbidity and causing disruption and further economic loss for owners.
To help tackle the challenges faced by veterinary professionals in managing strangles cases, HORIBA UK Veterinary invited RCVS recognised specialist in equine medicine, Dr Mark Bowen FRCVS, to share his insights and experience as part of its successful ongoing CPD webinar series. The webinar, titled “Keeping Strangles at Bay” included some valuable tips on best practices for disease diagnosis, case management and treatment.
In this article, we will cover some of the key highlights from the webinar, and provide practical advice, including how rapid in-house testing can help support clinical decision making and limit the financial impact of strangles outbreaks.
